Taiwan student suicide sparks more protestsTaiwan student suicide sparks more protests
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Hundreds of students protesting Taiwan's new "China-centric" high school curriculum Friday occupied part of the grounds of the Education Ministry, vowing to stay there until the ministry reversed its decision on the curriculum, local media reported.
At a news conference Friday students urged other high school students in other cities and counties to join them in Taipei.
The new wave of protest was sparked by the suicide of one of student leaders, 20-year-old Lin Kuan-hua, on Thursday, state-run Central News Agency said.
Lin and other protesters were arrested by the police on July 24 after they broke into the offices of the education minister.
The 33 detainees were sent to prosecutors for further investigation. Minister of Education Wu Se-hwa said it would sue 24 senior high school students over the break in.
Some of the arrestees, including Lin, were released on bail. He committed suicide in his New Taipei City home on Thursday.
Wu visited Lin’s parents shortly after the tragedy.
According to the Apple Daily, Lin’s last messages included his birthday wish that Wu would retract the controversial new high school curriculum, which opponents say favour China's view of Taiwan's history.
Late Thursday, about 500 hundreds protesters gathered in front of the Education Ministry building, calling for the Wu to resign. Some protestors held white roses and candles to bid farewell to Lin, the Liberty Times reported.
Receiving no response from the ministry, some protesters took down fences around the ministry building, taking over a yard in front of the building early Friday, state-run Central News Agency said.