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