Taipei, 18 August 1998
Thousands of Taiwanese attended the funeral service for
DPP-legislator Lu Hsiu-yi, who passed
away in Taiwan on 6 August 1998. The funeral service,
which was held in Panchiao, Taipei County on Tuesday, 18 August 1998
was attended by senior government officials, including President Lee
Teng-hui, Vice President Lien Chan and Premier Vincent Siew, as well
as leading members of the DPP, such as newly-elected chairman Lin
Yi-hsiung.
They came to pay tribute to one of the most prominent and
respected politicians in Taiwan's opposition camp.
The funeral rites began with a performance of French composer
Gabriel Faure's "Song of Pathos" by the Formosa Egret
Symphony Orchestra, which was founded with the support of Lu and his
wife, a musician.
A posthumous citation, which was issued by President Lee and
lauded Lu for his contributions to education and Taiwan's
democratization, was read at the funeral.
Ms. Chen Chü, director of the Bureau of Social Affairs under
the Taipei City Government, gave an emotional resume of Lu's life
story, describing Lu as a sage with a historian's perspective and
vision. Ms. Chen recounted the scholar-turned-lawmaker's dedication
to academic study, promotion of Taiwan's democratic reforms, love
for his family, and contributions to the DPP. "Lu was a man of
action. He regarded politics as a career, a serious undertaking,"
said Ms. Chen.
Chen further said that although Lu had left this world to begin "another
form of existence," his passion, straightforwardness, courage,
moral stature, and optimism, will live in the hearts and minds of
all his family and friends forever.
Lu, who earned a doctoral degree in political science from the
University of Paris in Nanterre, taught at Chinese Culture
University and National Tsinghua University before being elected a
member of the Legislative Yuan in 1989.
A witty, humorous man, Lu was a key opinion leader in the
Legislative Yuan. His profound knowledge, resourcefulness, cultured
manner, and taste for the arts, helped him win a great deal of
respect and admiration from his legislative colleagues and from the
island's media.
The funeral procession extended several kilometers as thousands of
Lu's supporters, including many taxi drivers, escorted Lu's coffin
to the crematorium where Lu's body was cremated. The DPP held an
overnight vigil on Monday to pay tribute to one of its most popular
standard bearers.
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