Pilis Nanghaisudan

Close Off Our Land, 2011

Single channel video, 17 min. 58 sec.

On December 23, 2011, the Makotaay Close Off Our Land protest was held in response to the Fengbin Township government losing the land registration documents of locals. The national government planned to take over our ancestral farmland and then hand it over to the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration to develop it into Shitiping Recreation Area. This infringement on people’s land and negligent, illegal conduct by the government continued for over 20 years and was completely ignored by the authorities. Outraged, the locals carried out a legal protest only to be notified by the police that an investigation was taking place regarding their possible violation of the Assembly and Parade Act!

Photo by Zhong Sheng-Xiong