Oasis Villa (1972~1987)

　　　　◆Oasis Villa(photo by Ronald Tsao)

Oasis Villa
  Popularly called “Oasis Villa” this complex went by the formal title of “Green Island Reform and Reeducation Prison.” Oasis Villa was a typical high-walled isolation facility. The main prisoner Bakua Building’s plus-shape configuration was for better centralized control, with four blocks on each of two floors, each block having 52 cells of various sizes. Most political inmates were held on the first floor, the second floor being reserved for special cases. Four exercise areas allowed outdoor relief of 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Within the prison were also a special observation and medical room, solitary confinement cells, a kitchen, a storage room, and an off-limits room. On the east side of the administration building was visitation space. Oasis Villa held prisoners of all ages, and it was there that prisoners held at Green Island for as long as 34 years finished their sentences. Thanks to the changed external environment of the times, Oasis Villa enjoyed relatively better communication with the outside. Collective hunger strikes were launched in response to outside actions calling for democracy and human rights.

　　　　◆Prison Layout(provided by Taiwan Art-in Design Company)


　　　　◆Oasis Villa Rock

　　　　The rock reading “Oasis Villa” at the prison entrance was placed there in the 1970s. (photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Visitation Area

　　　　The prison main gate and the bridge leading into the visiting area.(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Chushan Bridge 

　　　　Families crossed this bridge to meet loved ones.(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Exercise Area

　　　　Oasis Villa’s northern exercise yard.(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Slogan

　　　　A mottled slogan on prison wall interior surface shows political propaganda of the time:“Be firm against communism and ready to win.”(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Solitary

　　　　Dubbed the “prison within the prison” by the prisoners, the solitary confinement area was isolated in the western part of the Oasis Villa.(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Solitary(photo by Ronald Tsao)

　　　　◆Detention Cells
　　　　Ministry of Justice had rebuilt parts of the doors and floors of the detention cells and the tiles of the washing area before 2002. Oasis Villa was restored completely in 2002, but the rebuilt parts by Ministry of Justice are kept.(photo by Ronald Tsao)