Thousands in clashes over Lien Chan's 'journey of peace'
Taiwanese opposition leader Lien Chan's historic 'journey of peace' to the mainland got off to a bad start yesterday.
Thousands of pro-independence protesters clashed with Mr Lien's pro-unification camp at Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek International Airport when the Kuomintang chairman and a 70-strong delegation were leaving for their eight-day trip.
Independence supporters, some wearing vests with the words 'Kill Lien Chan, Save Taiwan', shouted slogans, condemning Mr Lien as 'a traitor selling out Taiwan'.
Protesters, led by members of the Taiwan Solidarity Union and other radical pro-independence groups, were furious because they believed Mr Lien should not be visiting the mainland after Beijing enacted the Anti-Secession Law, which authorises the use of force against the island if it moves towards independence.
To counter the pro-independence activists, unification supporters led by New Party chairman Yok Mu-ming went to the airport to throw their weight behind Mr Lien's delegation.
Despite the deployment of about 1,700 police, several hundred pro-independence protesters broke into the departure lobby, where they scuffled with hundreds of Mr Lien's supporters.
