Conflict Erupts over Miaoli Landfill 坤輿掩埋場流血衝突 自救會十多人掛彩

A conflict erupted over a landfill operated by Pacific Ecology Co. in Miaoli County on July 21. The company wanted to carry out a full trial run so it used force to clear the area, resulting in injuries to a dozen members of a self-help association.

Chairs and rocks fly through the air. There were also people wildly spraying pepper spray into the air. This incident occurred at around 3 a.m. on July 21 at the site of a landfill operated by Pacific Ecology Co. in the village of Longsheng in Miaoli's Zaoqiao Township. The company had plans to carry out a full trial run, and there were about 20 trucks carrying refuse waiting along Provincial Highway 1. The company also deployed several hundred security guards to clear the area. Members of a self-help association present at the scene struck back, and about a dozen sustained injuries.

Mr. Lin, Resident, Longsheng Village: “Quite a few of our residents were dragged inside and beaten. It's terrible. They were dragged inside and beaten.”

Mr. Lin, Resident, Longsheng Village: “Someone had two ribs broken, and his entire face was covered with blood. He was hit in the face with an iron stick.”

Chen Ching-hsin, President, Save Zaoqiao Association: “They sprayed pepper spray and threw tables and chairs, and many residents were injured. A dozen or so are hospitalized at Miaoli Hospital.”

The landfill controversy started more than 20 years ago. Earlier this year, the Miaoli County Government once again authorized a trial run that stipulated that the volume of refuse inside the landfill must reach 2,160 tons before Sept. 11. The company has not commented on the incident, while the self-help association criticized the county government and the police for their passive response, saying they're on the side of the company. The Environmental Protection Bureau said the company had failed to undergo weighing inspections at weighing stations, which is illegal. The Police Bureau said everything is handled according to law and troublemakers will be sternly dealt with.

Chen Wu-kang, Commissioner, Police Bureau, Miaoli County: “The bureau absolutely did not side with anyone. Any illegal behavior will be sternly dealt with according to law. We will not be lenient in punishing violent behavior.”

The police closed off a section of the highway at one point to traffic in both directions, and didn't reopen it until 8 a.m. The two bureaus will conduct joint inspections of the refuse trucks, and those that are overweight will be asked to leave. The National Police Agency has sent officers to help out and avert another conflict.

苗栗坤輿廢棄物掩埋場爭議，今天凌晨爆發流血衝突，坤輿公司為了執行全量試運轉強勢清場，自救會成員有十多位民眾掛彩。椅子石塊齊飛，還有人拿著辣椒水狂噴，位於苗栗造橋龍昇村的坤輿事業廢棄物掩埋場，21日清晨3點左右爆發流血衝突，坤輿公司要進場執行全量試運轉，有將近20台載運廢棄物的車隊在省道台1線待命，另外再請來兩三百名保全強勢清場，在現場固守的反坤輿自救會成員反擊，共有十多位民眾受傷掛彩。

造橋龍昇村民林先生說：「我們好幾個鄉親被拖進去打，好恐怖，被拖進去裡面打。」

另一名造橋龍昇村民林先生指出：「被打斷兩根肋骨，他滿臉都是血，被鐵條直接打到臉。」

反坤輿事業廢棄物掩埋場自救會長陳清鑫也說：「噴辣椒水，還有甩那個桌椅，造成很多鄉親受傷，差不多有數十位，現在住在衛生福利部苗栗醫院。」

坤輿掩埋場爭議延燒超過20年，苗栗縣府今年再度核發試運轉許可，規定9月11日前，進場掩埋的廢棄物總量至少需2160噸。針對這起衝突，坤輿公司截稿前未回應，自救會則批評縣府與警方消極不作為，都在為坤輿護航。環保局表示，坤輿並未在申請核定的地磅站過磅，屬於違法。警察局則澄清，一切依法行政，對於滋事者都蒐證嚴辦。

苗栗縣警察局長陳武康表示：「本局絕對沒有偏袒任何一方，如果有任何違法絕對依法嚴辦，制裁暴力絕對不手軟。」

警方一度封閉台1線南北雙向交通管制，上午8時才恢復通行，並於環保局聯合稽查坤輿廢棄物車輛，在確定過磅不合規定後要求車輛離場。警政署也加派保一與保四總隊員警前來支援，防止新一波衝突。