FORMER COUNCILOR VANDALISES MORE STATUES|李承龍砸日治石狛犬石像 故意再犯遭收押

Former Taipei City councilman Li Cheng-lung was caught vandalizing more statues Japanese figures on the evening of May 28. The target this time was two 80-year-old guardian lions in an elementary school in Taipei. Li and another woman have been remanded in custody after they refused to provide money for bail. Former Taipei City councilman Li Hsien-lung livestreamed himself vandalizing the koma-inu statues in front of Taipei's Yixian Elementary School on May 28th, accompanied by a woman surnamed Chiu, continuing even when the police arrived. Li had previously claimed responsibility for decapitating a statue of the Japanese civil engineer Yoichi Hatta. ==YU CHENG-HAN Chief, Guangming Substation, Beitou Precinct, Taipei City PD== They think that the two artifacts were watching over the souls of Japanese soldiers killed in World War 2. They believed that the existence of (these statues) in schools was not acceptable. The feet and tails of the two koma-inus have been broken off, and stone fragments can be seen on the ground. The school said that the statues dated back to 1935, and originally were meant to guard the shinto shrine in Beitou. They were placed at the entrance to mark the school's 50th anniversary nine years ago, and to watch over the pupils. The school said that it will seek damages. ==WANG CHIH-HAO Director of Counseling, Yixian Elementary School== We just want to restore it to its original appearance. The compensation will be sought through the available legal channels. Mayor Ko Wen-je said that people who stirred hatred like this must be punished. ==KO WEN-JE Mayor, Taipei City== In our society, our country, we're facing challenges from inside and outside. We need solidarity. So I very much detest those people who have nothing better to do than stir up hatred. So they need to be punished severely. Currently, the school has wrapped the statues in black to avoid further damage. Experts will be consulted to repair the statues. The vandals have been arrested for damaging public property. Although the two were originally set to be released on a NT$50,000 bail, a plea to remand the duo was filed after they claimed they had no money. A court then ruled in favor of the plea, since this was a deliberate second offense. Translated by JOHN CHEN