Police officers clash with protesters against Formosa’s naphtha cracker

19-Aug-10

Protesters against Formosa’s naphtha cracker have clashed with police officers. This has resulted in several arrests as residents of Mailiao and Taihsi blocked roads leading to the plant on Formosa refusal to pay a satisfactory compensation package for a fire on July 25. Instead of the NT$1.7 bln (US$53 mln) demanded by the locals, the company has offered a maximum of NT$500 mln (US$15.6 mln). About 3,000 people turned up on three major roads leading to the plant, preventing trucks from reaching the petrochemical complex. About 2,000 police officers clashed with protesters trying to break through police lines and arrested four protest leaders. The impact of the blockade was limited because essential transportation had been completed on Monday evening and employees had been asked to show up for work early.