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TSU lawmakers demand probe of attack on columnist

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers yesterday urged police and judicial authorities to find the mastermind behind the assault on a visiting political commentator in a five-star hotel in Taipei last Sunday.

"The TSU demanded that the Ministry of Justice, the Investigation Bureau and Taipei Municipal Police Bureau investigate the violent attack carried out by members of the Patriot Association (愛國同心會) on Cao Chang-ching (曹長青). The association's operations and financial sources should be scrutinized too," said TSU Legislator Cheng Chien-ming (陳建銘) at a press conference.

To express their dissatisfaction with the Taipei City Government's handling of the assault, Chen and his TSU colleague Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君) held the news conference after meeting with representatives from the above-mentioned agencies yesterday morning.

"The TSU is suspicious about the role played by a middle-aged man who has shown up at every protest staged by the pro-unification association. The mysterious man appeared at Sunday's attack on Cao at the Grand Hotel and talked to the attackers," Chien Lin said.

Apparently angered by Cao's remarks in support of Taiwan's independence, at least four members of the pro-unification Patriot Association assaulted him in the hotel lobby on Sunday.

Cao, a New York-based political commentator, was invited to visit Taiwan to attend an international conference last week which was sponsored by the Taiwan Advocates (群策會).

"The Taipei City police authorities have kept their distance from the case. The attack [on Cao] was an insult to democratic values and freedom of speech," Chen said.

In related news, a group of members from the Taiwan Independence Party (TAIP) plan to protest the attack on Cao by demonstrating in front of the association's headquarters tomorrow.

"The TAIP initiated the demonstration to remind these people to respect the rights of others to enjoy democracy and freedom of speech," said Hsu Ching-sung (許清松), the convener of the protest.

Hsu said dozens of TAIP members and friends of other pro-independence groups would join the protest, which would be peaceful.

"The association's conduct in harming the harmony of Taiwanese society make it a running dog of the Chinese Communist Party," Hsu said.
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