Anti-China protesters injure 27 police officers
Written by Writer on Saturday, November 8th, 2008
Anti-China protesters injure 27 police officers
TAIPEI, Taiwan — A total of 27 policemen have been injured so far trying to keep the peace as anti-China protests turned violent during the historic yet controversial visit by China’s top negotiator to Taiwan, the National Police Agency (NPA) reported.
Of those injured, Lee Han-ching, head of the Beitou Branch of the Taipei Municipal Police Department (TMPD), was beaten by violent protesters during a clash at the intersection of Minsheng East Road and Zhongshan North Road Tuesday evening, according to an NPA report.
Lin Min-hsien, a policeman from the central city of Fengyuan, assigned by the NPA on a special mission during Chen Yunlin’s visit — was attacked by protesters when he was on duty at Zhongshan North Road near the hotel Thursday morning.
Lin was rushed to the nearby Mackay Memorial Hospital where he received eight stitches on his right eye. Lin is still hospitalized for observation.
In other incidences of injuries sustained, a policeman, surnamed Liu, from the Taipei police department’s Datong Branch, was hit by a speeding motorbike on Zhongshan North Road Tuesday morning during a traffic control duty.
Many police officers were injured at the most heated protest, which occurred on Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning when Chen Yunlin, president of China’s quasi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), was trapped in the Grand Formosa Regent for six hours after his dinner engagement by hundreds of protesters who had blocked exits.
Chen was a guest at the dinner hosted by the ruling Kuomintang’s Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung.
Chang Yi-shun, from the Houteh Branch of the Taipei County Police Department, fell on the ground after being kicked down by protesters Wednesday night outside the Formosa Regent. Chang hit the back of his head and was rushed to Mackay Memorial Hospital.
According to the NPA report, a total of 16 policemen sustained injuries on duty outside the hotel during that incident alone.
Protesters mobilized by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party staged a “siege” of the hotel to express their discontent over what they see as the Ma Ying-jeou administration’s concessions toward China.
Protesters mainly feared Ma’s efforts to repair long strained relations with China and build closer economic ties would compromise Taiwan’s sovereignty and independence.
The “siege” had kept Chen and his hosts at the hotel until 2:05 a.m. Thursday when Chen managed to leave the hotel under heavy police protection. Police had pushed protesters back and blocked their access to streets surrounding the hotel.
Chen Yunlin is the highest ranking Communist Chinese official to ever visit Taiwan since the end of a civil war in 1949. He arrived in Taiwan Monday for the historic five-day visit.
His visit has been marked by daily protests. Figures on how many protesters were injured were not immediately available, but TV footages showed several were injured in scuffles with police or by the large crowds of people trying to push through police lines.
Despite the protests, the two sides have signed agreements to significantly increase transport and trade links.
Thursday, November 6, 2008 7:01 pm TWN, CNA
