TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan People’s Party held a large rally on Sunday to protest the conviction and sentencing of party founder and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
Organizers said that by 3 p.m. on Sunday, more than 30,000 people had gathered on Ketagalan Boulevard to show support for Ko, reported UDN. Numbers laters swelled to over 80,000 by late afternoon, per LTN. TPP supporters have argued since Ko’s case began that he was unfairly targeted and prosecuted for political reasons.
On March 26, the Taipei District Court convicted Ko of corruption and embezzlement after nearly 15 months of investigation, detention, and trial. The former presidential candidate was sentenced to 17 years in prison, with his civil rights revoked for six years.
After the sentence was handed down, the TPP immediately called for a public protest, urging supporters from across Taiwan to come to Taipei on Sunday. The “Fight for Judicial Justice” rally featured sitting TPP legislators, more than 20 KMT legislators, as well as TPP officials and candidates from around the country.
The TPP says that Ko’s prosecution proves the nation’s judicial system is no longer fair and impartial, but has become a tool of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Attendees said they were standing up for judicial reform to protect human rights and democracy in Taiwan, reported UDN.
Current TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) called the verdict “outrageous.” He told attendees that prosecutors wanted to find a crime carrying a harsh enough sentence to prevent Ko from pursuing any future political career, reported UDN.
There were 125 police officers deployed to ensure safety at the event, with an additional 60 on standby, reported CNA. Despite the presence of some counterprotest groups and influencers who sought to disrupt the event, the rally concluded peacefully.
The TPP, founded in 2019, is a minority party in Taiwanese politics with eight sitting members in the Legislative Yuan. The party is currently aligned with the larger opposition party, the KMT, against the DPP.
