Comments on: Is Taiwan becoming a police state? http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/ commentary on all things Taiwanese — Taiwan Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:43:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Human rights under attack in Taiwan - David on Formosa http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84550 Human rights under attack in Taiwan - David on Formosa Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:06:28 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84550 [...] two weeks have passed since I wrote the post asking if Taiwan is becoming a police state? It was written during the middle of ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin’s visit to Taiwan and it [...] [...] two weeks have passed since I wrote the post asking if Taiwan is becoming a police state? It was written during the middle of ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin’s visit to Taiwan and it [...]

]]> By: David Reid http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84510 David Reid Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:53:48 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84510 Mark, I still haven't had time to write in more detail about the police actions. I agree with you that the way police handled the large scale protests was reasonable most of the time. I know in Australia the police would be potentially be more aggressive in a similar situation. My concerns about the police relate more to police actions to seize people's property and prevent individuals and small groups from peacefully expressing their opinions. In these cases police were neither upholding the law nor protecting the peace. Mark, I still haven’t had time to write in more detail about the police actions. I agree with you that the way police handled the large scale protests was reasonable most of the time. I know in Australia the police would be potentially be more aggressive in a similar situation.

My concerns about the police relate more to police actions to seize people’s property and prevent individuals and small groups from peacefully expressing their opinions. In these cases police were neither upholding the law nor protecting the peace.

]]> By: Mark http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84509 Mark Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:34:30 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84509 I think Taiwan is about as far as it gets from being a "police state". I was at the gathering in front of the hotel and it was a pretty rowdy group. People were throwing things at the police, screaming in their faces and knocking over parked scooters and garbage cans. The police were less aggressive than I have ever seen at any similar protest in any other country. Had a similar events occurred in either of our home countries, tear gas and tazers would have been used. I think Taiwan is about as far as it gets from being a “police state”.

I was at the gathering in front of the hotel and it was a pretty rowdy group. People were throwing things at the police, screaming in their faces and knocking over parked scooters and garbage cans. The police were less aggressive than I have ever seen at any similar protest in any other country. Had a similar events occurred in either of our home countries, tear gas and tazers would have been used.

]]> By: David Reid http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84507 David Reid Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:44:16 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84507 Richard, I think your logic is backward. Ma was given his mandate on the basis that he upheld Taiwan's sovereignty. Instead he has left people feeling confused about Taiwan's status. Instead of moving in step with the will of the people he is acting unilaterally. An electoral mandate doesn't give a leader the right to act like a dictator. They must continue to listen to and act in the interests of the people they represent. Richard, I think your logic is backward. Ma was given his mandate on the basis that he upheld Taiwan’s sovereignty. Instead he has left people feeling confused about Taiwan’s status. Instead of moving in step with the will of the people he is acting unilaterally. An electoral mandate doesn’t give a leader the right to act like a dictator. They must continue to listen to and act in the interests of the people they represent.

]]> By: Richard http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84506 Richard Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:32:07 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84506 Given that President Ma has a clear electoral mandate for the negotiations it seems to me that the threat to Taiwanese democracy is coming from the protestors. They seem to prefer disorder to the electoral process. Given that President Ma has a clear electoral mandate for the negotiations it seems to me that the threat to Taiwanese democracy is coming from the protestors. They seem to prefer disorder to the electoral process.

]]> By: flowerlily http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84499 flowerlily Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:58:10 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84499 HI David, Thanks for your good comments and article! When I read your previous comment about the white terror days, I was a bit surprised. Although I am not there, I can feel that things were going backwards (in terms of democracy and freedom) in Taiwan from reports from friends/media. The police power has been overused in several cases. Chen Yulin is only an official from an association from China, yet he got the highest 'regard' from the KMT. I wonder if other head of of state visit Taiwan, they can get such 'royal treatment' from the KMT. HI David, Thanks for your good comments and article!

When I read your previous comment about the white terror days, I was a bit surprised. Although I am not there, I can feel that things were going backwards (in terms of democracy and freedom) in Taiwan from reports from friends/media. The police power has been overused in several cases.

Chen Yulin is only an official from an association from China, yet he got the highest ‘regard’ from the KMT. I wonder if other head of of state visit Taiwan, they can get such ‘royal treatment’ from the KMT.

]]> By: Der Polizeistaatsbesuch « Brennpunkt Taipeh http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84496 Der Polizeistaatsbesuch « Brennpunkt Taipeh Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:21:42 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84496 [...] gewaltsame Zwischenfälle, aber die Stimmung vor Ort fand auch er äußerst unbehaglich. In einem weiteren Posting kommt er zu dem [...] [...] gewaltsame Zwischenfälle, aber die Stimmung vor Ort fand auch er äußerst unbehaglich. In einem weiteren Posting kommt er zu dem [...]

]]> By: jenna http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84490 jenna Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:43:44 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84490 Yes, you can condemn your own ancestors if they systematically killed millions (The Great Leap Forward) and destroyed their own culture. Most Americans came from Europe more recently than the oldest Taiwanese families came over from China. Does that mean we're not allowed to criticize Europe, or that we should reunite with Great Britain? Yes, you can condemn your own ancestors if they systematically killed millions (The Great Leap Forward) and destroyed their own culture.

Most Americans came from Europe more recently than the oldest Taiwanese families came over from China. Does that mean we’re not allowed to criticize Europe, or that we should reunite with Great Britain?

]]> By: David Reid http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84489 David Reid Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:02:43 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84489 Thanks for your comments everyone. I have seen many things in these past few days. There are many aspects to what happened. I hope to write more about it tomorrow. Thanks for your comments everyone. I have seen many things in these past few days. There are many aspects to what happened. I hope to write more about it tomorrow.

]]> By: J B http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/11/is-taiwan-becoming-a-police-state/comment-page-1/#comment-84488 J B Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:08:42 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/?p=2195#comment-84488 "Can you condemn your own ancestors?" Seeing that the taiwanese people's ancestors have been dead for quite some time and are therefore not guiding China's policies which the protesters are against, I don't see how protesting against China is "condemning your own ancestors". If Buddhawind is so keen on being ruled by his ancestor's homeland, maybe he should get Kenya to annex China. We all came from Africa anyway, right? “Can you condemn your own ancestors?”
Seeing that the taiwanese people’s ancestors have been dead for quite some time and are therefore not guiding China’s policies which the protesters are against, I don’t see how protesting against China is “condemning your own ancestors”.
If Buddhawind is so keen on being ruled by his ancestor’s homeland, maybe he should get Kenya to annex China. We all came from Africa anyway, right?

]]>