All five opposition party candidates for the Nov. 27 elections will be in Taipei City on June 26 for the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) protest against a trade pact with China.
Sinbei City candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who doubles as DPP chairperson, and Taipei City candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) will each lead a separate march that will make its way to the Presidential Office in the evening.
The two are scheduled to speak out against the government’s plan to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) after 5pm in front of a crowd of thousands on Ketagalan Boulevard.
The opposition party, supported by a number of pro-independence groups, has announced that it would be stepping up a campaign against the agreement and in support of a public referendum on the issue.
At least eight pro-independence organizations and the smaller Taiwan Solidarity Union have expressed support for the DPP rally and pledged to mobilize thousands of supporters.
Also expected to join in the protest is former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), an outspoken critic of an ECFA, which he says could increase Taiwanese economic and political dependence on China.
“Everybody that is against an ECFA is a welcome addition to this rally,” DPP spokesperson Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said.
The go-ahead for the protest was officially given after a routine meeting by the DPP’s Central Executive Committee yesterday afternoon. The committee also confirmed the date and launched a nationwide mobilization order only used for larger protests.
That order is expected to gather up to 100,000 supporters for the protest with an additional 50,000 to 100,000 joining in during the day, DPP Deputy Secretary-General Kao Chien-chih (高建智) said.
The crowd will be split into two with Su leading a 3.5km march from Taipei City’s Ding-Hao plaza along Zhongxiao E Road, Linsen S Road and Renai Road Sec 1. Tsai’s march, also an estimated 3.5km, will begin at Wanhua Station and then go on to Monga Boulevard, Heping W Road Sec 2, Fuzhou Sreet, Roosevelt Road Sec 1 and Zhongshan S Road.
Both marches will start at 4pm and later congregate on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office at 5pm, where a number of DPP officials are expected to make speeches.
Road traffic along the route is set to be shut down in the afternoon of June 26 and motorists are advised to avoid driving close to the area where heavy delays are expected to occur.
During the rally, both Tsai and Su are expected to discuss the possible impact of an ECFA on Taiwan’s economy, job market and fragile industries.
They are also set to speak out on China’s political ambitions toward Taiwan and the government’s failure so far to disclose the content of the agreement.
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