Taipei approves DPP government UN relay event

The dispute between the central government and the Taipei City Government over the former's UN bid torch relay, set for today, was resolved at the last minute when the city government approved a permit application for the event.

The application was filed on Monday by the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association (CTRRA) on behalf of the Sport Affairs Council (SAC).

For several days, the city government and the SAC had engaged in a dispute over whether the torch relay -- intended to promote the country's bid to join the UN -- is a political activity or a sports event.

The SAC, which considers the torch relay a sports event, notified the city government of its plans but did not apply for a permit.

However, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) insisted that the relay event is a political activity, for which a permit is required. He said that holding the activity without a permit would be unlawful.

During a question-and-answer session on the legislative floor yesterday, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said the Cabinet had approached the dispute with three principles in mind: that it should try its best to resolve conflict between government agencies; that the event should be held in an orderly manner; and that political conflict should be avoided.

Chang denied that the central government had changed its mind on the nature of the event.

SAC Deputy Chairman Lee Kao-hsiang (李高祥) said the council had also maintained its position that the torch relay is a sports event. Lee said the council had asked the CTRRA to help file the permit application in an attempt to end the dispute.

Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) said the Cabinet was happy to see the dispute resolved, calling it a "win-win" situation.

CTRRA Deputy Secretary-General Ho Li-chiung (賀麗瓊) said the association is not a co-organizer of the torch relay, but is assisting the SAC by recruiting athletes to participate in the activity.

Ho said a precedent had been set, as a permit had never before been required for a marathon event.

Meanwhile, the Taipei City Government will send more than 700 police officers to maintain order and to control traffic at the torch relay and the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) cycling event, which also takes place today.

Taipei City Police Department Commissioner Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞) said the department would take a flexible approach to traffic control along the routes of the events. Police would not prevent the public from participating in either of the events, he said.

Wang estimated that more than 700 people will participate in the torch relay, which begins in front of the Presidential Office this morning.

He urged drivers and pedestrians who will pass the relay route to follow police instructions.

Hau said the city government would assist with traffic control because legal procedures had been followed.

"The city government doesn't like events being held during the week, as this will cause inconvenience for residents. But we will maintain order to ensure that the events run smoothly," Hau said.

The mayor added that the city government would draw up regulations to control events that are held during the week.

"We respect the public's right to parade and assembly, but we need to make sure that these events do not cause any inconvenience for the majority," he said.

With the dispute seemingly at an end, the DPP yesterday called on the public to participate in the torch relay.