TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Interior released a statement condemning the actions of members of the Taiwan People’s Party involved in an altercation with police officers during a demonstration on Saturday.
During the event held at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial in Taipei, TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) criticized the police chief in charge of the event and became involved in pushing and shoving. Eight officers reportedly received minor injuries, per UDN. In a statement on Sunday, the MOI criticized Huang and other protestors for deliberately creating public disorder and challenging the police.
The ministry said it gathered relevant evidence and will forward the case to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for investigation. Huang and others may face charges of obstructing police work and creating a public disturbance.
Images of the demonstration and the clash between protesters went viral over the weekend, with some photos appearing to show Huang with his arm around a police officer’s neck. The TPP claim the officer was smiling in the viral photo, while others have claimed the image may have been manipulated, per UDN.
The TPP organized the demonstration on Saturday to mark one year since police officers raided the party headquarters during an investigation of former party chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲). Members of the flash march called for judicial reform and wanted to draw attention to what they see as political persecution of Ko, the party’s founder.
The MOI said that the National Police Agency will conduct a separate investigation into individuals present during the violent scuffle. The ministry also thanked the police for their commitment to maintaining order and public safety.
