ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS AT AIT-TAIPEI AND THE

UNCLAS TAIPEI 000409 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR DS/DSS/IP, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/FPO, DS/PSP/PSD AND EAP/TC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV TW SUBJECT: ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS AT AIT-TAIPEI AND THE AIT-KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE ¶1. (U) On Tuesday 07 February 2006, sixteen members of the Taiwan Southern Society staged a brief demonstration outside the commercial office building housing the AIT-Kaohsiung (AIT-K) branch office. The purpose of the protest was to present a written statement to AIT-Kaohsiung protesting the U.S. government's criticism of Taiwan President CHEN Shui-bian's call to abolish the National Unification Council (NUC). Arriving at 1430 hours local time, the demonstrators were also accompanied by seven members of the local press, including one television cameraman and a radio reporter. The group shouted slogans and delivered a letter addressed to President BUSH, to an AIT-Kaohsiung representative. Posturing for the local media, one of the protest leaders launched into a ten-minute harangue claiming that Taiwan democracy is not compatible with the "One-China" policy and demanding the U.S. not pressure Taiwan on the international stage. The protesters and accompanying press disbanded at approximately 1440 hrs without further incident. ¶2. (SBU) The Kaohsiung City Foreign Affairs Police positioned fifteen uniformed and five plainclothes officers at the ground floor entrance of the building housing AIT-K branch office to maintain order. Local Guard Force (LGF) personnel remained at post on the fifth floor to ensure that regular office operations were not disrupted. No unusual incidents, arrests or injuries were reported. ¶3. (U) The following day, Wednesday 08 February, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT-Taipei) received a fax notification from the Taiwan Northern Society, indicating they would be holding a rally outside AIT-Taipei to condemn U.S. "interference" in Taiwan's domestic affairs. Initially scheduled to conduct their protest at 1300 hours local time, representatives from the Taiwan Northern Society did not arrive until 1600 hrs. The small band of only eleven demonstrators unfurled a large banner that read "Taiwan People Deserve the Right to Self-Determination" and then delivered a statement to the police, which was later passed to an AIT security officer. In the one-page statement written in Chinese, the Taiwan Northern Society labeled opposition to Taiwan President CHEN Shui-bian's proposal to abolish the NUC "disrespectful" and called upon the U.S. government to immediately apologize to the Taiwan people. It also accused the U.S. of acquiescing to the PRC's interpretation of the "One-China" policy which presupposes Taiwan's eventual reunification with the mainland. Once the statement was delivered, the protesters departed the area on foot without incident at 1620 hrs. ¶4. (SBU) RSO Taipei notified National Police Administration (NPA) contacts in advance about the planned protest and the local Da-An police precinct commander responded by deploying additional uniformed officers in front of the Consular section to maintain order. Police also kept the demonstrators confined to a pre-designated area away from the Consular entrance to ensure that AIT operations were not hampered. SDT units and LGF personnel were also put on alert, and no unusual incidents, arrests or injuries were reported. ¶5. (U) In Kaohsiung, three local papers reported the demonstration, mainly concentrating their coverage on the content of the Taiwan Southern Society's protest statement, including their support of President CHEN's call to abolish the NUC. In Taipei, the protest received limited coverage by the broadcast media and was only reported in one local newspaper. DAVISON