Taiwanese Students Demand Right to Protest

Say demonstrations against a planned sale have been made difficult by officials

Student groups in Taiwan Tuesday accused the government of trying to clamp down on their freedom to protest against a planned sale that they believe will make the media more Beijing friendly.

The students reacted angrily after the education ministry sent a notice to 37 universities expressing "concerns over the health of students" for joining street protests — despite bad weather — against Hong Kong-based Next Media's plan to sell off its Taiwanese assets.

"We are very healthy and we want to defend Taiwan's freedom of speech and democracy. It's the education ministry trying to suppress student movements that is sick," the Youth Alliance Against the Media Monster said in a statement.