As the divisions brought out by the protests to remove the president deepen, police yesterday came under criticism over their handling of sporadic incidences of violence over the weekend.
Numerous minor scuffles broke out on Saturday between supporters of President Chen Shui-bian (
National Police Agency Director-General Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) yesterday told the media that police would not tolerate any violence, and that police were attempting to identify all suspects involved in the scuffles on Saturday.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Hou said police had already identified individuals who allegedly harassed local TV anchors during Saturday's rally held in support of Chen.
Those suspects would be interviewed soon after they were located, Hou added.
However, some people criticized the police for not "applying same speedy action" when looking for anti-Chen protesters who harassed and attacked pro-Chen supporters as they walked past Taipei Railway Station on their way home.
On Saturday, an anchor and cameraman for CtiTV were trying to hold a live interview of DPP Legislator Wang Shih-cheng (
Their television station has set up a platform near Jing Fu Men (
The anchor was forced to stop the interview after demonstrators, who had been cheering in support of Wang, started booing the anchor after they realized which station he was from. Many pan-green supporters perceive CtiTV as having pro-China sympathies.
Eventually, one pro-Chen demonstrator partially obscured the camera lens with a rain jacket, while another jumped up on the platform and tried to speak, eventually unplugging a power cable. CtiTV cut off its coverage because of the "rioters," cutting back to their newsdesk.
No one was hurt in the incident.
Minutes later, an Eastern Television anchorwoman and cameraman were also forced to stop their live broadcast, after six or seven demonstrators jumped onto the platform and interrupted their broadcast. Again, no one was injured.
More serious tussles took place as pro-Chen supporters started showing up at Taipei Railway Station on their way home.
double standards?
Contemporary Monthly's editor-in-chief, Chin Heng-wei (
"By all means we condemn any use of violence," Ching said at an event held by the DPP's Taipei mayoral candidate, Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).
He then compared the response to Chinese Unity Promotion Party chairman Lin Cheng-chieh's (
"Those people at [Saturday's] rally did not in any way assault the anchors, yet many of the TV cable news stations labeled them as rioters. Meanwhile, Lin, who resorted to physical violence and attacked me, was being welcomed as a hero at the anti-Chen venue, and was busy signing autographs," Chin said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS