[Condole] Mr. Liu passed away

There was a man who left the world silently when the mass media was so loud. Mr. Liu, the man who committed self-immolation on the Liberty Square passed away in the early morning Dec. 14th.

News in Mandarin: Liberty Times

[GroundReport] Taiwan Government Cracks Down on Student Protests of 'Wild Strawberries' Movement

The forced eviction of Wild Strawberries Movement at the Freedom Square this morning (Dec 11), just a few hours after the International Human Rights Day, shows the Taiwan government's hypocrisy in the implementation of human rights .

On International Human Rights Day (12/10), Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou asked the Legislature to give endorsement to two international human rights documents (the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) to help implement human rights protection in Taiwan. The speech was made in Asian Democracy and Human Rights Award, an annual event organized by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. (more)

Liberty Square Protest

Podcast about the protests.
http://billcreata.podomatic.com/player/web/2008-12-11T04_48_52-08_00

[Taipei Times] Wild Strawberries forced to vacate Liberty Square

The Wild Strawberry Student Movement yesterday criticized the government after the surprise eviction by police early yesterday morning of the 40 student protesters and a group of Tibetan activists who remained at Liberty Square following the students’ rally on Sunday.

“[The eviction took place] less than 24 hours after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said [at a Human Rights Day event] that people in Taiwan enjoy the most freedom to assemble and parade [in the world],” movement spokesman Lo Shih-hsiang (羅士翔) told a press conference.

“At about 5am, the students who were staging a silent sit-in at Liberty Square were besieged and removed by police along with about 100 Tibetan activists, without any warning. We are very ashamed by [the police action],” Lo said. (more)

Video from this nights events

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhe4xc5F3IQ

BREAKING NEWS !!! A guy burning himself in Liberty Square Now

Students protesting in Freedom Square witness a horrible scene that a guy lights up a huge fire to burn himself.

Happening now as of 1105 PM, 11/10, 2008:

http://live.yahoo.com/wenli

I was stunned too, 'cos I was watching it happening far away from USA through the online live cam set up by the protesting students.

Ambulances arrived right away. Don't know the condition yet. The guy is 80 year old long time KMT member. Flyers were distributed before he burnt himself. He was very disappointed on how Ma Ying-jeou trashed the Republic of China flag, the symbol of something he was taught by KMT to loyal to in his entire life, in order to please the Communist China, the enemy he was taught by KMT to fight against in his whole life.

Trickery politician, ironic history, distorted belief, resulting in a tragic life.

This tragedy interrupted the protest procedure. Students call for peaceful resolve for any opinion expression.

UPDATE.1:

1. The suicide note distributed by Bo-Yian Liu (劉伯煙) before he burnt himself:
   
   
   My translation:
   
   

   My name is Bo-Yian Liu(劉伯煙), 80 years old. I joined KMT in 1950, and has been cheated and insulted by KMT for 30 years, until I couldn't stand it any more and retired. I am not sure how President (Ma Ying-jeou) thinks about what happened lately. I saw people walking on the street with small national flag were arrested by the police, and the flagpole was broken by the police. I saw many policemen beat up people without being punished. I heard that the police arrested 16 civilians and is gonna indict them. Are more than a thousand policemen who beat up civilians with rods gonna be given outstanding awards ?
   
   When Chen Yunlin met up the President (Ma Ying-jeou), he pointed his finger at President and said, "You, you, you...", and I saw President was so happy and responded with a smile on his face. Is the name of our President "You-you-you?" Being a KMT member, I am so shame of myself -- does that mean if Mainland sent an even higher ranking official, our President will knee down to him?
   
   I saw that President is so unfair. It would be better if President issues an amnesty to dismiss all things, that would make it peaceful, and will show how kind and general a President has.
   

   
   
   
2. A member in the medical team of protesting students accompanied Mr. Liu to the hospital. He returned to the scene about one and half hr later. Mr. Liu suffers 3rd burn on 80~90 % of his body, but is stabilized now.
   
   
3. Students describe that Mr.Liu was in the scene this morning. He looked very upset. Students invited him to sit and tried to calm him down. He did. Then later, he seemed to get upset again and walked out of the tent. The unfortunate tragedy then happened.
   
   A student described that their guy on duty in the morning took away two gas bottles from Mr.Liu. But this doesn't seem to be confirmed by a later description.
   

UPDATE.2: