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Sanying activists take on police

Police clash with residents in Sanying Aboriginal Community, Taipei County, yesterday as staff from the Taipei County Water Resources Bureau arrived to demolish the remains of the community. PHOTO: HUANG LI-HSIANG, TAIPEI TIMES

Clashes broke out between police and activists yesterday morning as approximately 100 police officers escorted a demolition team sent to flatten the Sanying Aboriginal Community (三鶯部落) in Taipei County.

The community is scattered on the river banks on both sides of Sanying Bridge (三鶯大橋), which connects Sansia (三峽) and Yingge (鶯歌) townships.

Most of the residents are Amis Aborigines who moved to Taipei to work as construction workers or miners. As they were unable to afford housing in the city, they built their own homes on the east bank of Dahan River (大漢溪) with whatever materials they could find more than 20 years ago.

After having torn down most of the homes in the community located in what is legally defined a "flood area" last week, the county government flattened the last nine homes yesterday, in line with its announcement last week.

But when the demolition team -- escorted by the police -- moved into the community at approximately 9am, they were confronted by nearly 40 activists and residents.

The activists included Aboriginal students from National Taiwan University and National Chengchi University, members of the Sijhou Aboriginal Community Self-Help Organization, the Youth Alliance for Losheng, the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, documentary makers and Aboriginal activist and musician Kimbo Hu (胡德夫).

The activists formed a defensive line with bamboo sticks and a human chain, putting the residents behind them.

The police, with shields in hand, pushed through and some protesters fell, while other activists shoved or engaged in verbal exchanges with the police.

Protester Lin Wan-chun (林婉純) was injured and taken to a hospital nearby, while nine other protesters were taken into police custody.

After the police had cleared the scene, the demolition team moved in and flattened the community within an hour-and-a-half.

A simple shelter, with only a wooden frame covered in canvas, which Pan Chin-hua (潘金花) erected after her house was torn down last Thursday, was considered "illegal" and dismantled.

Although they have become homeless, many of the residents have decided to stay at the site.

Families could be seen gathered around bonfires burning wooden structures from their demolished houses on the ground where their home used to be.

There were tents, food, water and clothes donated by the community's supporters from around the country.

"I'll rebuild my home right here," Pan said, while boiling a kettle full of water on a fire on the ground where her home was a week ago.
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