Student protesters in Taiwan indicted for disrupting public service

Five students, who broke into Taiwan's education authority and protested against a curriculum guideline adjustment in July, were prosecuted in Taipei Wednesday for disrupting public service.

The cases involving two minors were transferred to a local juvenile court in Taipei the same day, the prosecutors' office said in a statement.

The island's education authority last January adjusted the curriculum guidelines of certain textbooks, to be implemented in August. The adjustment, to correct certain mistakes and inconsistencies such as replacing "Japanese rule" with "Japanese colonial rule," prompted outcry from the opposing Democratic Progress Party, certain pro-independence groups and high school students.

Several student activists broke into the building of the education authority on the night of July 23. The education authority pressed charges against the students at the time but later dropped the charges.

The prosecutors' office, however, said that some of the students had assaulted education officials and they would be prosecuted. The prosecutors requested that the court consider probation over incarceration for the students.

As for the three journalists and 19 students suspected of vandalism, the prosecutor did not press charges, following a request by the education authority. Endi