Chairperson Tsai: government which forced its people to take to the streets is the real

The Democratic Progressive Party held its "Yellow Ribbon Siege" march today, which was attended by more than one hundred thousand people.

Chairman Tsai Ing-wen, who spoke at the rally, recalled that although this year is the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the DPP has been forced to take to the streets today to fight for the Taiwanese people's freedoms of speech and basic human rights.

"For the past seven days, we [DPP officials and staff] have not tired at all, because we stand together with the people. Moreover, we would like to thank the people of Taiwan for giving us this opportunity to serve them. We feel honored. "The Yellow Ribbon Siege" is not an ending, but rather a new beginning. We will once again lead the people back to the streets to defend our human rights and protect Taiwan's sovereignty," Tsai said.

President Ma Ying-jeou's stated that the DPP chairperson should take full responsibility for all consequences of today's march. In response, Chairperson Tsai said that she while will assume responsibility, she feels proud to fight for freedom of expression and fundamental human rights on behalf of the Taiwanese people. She also pointed out that Ma should bear the greatest responsibility for recent events. "Ma has distorted Taiwan's sovereignty, brought down our economy, and remained soft on China while suppressing our own people. He does not deserve to be the president of Taiwan."

Finally, Tsai said that although Ma has labeled yesterday's protest and conflicts in the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei hotel as incidents of violence, "those who has experienced the Kaohsiung Incident, lived under the brutal totalitarian regime, and participated in Taiwan's democratic movement all know that the government which forced its people to take to the streets is the real 'violent government.'"

Chairperson Tsai: government which forced its people to take to the streets is the real