Taipei’s campaign to drive out homeless ahead of International Flora Expo sparks criticism

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

      Taiwan Church News

      3054 Edition

      September 6~12, 2010

       

       

      Taipei’s campaign to drive out homeless ahead of International 
Flora Expo sparks criticism

       

      Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

      Written by Lydia Ma

       

       



      “We ask the city government to stop driving out homeless people 
from the streets!“ said 

      Homeless Action Alliance Convener and Salvation Army Homeless 
Shelter’s social worker, Kuo Ying-ching.

       



      Her remarks were in response to Taipei City Wan-Hua District 
Police’s recent efforts to drive 

      out homeless people from the area, which led to much debate 
about the rights of the 

      homeless. This incident also highlighted a serious social issue 
shortly after a government 

      report on the economic disparity between Taiwan’s richest and 
the poorest made headlines in Taiwan.

       



      It turned out the move to sweep out the homeless was 
orchestrated by the city government in 

      preparation for hosting the 2010 Taipei International Flora 
Exposition set to begin on 

      November 6, 2010. But for Kuo, such a directive was nothing 
short of sweeping a glaring 

      social problem under the carpet. “That’s like pretending all is 
well and peaceful – it’s very 

      unrealistic,” she said of the city’s “out of sight, out of 
mind” policy.

       



      Many people cannot stand homeless people’s stench and 
dirtiness, making them easy targets 

      ahead for such an international event. But homeless people 
don’t normally choose to appear 

      so unkempt, said Kuo. The city could alleviate this problem if 
it would provide places for them 

      to shower and store their personal belongings. However, such 
facilities are scarce and only 

      open during government office hours.

       



      Kuo urged the government to provide a robust welfare program in 
tandem with pursuing a 

      growing, vibrant economy. She admonished that sweeping problems 
under the carpet by 

      forcing homeless people out of Taipei area would merely 
compound a serious existing 

      problem and hide the fact that a sizeable minority of people 
live in poverty and their plights 

      beg for our attention and assistance.

       



      ********************

      Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local 
languages. 

      You may translate and re-use our articles online only if you 
acknowledge the source as 

      "Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter and 
writer. 

      Contact us before reprinting any of our articles for print 
publications. 

      Direct comments and questions about this article to: 
enews@pctpress.org

      Visit our website for more news at: http://enews.pctpress.org/ 
(English) 

      http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese) 

      ********************