Burning with rage

More than one hundred volunteer firefighters from Chiayi County demonstrate in front of the Ministry of the Interior yesterday to protest criticism of them by the the interior minister over the Pachang Creek tragedy. Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya lashed out at local fire brigades last week for the incident, in which four construction workers were washed away by a flash flood while waiting for a rescue helicopter which never arrived. The firefighters burned their uniforms during the protest led by legislators Hsu Den-koun and Wong Chung-chun. Chang offered to meet with 10 representatives of the firefighters, but her offer was rejected by the lawmakers, who demanded that Chang meet with the entire crowd.Aug 02, 2000

PHOTO: SONG CHIH-HSIUNG, LIBERTY TIMES