Time: 8am - 10am
Date: October 10, 2008
Location: On the streets of Taipei City nearby to the
Presidential Building
The Scene: The public was not invited to join in this year's
R.O.C. / Taiwan National Day celebrations. We were told that in
years past, everybody was allowed to participate. With the new
regime - the KMT - now in power, many people I spoke with felt the
new government was afraid of protests. Grandparents brought their
grandchildren, dressed up in their very best, all to no avail.
Veterans from WWII were likewise turned away from the police
barricade, one man, at age 88, pointing to the police, and saying
"bad" and then pointing to a picture of Chiang Kai-shek, which was
strung around his neck, and saying "good". I even witnessed a group
of international press who were not allowed past the police. As the
clock struck 9:30am and the festivities started just outside the
Presidential Building with the raising of the flag and a recital of
the national anthem, the public of Taipei could not see or hear a
word, unless they were watching their televisions. There was
confusion in the streets and the people were not happy.
In response to assignment:
iReport for CNN