April and May updates on Su Beng
APRIL 8, 2012
On April 8th Su Beng took to the streets with his Taiwan Independence Action motorcade. For over fifteen years, every Saturday and Sunday the motorcade has been making its rounds around Taipei city.
The two Chinese characters （獨立）on the back of the truck read: independence.
Each line on the red and white banner fastened to the side of this propaganda truck should be read from top to bottom, left to right, so essentially each line is actually a column. Here's a translation of the message on the banner:
On April 8th Su Beng took to the streets with his Taiwan Independence Action motorcade. For over fifteen years, every Saturday and Sunday the motorcade has been making its rounds around Taipei city.
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| A Taiwan Independence Action motorcade propaganda truck. |
Here’s a translation of what’s written on the side of the propaganda truck above:
NOTE: Each line should be read across from left to right, then from top to bottom.
NOTE: Each line should be read across from left to right, then from top to bottom.
Extinguish the foreign colonial system (top line, in yellow section)
Taiwan independence (second, middle line, in green)
The burden is on the people for the day that we break through the
darkness (third, bottom line, in red)The two Chinese characters （獨立）on the back of the truck read: independence.
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| A banner with a message for the people of Taiwan is fastened to the side of a propaganda truck. |
One country two zones (first, left most column)
Means that China wants to eat up Taiwan (second column)
The Taiwanese should not be fooled (third column)
The Taiwanese must guard and protect Taiwan (fourth, far right column)
The Taiwan Independence Action motorcade is lined up and ready to go.
One unique feature of the propaganda trucks is the live aspect of it. The propaganda trucks are not just automatrons delivering an endless loop of canned, prerecorded messages and music. As you can see instruments like drums and cymbals are played by members of the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade, and people speak live over the megaphones to passersby.
Su Beng gets ready to toss flags to onlookers and passersby.
On the flags that Su Beng is waving is written 台灣民族主義, which translates as: Taiwan Nationalism.
Su Beng tosses a flag and distributes information about Taiwan nationalism.
APRIL 25, 2012
On April 25th, Su Beng entered the hospital to have some medical tests run. Since his kidneys failed in 2009 Su Beng had been less ambulatory. While in the hospital he continued working on his writings.
He also had many visitors while in the hospital.
Professor Tsay of the Alliance of Referendum (ART) also visited Su Beng in the hospital.
MAY 11, 2012
On May 11th, Su Beng asked to be discharged early from the hospital.
Once discharged he went to join the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan's (ART) sit-in, on Ketaglan Boulevard, in front of the Legislative Yuan (which is like the US Congress).
In this photo, the Presidential Palace can be seen in the distance, at the end of the street.
MAY 12, 2012
On May 12th Su Beng spoke at 思想地下室演講, which has been translated as the Reflection Room (or more accurately basement, since 地下 means basement). At the talk Su Beng discussed his book 400 YEARS OF TAIWAN'S HISTORY and the Taiwan independence movement.
MAY 14, 2012
On May 14th Su Beng and the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade went to the front of the Taipei train station to participate in an eight-day rally calling for the release of former President Chen Shui-bian and protesting against President Ma Ying-jeou's poor performance while in office. There were more than 30 civic groups and pro-independence groups gathered there. To learn more about the eight-day rally, read this Taipei Times article about it.
MAY 15 & MAY 17, 2012
Su Beng and the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade made its rounds in Taipei during the eight-day rally and leading up to a major rally to be organized by the Democratic Progressive Party on May 19, the eve of President Ma's second-term inauguration.
MAY 19, 2012
A mass protest of President Ma's poor governance and controversial policies was organized by the Democratic Progressive Party on May 19, the eve of President Ma's second-term inauguration on May 20. Su Beng and the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade joined the protest at the National Taiwan University. Read this Taipei Times article about the protest and what policies the public is protesting.
On May 14th Su Beng and the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade went to the front of the Taipei train station to participate in an eight-day rally calling for the release of former President Chen Shui-bian and protesting against President Ma Ying-jeou's poor performance while in office. There were more than 30 civic groups and pro-independence groups gathered there. To learn more about the eight-day rally, read this Taipei Times article about it.
At the rally Su Beng wrote a message in Chinese characters.
Here's my translation what Su Beng wrote: Taiwan independence is the solution.
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| Su Beng with this Taiwan Independence Action motorcade propaganda trucks in the background. |
MAY 15 & MAY 17, 2012
Su Beng and the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade made its rounds in Taipei during the eight-day rally and leading up to a major rally to be organized by the Democratic Progressive Party on May 19, the eve of President Ma's second-term inauguration.
MAY 19, 2012
A mass protest of President Ma's poor governance and controversial policies was organized by the Democratic Progressive Party on May 19, the eve of President Ma's second-term inauguration on May 20. Su Beng and the Taiwan Independence Action motorcade joined the protest at the National Taiwan University. Read this Taipei Times article about the protest and what policies the public is protesting.
Su Beng and members of the Taiwanese band 拷秋勤 Kou Chou Ching.
MAY 20, 2012
On the day of President Ma's inauguration Su Beng and protesters gathered at the Taipei train station.