Images from the Post-Election Riots, in Taipei
2000 |
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Spring 2000. Only a day after the citizens
of Taiwan voted to oust the KMT, a powerful political party who
had governed the island for fifty years, thousands took to the streets
in anger and protest. Armed with innocence, ignorance and my camera,
I walked in the midst of the protestors and riot police, desperately
trying to figure out what was happening around me. Below are images
from the two days of riots, along with some of my thoughts and comments
from that time. |
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Scooters Down Scooters down, bicycles down, the riot police in
formation. A man holds a large Taiwanese flag. Behind the police,
a large truck with a water cannon on top. Judging by the wet street,
this was used earlier. Later, a similar truck was used again. |
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The Line These men and women (mostly men) in Blue number in the
thousands and defended important landmarks. Armed with wooden sticks,
these officers are more familiar on street corners blowing whistles
and directing traffic. |
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Satand Up A poignant message for the people of Taiwan and to former
President Li (Lee). |
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Razor Wire A large, mostly non-violent gathering. Razor wire and
Taiwanese flags everywhere. |
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An Earful An emotional citizen gives a fellow foreign correspondent
an earful. |
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Defiance Screaming to be seen and heard, this protestor's head
and nose were heavily bandaged. |
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Outrage The paper being held up was a copy of the membership papers
of a high ranking KMT member -- only problem was that it was membership
for the DPP, the new governing party. The membership papers were
dated July 1999. KMT party supporters were outraged. |
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Pleading This man's pleading appears to be falling on deaf ears. |
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Peace or Victory? A call for peace or a pronouncement of victory? |
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Anger This man voices his anger in the direction of the KMT Headquarters
and party chairman Lien Chan. |
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National Pride Speakers climb atop a van to be seen and heard by
the growing pro-Taiwan crowd. |
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Well Guarded The heavily guarded Presidential Palace. |
