Taiwan Today

President Ma Ying-jeou will unveil a segment of the Berlin Wall in July at the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy headquarters in Taipei Nov. 9. The TFD said the ceremony marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and will be followed by a conference on democracy and human rights. The L-shaped block of Cold War history, measuring 3-meters high, 1-meter wide and weighing 1 ton, arrived in July on an Evergreen Marine Corp. container ship. The segment was presented to TDF by Oberhavel County in northern Brandenburg at the urging of Chen Chin-huang, president of the Memorial Foundation of 228, during a visit to Germany. Chen said he believed it would be significant if the historical artifact was donated to an organization dedicated to promoting freedom and democracy. Due to a TDF building project, the segment will be temporarily placed in the complex’s park. After completion of the work, the item will be housed indoors and displayed as a public artwork, officials said. (PCT-JSM)