Funeral in New Taipei City attracts 4,000 people, major triads represented
More than 4,000 people attended a funeral for a respected gang leader’s deceased mother in Banqiao District, New Taipei City, yesterday, October 9, and members of rival gangs gathered peacefully for the solemn occasion.
Ye Wenxiang, a native of Sanchong District, was described by United Daily News as a “heavyweight gang boss,” and various news outlets accorded Ye the title of “a man of the Shanghai style,” which evokes a Gatsby-like figure, lavish with money, and host to a wide circle of friends and contacts.
Commencing at 9:30 am, members of the three major triads arrived to pay condolences to the Ye family, including the Bamboo Union, the Four Seas Gang, and the Heavenly Way Alliance. As well as underworld figures from the northern, central, and southern districts of Taiwan, President of the Legislative Yuan You Si-kun, and a representative of the New Taipei City Council presented flower baskets at the ceremony.
While relations between gangs remained calm, a scuffle briefly broke out between police and younger cadres of the Heavenly Way, when officers demanded their boss Zeng Yingfu show his ID card. Zeng poured oil onto troubled waters by rendering up to officials his ID card, urging his younger brethren to do the same.
Around 300 police were on hand to check identification, on the look out for any wanted suspects or underaged gang members. Close to 100 underaged people were taken in for questioning, and two persons were arrested for carrying knives.
According to the traditional folk calendar, Saturday, October 9 was a favorable day for funerals, and one hour after the Ye funeral ceremony concluded, another began for the brother of a gang leader from Wugu District.
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