Demonstrators at a rally in support of Palestine in Taipei yesterday demanded that the government stand up for human rights and transitional justice.
Organized by the Taiwan Alliance for a Free Palestine, the rally began at 2pm in Taipei’s Ximending (西門町).
Participants waved the Palestine flag and held up placards and banners with messages such as “Stop the Genocide in Gaza” and “Free Palestine”
Photo: AP
Many civic groups participated, including the minor political parties the Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party and the Green Party Taiwan, as well as the Taiwan International Workers’ Association, which advocates for rights and protections for migrant workers, and the Indonesian migrant workers’ Serikat Buruh Industri Perawatan Taiwan association.
Several youth and student groups, women rights advocates, and others representing LGBTQ communities also took part in the event, saying that they wanted to show support for Palestinians as victims of state violence amid Israel’s war on Gaza, adding that many women and children have been killed.
A Palestinian girl named Melek, 11, addressed the crowd to say she wanted to speak for children living in Gaza.
“They are just like other kids; they want to play, go to school and to live in peace. But they are bombed all the time, suffer from hunger, and are buried under rubble. Every day has more broken families and parents losing their children. It is a tragedy, but why does the world still stay silent?” she said.
“I am standing up to speak for Gaza, because the children there have the right to live, Gaza’s people have the right to freedom... Please let Taiwan hear our voice and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” she added.
Demonstrators marched to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to present a list of demands, calling on the government to defend human rights and freedom, issue an official statement condemning Israel’s war on Gaza, terminate all cooperation programs with Israel, and cease providing technology and materials to Israel for its war on Gaza.
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