Sunflower movement coleader Chen Wei-ting (陳為廷) yesterday reported to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning over charges related to the movement’s 23-day occupation of the legislature’s main chamber in Taipei earlier this year to protest the government’s handling of the cross-strait service trade agreement.
“Today happens to be my 24th birthday; I hope the prosecutors wish me a happy birthday,” Chen said.
If indicted, Chen could be tried for a string of charges, including breaking and entering, obstruction of public duties, damage of public property and instigating others to commit legal offences.
Photo: Chien Lee-chung, Taipei Times
More than 200 students and activists have been summoned for questioning over the past few months for their involvement in the Sunflower movement.
Sunflower movement student activist Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) and Academia Sinica researcher Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) are to be questioned today.
Chen blasted President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration for what he said was its deployment of legal prosecution to stifle political dissent.
Instead of prosecuting students and academics, Chen said that the judicial authorities should make sure former premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) and former Zhongzheng (中正) First Police Precinct chief Fang Yang-ning (方仰寧) take legal responsibility for what he called acts of police brutality that occurred during the movement in March and April.
Fresh from his announcement on Tuesday that he will contest the legislative by-election in his home county of Miaoli as an independent, Chen said that he decided to run for office to ensure that the Ma administration fulfills the demands made by the Sunflower movement.
Chen dismissed allegations that he has used the momentum generated by the movement for personal political gain.
“I’ve chosen to run in a constituency that people consider to be the most difficult [for non-KMT candidates to win] not for personal political gain, but to implement the goals of the social movements that have taken place in Miaoli over the past few years,” he added.
As an active member and leader of grassroots youth organizations, Chen spearheaded several social movements in Miaoli recently, including labor rights campaigns and demonstrations against controversial land development projects.
Chen said that his campaign staff for the by-election consist mainly of members from activist groups such as Taiwan March and the Youth Alliance For Defense of Miaoli, although funding would require donations from the public.
“I hope that all the youth of Miaoli can return to their roots and join us in our search for a path for Miaoli’s future,” he added.
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