Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Protesters shadow Chinese envoy on tour of central Taiwan

Taichung, Dec. 23 (CNA) Pro-independence protesters continued their efforts Wednesday for the fourth consecutive day to show their opposition to a visit by a Chinese special envoy, as he toured central Taiwan.

In the mountainous county of Miaoli, protesters chanted slogans and held banners and placards before and during the arrival in the area of Chen Yunlin, chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS).

Chen is on a sightseeing tour, after having completed his main mission in Taiwan -- to sign three accords with his Taiwan counterpart Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

At the gate of West Lake Resortopia in Miaoli, dozens of protesters chanted slogans, while supporters of Chen's visit responded in kind.

Falun Gong practitioners and pro-independence supporters waited for Chen at his second stop, Wooden Sculpture Museum in Sanyi. On Chen's arrival there, the protesters shouted slogans such as "Taiwan, China -- one country on each side", "Communists, go back (to China) " and "stop suppressing Falun Gong." Chen, surrounded by tight security, appeared unfazed by the protests.

At the day's final stop at Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, one of the most well-known temples in Taiwan dedicated to the sea goddess Matsu, Chen's motorcade was again beleaguered by Falun Gong members and pro-independence supporters. Some 1,000 police and 200-300 volunteers were deployed around the temple to maintain order.

In the morning, three city councilmen from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sneaked past security into an alley outside Chen's hotel in Taichung City, where they chanted slogans until the police removed them.

Chen is scheduled to visit Sun Moon Lake, a scenic spot in Nantou County that is popular among Chinese tourists, and is expected to spend the night there before leaving for Beijing Friday.

Falun Gong practitioners said they will stage a protest at Sun Moon Lake as well.

Chen has been bombarded by protests almost everywhere he has gone so far during his five-day visit to Taiwan. An estimated 30,000 protesters marched against his visit and a proposed trade pact on Dec. 20, the day before he arrived in Taiwan.

Since then, smaller protests have been held every day close to the Windsor Hotel where he was staying in Taichung City.

Local groups said before Chen's arrival that they will deploy a "shadow strategy" and follow Chen everywhere he goes.