Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun denied that police used excessive force to remove student protesters from the Executive Yuan compound Monday, saying that characterizations of the eviction as a "bloody crackdown" were gross distortions of the truth.
Speaking at a press conference today, Sun said much of the information circulating afterward were rumors based on hearsay or intentional attempts by certain media outlets and political parties to malign the government.
The spokesman said that 36 protestors have been transferred to the District Prosecutors' Office so far—11 were college students, three in high school, three temporarily unenrolled college students, one junior high school dropout and 18 non-students. Of the 36 persons detained, 13 posted bail, 18 were placed on limitation of residence, three released, one pending decision by juvenile court, and one released without bail by the court.
Refuting accusations that Premier Jiang Yi-huah lied at Monday's press conference when he said he had ordered police to expel protesters by patting their shoulders, Sun replayed a video of the entire press conference and urged critics not to quote the premier out of context.
As for claims that the police used disproportionate force against students staging a peaceful sit-in and simply shouting slogans, the spokesman said these assertions were unfair to the police and presented several photographs of officers being assaulted by protesters.
Responding to a statement by the International Federation of Journalists condemning the administration and demanding that all reporters be allowed to cover the events safely, Sun explained again that the police had been instructed to give warning by loudspeaker before taking any action to disperse the crowd. And before the operation began that night, Sun had already notified journalists to evacuate the area for their safety. He also played a video of the standard procedures police took to remove protesters that night.
Finally, Sun conveyed the premier's gratitude to all the officers on duty that night. The spokesman had not heard any news about the resignation of National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun and added that Wang had the full backing of the premier.