Nuclear protester sets himself on fire
An anti-nuclear protester set himself on fire outside Taiwan’s parliament today, before witnesses extinguished the flames with bottled water.
Before torching himself, Huang Ting-fang gave a protest letter to reporters that were covering a small anti-nuclear demonstration outside the legislature.
The man was in stable condition with burns on his legs, arms and head, Chen Shi-chi, a doctor at Taiwan University Hospital, said.
But Chen said they were concerned that he may have inhaled harmful amounts of smoke.
TV reports showed him stumbling around engulfed in flames for about a minute.
The incident came just hours after MPs decided to hold a debate tomorrow and on Wednesday on how to resolve the nuclear dispute.
Opposition MPs are angry that the new government has decided to scrap the partially built plant.
The letter by Huang, obtained by ETTV cable news, urged MPs not to support the construction of the nuclear plant, saying ‘‘it would harm future generations ‘‘for a thousand years.’’
After he set himself on fire, the man walked several steps while flapping his arms. He fell to his knees and got up before falling again and rolling on the ground.
Seven bystanders doused the flames with bottled water. Another man used a small fire extinguisher.
David Chou, a MP with the ruling Democratic Progress Party which opposes the nuclear plant, visited the protester in the hospital.
‘‘It doesn’t matter whether you oppose or support the nuclear plant,’’ he said.
‘Please don’t use this kind of behaviour and hurt yourself.’’
