■ Grievances
A-mei slapped with suit
On behalf of the residents of the building where he lives, former TV anchor Fu Da-jen (傅達仁) filed a lawsuit against Taiwan's favorite diva A-mei (張惠妹) late Saturday night. Fu said that the noise from A-mei's Saturday evening concert -- held in the Taipei Municipal Stadium which is next door to their apartment building -- violated public safety because it caused their building to shake violently. "The noise from her concert had seriously affect us. We couldn't stand it anymore so we decided to do something," Fu said. The show was A-mei's first Taiwan concert in three years. Fu's suit was accepted by the city police's Sungshan Precinct.
■ Diplomacy
Honduran leader arrives
Honduras President Ricardo Maduro arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit to seek financial aid from Taipei. During the five-day visit, Maduro will hold talks with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng-(王金平) and attend a meeting with Taiwan business leaders to lure investment to Honduras. Before his departure, Maduro told reporters that he would seek about US$400 million in aid to finance forest, education and irrigation projects. Among the members of Maduro's delegation are his wife, officials and industrialists.
■ Legislative yuan
Academics urge monitoring
Academics yesterday called for stricter regulations over the performance of lawmakers in a seminar organized by Taiwan Advocates, a think tank headed by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝). Lee Hung-shi (李鴻禧), a National Taiwan University professor specializing in the Constitutional studies, said that the performance of lawmakers should be subject to judicial review or should be the focus of close media scrutiny. Huang Shiu-tuan (黃秀端), director of the political science department at Soochow University, stressed that Taiwan needs laws governing political contributions that regulate not only electoral campaigns, but also activities of lawmakers after their elections, such as receiving donations and travel invitations. She also said that lawmakers should be professionals and should not hold other jobs while following the principle of avoiding issues involved with personal interests.
■ Cross-strait ties
Quebecer adds his two cents
A Quebec political party leader said recently that his party supports a European Parliament resolution urging Beijing to dismantle its missiles aimed at Taiwan. Antoine Dube, spokesman for Asian-Pacific affairs of the Bloc Quebecois party, said recently on the parliamentary floor that his party backs a resolution approved by the European Parliament on Sept. 5, which called on China to dismantle its missiles targeting Taiwan. Dube said the people of Taiwan recently celebrated their national day by holding a wide range of activities. But unfortunately, their jubilation was unable to make Beijing reduce its military threat, he added. Dube's remarks were officially recorded in parliamentary reports.
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