Taipei Police detained ex-convict Tung Nien-tai (董念台) for questioning yesterday. Tung is facing charges related to endangering public safety, for sending threatening text messages to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers and saying he would form a “Black Eagle” paramilitary group (黑鷹部隊) to wipe out the Bluebird movement (青鳥行動) protesters.
Tung, 75, was first questioned by police investigators and then taken to Taipei prosecutors. He was later released upon posting a NT$30,000 (US$973) bail, while police have ordered increased protection for all lawmakers, including enhanced patrol and safety measures around the Legislative Yuan, as well as at their offices and residences.
A former prison inmate with a connection to organized crime, Tung has served several sentences and has been convicted of fraud, blackmail and other offenses. He also engaged in the debt-collection business, conducted protests affiliated with the blue political camp and recently joined the pro-China Unification Promotion Party.
Photo: Chen Tsai-ling, Taipei Times
Tung had sent text messages to DPP lawmakers on Wednesday.
“The Bluebirds are dumb kids who surrounded the legislature to support the DPP,” Tung said. “They also threatened lawmakers of the blue and white camps, acting like political soldiers under the instruction of pro-Taiwan independence President William Lai (賴清德).”
“We are forming the ‘Black Eagle’ paramilitary group, and wiping out the Bluebirds is our main aim,” he said.
“People have different political stances and viewpoints, but they should respect each other when participating in protests and public events. When someone makes verbal threats and uses online talks to interfere with legal gatherings, the police force would uphold the law and investigate it,” Taipei Zhongzheng First Precinct Police Chief Chang Chia-huang (張嘉煌) said.
Tung is facing charges of contravening Article 151 of the Criminal Code, which states: “A person who endangers public safety by putting the public in fear of injury to life, body or property,” and Article 305: “A person who threatens to cause injury to the life, body, freedom, reputation or property of another.”
Public prosecutors asked the public to maintain good conduct and be reasonable when dealing with political issues, and not threaten violence against people.
In Tung’s message, he also said members of the “Black Eagle” group would be comprised of ex-convicts, who would go to protests organized by the Bluebird movement groups to counter “dumb kids who are too arrogant, who wallow in their own self-importance.”
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