Taiwan Restores Reputations of Five Indigenous Victims of 1961 Frame-Up

Taiwan has formally restored the reputations of five Bunun church workers who were falsely accused of plotting rebellion in 1961, giving their families long-sought official recognition. At a memorial service in Hualien County’s Zhuole community, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim presented restoration-of-reputation certificates and bowed in apology on behalf of the state for the unlawful abuse.

The case began when a police officer planted a grenade and political leaflets beneath a church missionary’s bed, then implicated him and four other Presbyterian church leaders and workers. The five were detained for eight days at Yuli police station and subjected to coercion and torture, including needles pushed into their fingers, salt water forced down their throats and orders to trample a Bible. An investigation established that they had been framed, and they were released without prosecution.

All five men have since died, but their relatives, church and community preserved the story and pursued redress. A commemorative plaque in Chinese and Bunun was unveiled beside the church, alongside a mural recounting the episode. Hsiao said one ceremony could not erase inherited fear and mistrust, but pledged that the state’s work to repair historical wounds would continue.