New Life Correction Center (1951~1965)

　　　　◆View is to the south, with the New Life Correction Center appearing as it did between 1951 and 1965 (painting by Chen Meng-ho)

New Life Correction Center
   The New Life Correction Center, initially comprising only cell blocks and guard billets, was the largest labor camp for political prisoners in the early 1950s. Inmates spent as long as 15 years here doing hard labor and undergoing thought reform. Peak prison population was 2000 prisoners, divided into 12 squadrons. From 1951 to 1954 there were nearly 100 women, as well as some prisoners captured off mainland China. With administration and staff included, there were 3000 people. Early-era work included going to the mountain to fell trees, and to the beach to break up reef rocks, and the construction of the “Overcoming Adversity Shed.”

  In the beginning conditions were harsh. At the end of the Korean War, prisoners on Green Island were forced to “voluntarily” show loyalty and have themselves tattooed with the slogan “Oppose the Communists, Resist the Russians.” The campaign failed. Statistics of the administration later revealed that 14 prisoners were executed in July 1953 for “recidivist incidents.” 

  If in the opinion of the administration a prisoner “had not reformed his thinking” at the end of his sentence, he was transferred to Siao Liuciou to do hard labor. The New Life Correction Center typified the sort of reform concentration camp spawned by the East-West Cold War.

    Chen Ming-ho spent from 1952 to 1967 in the New Life Correction Center, a total of 15 years. In 2002, at the age of 72, stroke by stroke he painted with trembling hand this bird’s-eye view of the prison from memory.

Landmark and Old Photos

　　　　◆Elephant Trunk Rock (“Devil’s Gate”) 

　　　　Alongside the big rock, the outer chamber of the rock has the graceful curve of an elephant’s trunk, and together they form what the prisoners called “Devil’s Gate.” They would pass this rock going east from Gongguan into the camp area that comprised the New Life Correction Center. (photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Elephant Trunk Rock (“Devil’s Gate”) (photo by Chen Ming-ho.)

　　　　◆The Wall

　　　　In the early period, prisoners at the New Life Correction Center were sent to the shore to break up reef rock for the building of this wall, which they called “the Great Wall.” Only about 60 meters of it remain standing today. (photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆The Wall

　　　　The old photo is of an athletic meet at the New Life Correction Center, and shows the Great Wall, near the sentry tower in front of the main gate.(by Wang Chun-chang)

　　　　◆Beneath Szuwei Peak 

　　　　Now obstructed by a wall, in the 1950s this feature, called Szuwei Peak, stood behind the New Life Correction Center. As the prisoners remember it, this was the only place from which the ocean could be seen. A corner of it was sheltered from the rain, so they placed stone stools and table for playing Chinese chess.(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Beneath Szuwei Peak (photo by Chen Meng-ho)

　　　　◆“Overcoming Adversity” Shed

　　　　Constructed of reef rock broken up by the prisoners, the Overcoming Adversity Shed was used for storing grain and gardening and kitchen implements, as well as for raising pigs and chickens. Over one hundred sheds, large and small, were built.(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆“Overcoming Adversity” Shed(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Sentry Pillbox

　　　　The sentry pillboxes surrounding the New Life Correction Center were primarily for prisoner surveillance, but also served as punishment cells. Situated near the ocean, this one has become half-buried by the shifting sands. Being so near the water meant occasional flooding, which is why the New Life prisoners called it "the water cell."(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Canteen Area Relic
　　　　The canteen and photography area of the New Life Correction Center. Here it is seen after its 2007 reconstruction.(photo by Ronald Tsao)