The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday congratulated itself on what it called “successful” protests on Sunday and Monday.
DPP Spokesperson Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said the rally on Sunday against the government’s cross-strait policies and the overnight sit-in protest against the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) were successful, although a few hundred people refused to leave Ketagalan Boulevard after the sit-in finished at 10pm on Monday.
The DPP views the act as a remnant of the authoritarian era, but rejects a government-proposed amendment that it says would expand police power and restrict the right of assembly.
At about 4am, Taipei City’s Zhongzheng First Police District began dispersing protesters who continued the sit-in past its conclusion, including many supporters of detained former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). The road was cleared before 5am.
No major clashes were reported between the police and protesters.
Cheng said Taipei police had had not removed protesters during the 24-hour sit-in, indicating that the DPP had made progress against the assembly law.
The DPP held the sit-in without applying for a permit with city authorities.
Separately, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday praised the Taipei Police Department for handling the sit-in smoothly, but promised to punish two police officers for hitting two protesters at the rally on Sunday with their car.
Taipei Police Officer Lin Chien-chih (林建智), who was driving the police vehicle, has been released on NT$100,000 bail.
Hau said a prosecutor’s investigation confirmed the incident was an accident.
The two officers in the car and Zhongzheng First Police District Director Chen Ming-cheng (陳銘政) received demerits later yesterday afternoon.
Taipei City Police Commissioner Hung Sheng-kun was not disciplined, although Hau said Hung asked to shoulder responsibility. The mayor said this would have been unfair.
“The commissioner spared no effort in trying to maintain order during the rally and help end the rally peacefully. He will not be given any punishment,” Hau said.
Hau yesterday said he regretted the accident but that it would not overshadow the police’s hard work and delicate handling of the demonstrations.
“The accident did not outweigh the police’s achievements in helping bring the rally to a peaceful conclusion. There will be more large-scale rallies in Taipei City and we will adopt the same approach in handling all future rallies,” Hau told a press conference yesterday.
DPP Taipei City councilors yesterday said the punishments meted out to the police officers were lenient and urged Hau to take full responsibility for the accident.
DPP Taipei City Councilor Chuang Ruei-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said the government should not punish low-level police while ignoring the responsibility of high-level officials such as Hung.
“Hau’s previous apology is clearly insincere. His administration is just trying to pin the responsibility on low-level police,” Chuang said at Taipei City Council.
DPP Taipei City councilors Liu Yao-ren (劉耀仁) and Yen Sheng-kuan (顏聖冠) also criticized the city government.
“I demand the city government stop building protective walls for high-level officials. It should consider the feelings of those injured as well as public perception when meting out punishments,” Yen said.
In related news, DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) yesterday accused the government of intimidating people who took part in Sunday’s rally.
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