Social activist Gu Siyao passed away due to illness at the age of 80.

A pro-democracy figure with terminal rectal cancer, Ku Sze-jo, passed away this afternoon due to illness at the age of 80.

The Protecting Diaoyu Islands Action Committee stated that at around 1 p.m. this afternoon, Ku Sze-jo died at Caritas Medical Hospital with his son accompanying him. Details regarding funeral arrangements will be announced later by the “Ku Sze-jo Funeral Committee.”

Former member of the People First Party, Tsang Kin-sing, said in response to media inquiries that beginning last year, Ku had been bedridden and unable to eat, and the situation was already not very optimistic.

2012 successfully landed on Diaoyu Islands, detained by the Japanese side

Ku Sze-jo fought for many years. In 2012, he boarded the “Kai Feng No. 2” and succeeded in landing on Diaoyu Islands, but was later detained by Japanese authorities. For years, he frequently raised a self-made coffin to protest, and he was imprisoned on multiple occasions, leaving 16 records, including offenses such as insulting the national flag or regional flag and attempts to incite others.

Ku Sze-jo previously made a plea in court on his own behalf, saying that for decades he had been demonstrating peacefully, and that he was willing to become a “fighter” in social and democratic movements. He also said he hoped to become a “democracy and human rights martyr.”