Four men plead guilty to rioting charges from 2019 campus unrest

In November 2019, a large-scale riot erupted at the Polytechnic University, where demonstrators occupied more than one million square feet of the campus and engaged in various acts of destruction. The conflict involved the throwing of petrol bombs, arrows, and bricks at police lines, as well as the removal of chemical materials from laboratories and the blocking of main arteries with barriers. The unrest persisted until the end of the month, after which a significant number of demonstrators surrendered to the police.

In 2024, the police arrested four additional men who were charged with rioting. These defendants, identified as Zhang Songxing, a 29-year-old land worker, Chen Jun-yun, a 22-year-old, Chen Xing, a 33-year-old teacher, and a fourth individual, pleaded guilty before the District Court. Their pleas acknowledged involvement in blocking roads in the interior, taking containers from the laboratory, and, in one case, being found in possession of a petrol bomb.

The prosecution presented evidence that since November 11, 2019, demonstrators had gathered in response to the “three strikes” and organized activities including the destruction of closed-circuit television cameras and the production of petrol and fork weapons. Following the closure on November 17, the confrontation escalated as demonstrators set up roadblocks and threw gasoline at an armored police vehicle, causing it to catch fire.

The police conducted a major investigation on November 28, 2019, discovering a large quantity of weapons, including self-made petrol bombs, iron bars, swords, and arrows. The resulting damage to the university interior was severe, with maintenance costs estimated at approximately $300 million. The incident also resulted in injuries to four police officers, including one senior officer who was shot in the leg by an arrow.

A co-accused, Le Jing Jie, was heard in absentia in October 2024, and the court issued a warrant for his arrest. The defendants’ pleas included claims of personal transformation over the six years since the incident, stating that they had worked as volunteers, taken pictures with a priest to avoid crime, and suffered ill-treatment and injuries while in Burma.

The legal proceedings highlight the severe consequences of institutional disruption and the importance of accountability in maintaining public order. As the court processes these guilty pleas, the focus remains on the factual record of the events and the legal outcomes for those involved. The case underscores the necessity of justice and mercy in addressing acts of violence that impact both public safety and institutional integrity.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)