Academia Sinica researchers yesterday protested against the deployment of police within the institution’s perimeter when President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) visited last week, calling it a violation of neutrality and urging the Presidential Office to apologize.
On Thursday last week, about 500 police officers, many carrying batons, entered the Academia Sinica compound when Ma arrived to take part in a conference on the sovereignty dispute of Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) and was met by about 200 protesting Academia Sinica researchers and staff.
Institute of Sociology research fellow Chu Hai-yuan (瞿海源) said the police deployment was a breach of a prior agreement between Academia Sinica and the Presidential Office, which said that the police would stay outside.
At a press conference yesterday, Institute of History and Philology associate researcher Chang Ku-ming (張谷銘), who took part in the protest, said that prior to the conference and the demonstration, protesters had met with the Academia Sinica administration on the security measures, and were told that only a few secret service agents would accompany Ma into the complex, while the police would remain outside and Academia Sinica staff would maintain order.
However, on Thursday last week, police cars directly entered Academia Sinica, carrying hundreds of officers armed with batons.
Chang said that Academia Sinica staff immediately asked the police to leave, but the request was ignored.
AInstitute of Taiwan History research fellow Tsai Hui-yu (蔡慧玉), who also took part in the protest, said that she felt uncomfortable when the police videotaped her and her colleagues during the protest, worrying that they may face retaliation.
Academia Sinica Secretary-General Wu Jen-leih (吳金洌) confirmed that there was a deal between the institution and the Presidential Office that the police would stay outside, adding that the institution will put greater effort into negotiating with the Presidential Office during future visits by the president.
Chang accused the Presidential Office of violating the independence of a national research institute, adding that he and his colleagues will continue to protest if the same situation occurs again.
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