Taipei City’s Department of Police yesterday forcefully evicted a small group of sit-in protesters from Ketagalan Boulevard. The protesters later accused the police of abusing their authority, after violent altercations ensued when protesters attempted to re-occupy the sit-in site.
The sit-in, organized by several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) city councilors late last month, was protesting against President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) policy on US beef imports and increases in fuel and electricity prices.
The Taipei Police Department’s Zhongzheng First Precinct, led by Fang Yang-ning (方仰寧), dispersed the crowd shortly after midnight yesterday and forced protesters to leave.
Photo: CNA
When the demonstrators tried to return to the sit-in site, clashes with police broke out as they attempted to force their way through a blockade, with some protesters shouting: “Don’t push me! Don’t grab my hand!”
DPP Taipei City Councilor Tung Chung-yen (童仲彥) later criticized the police, saying they had abused their authority in using violence to evict the protesters, and urged the Taipei City Government to respect the people’s right to hold rallies.
“We regret the police’s forceful eviction of our 13-day non-violent sit-in on Ketagalan Boulevard. However, we believe the sit-in has forced Ma to listen to the people’s voice,” he said.
The police department dismissed Tung’s accusations, and said the demonstrators were evicted because the sit-in was organized without a permit.
Precinct deputy director Chiu Yao-hui (邱曜輝) said the sit-in had affected local traffic and public safety because protesters’ placards and props had been left on the sidewalks and because protesters were continually crossing the road.
Organizers of the sit-in, including Tung, DPP Greater Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Hsin-yu (陳信瑜) and DPP Greater Tainan City Councilor Wang Ding-yu (王定宇), had planned to hold their demonstration until Ma’s inauguration next Sunday.
The areas adjacent to the Presidential Office will be off-limits to the public during the inauguration.
The Presidential Office said the inauguration will be simple and cost-conscious. Ma will be sworn in and make his speech on the morning of May 20 at the Presidential Office, after which he will hold an international press conference in the afternoon.
The DPP and the Taiwan Solidarity Union have already planned an anti-Ma march and rally in Taipei next Saturday and Sunday, which they hope will end directly in front of the Presidential Office.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS