Fishermen burn flags in protest at shooting
Source: Agencies |
May 14, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ANGRY Taiwan fishermen burned Filipino flags outside the Philippine representative office in Taipei yesterday in a protest against the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard.
Hundreds of fishermen wearing yellow headbands and chanting "justice must be done" and "killer must be punished" hurled eggs at the office in Taipei and demanded Manila apologize for the incident last Thursday when coast guard personnel opened fire on a fishing vessel, killing 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng.
More than 75 police officers were in attendance to maintain order.
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has given the Philippines until today to apologize for the incident and compensate the dead man's family.
If the Philippines refuse, Ma says he will order Taiwanese representatives in Manila back to Taipei and deny Filipinos permission to work in Taiwan.
About 87,000 Filipinos are employed on the island.
Philippine presidential deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte said on Sunday that the head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan had apologized and offered his condolences to the family.
Asked if the apology was an acknowledgement the Philippines authorities made a mistake, Valte said it was more of an "expression of heartfelt sorrow at the unfortunate incident," stressing it would be better to wait for the results of an ongoing investigation.
But Taiwan said it was not satisfied with the response. "If the Philippine presidential office continues to respond to our request in such an attitude ... they will have to pay a price," Ma's office said.
Hundreds of fishermen wearing yellow headbands and chanting "justice must be done" and "killer must be punished" hurled eggs at the office in Taipei and demanded Manila apologize for the incident last Thursday when coast guard personnel opened fire on a fishing vessel, killing 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng.
More than 75 police officers were in attendance to maintain order.
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has given the Philippines until today to apologize for the incident and compensate the dead man's family.
If the Philippines refuse, Ma says he will order Taiwanese representatives in Manila back to Taipei and deny Filipinos permission to work in Taiwan.
About 87,000 Filipinos are employed on the island.
Philippine presidential deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte said on Sunday that the head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan had apologized and offered his condolences to the family.
Asked if the apology was an acknowledgement the Philippines authorities made a mistake, Valte said it was more of an "expression of heartfelt sorrow at the unfortunate incident," stressing it would be better to wait for the results of an ongoing investigation.
But Taiwan said it was not satisfied with the response. "If the Philippine presidential office continues to respond to our request in such an attitude ... they will have to pay a price," Ma's office said.
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