Tens of thousands go on street to protest DPP authority's policies

TAIPEI -- More than 50,000 Taiwan residents went on street Sunday afternoon to protest controversial policies of the Democratic Progressive Party authority.

About 50 non-governmental organizations and political parties participated in the protest, according to the event's organizer.

People gathered at around 1 pm Sunday in the square in front of Taiwan leader's office and marched toward the building of the DPP headquarters. The protest ended at around 4:30 pm.

A large number of participants wore black T-shirt and carried black balloons, protesting against the DPP authority's decision to import US pork containing ractopamine, while others held signs opposing a latest move to close down news channel CTi News.

Taiwan's telecom and broadcasting service regulator on Wednesday denied an application from CTi News to renew its license, effectively shutting it down. The decision has been viewed by the public and many insiders to be politically motivated.

Protesters demanded the authorities to withdraw the decisions and the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen and Su Tseng-chang, chief of its executive body, to apologize and resign.

The organizer said that it would call for another street protest if the island's legislature adopted the motion allowing the imports of US pork containing ractopamine next month.