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DPP detainees go ape at police HQ after airport protest

Fifteen Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers damaged a National Police Agency office yesterday in anger over what they called "improper handling" by police during Tuesday's protest at CKS International Airport directed at Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰).

DPP Legislator Chau Lai-wang (曹來旺) said the legislators attended the protest to help the police "maintain order."

"Not only were our efforts not appreciated, I was beaten up by the police," said Chau, wearing a heat pack on his neck. "I'd like to know what law I broke and what I did wrong."

Clashes

Chau and DPP Legislator Lin Kuo-ching (林國慶) dressed in outfits and caps very similar to police. They engaged in physical clashes with the police after being recognized by reporters, who swarmed to interview them.

The two men, as well as their colleague, DPP Legislator Charles Chiang (江昭儀), were later taken to the police station. However, when the arrived they refused to leave the vehicle and remained there for about five hours in protest.

Before being recognized, Lin said he and Chau moved freely in the lobby of the arrivals terminal for about 20 minutes. Since they did not have malicious intent or do anything illegal, Lin said, they did not deserve a beating from the police.

"How do they expect the public to believe that the police will protect them if they are already so violent to lawmakers?" Lin said. "I don't understand what was wrong with our outfits, since bank security guards and high school students wear similar clothing. Besides, the only things we brought with us were whistles."

Lin demanded that the National Police Agency find out which officers were allegedly responsible for beating them up.

When grilled by the DPP lawmakers, Aviation Police Office deputy director Hu Ya-ping (胡亞屏) said only that even successful operations might have flaws and that the office would look into the matter.

Turns ugly

Unsatisfied with Hu's answer, Chau, Lin, Chiang and 12 other DPP lawmakers went to the National Police Agency to express their discontent by turning over tables and throwing water bottles after they failed to meet Agency Director-General Shieh Ing-dan (謝銀黨).

"Arrest me if you can since I'm more violent than Lin and Chau," DPP Legislator Wang Shu-hui (王淑慧) said.
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