MOI considers Ma reprimand

Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) yesterday emphasized that his ministry will definitely reprimand the Taipei City government for postponing the borough-warden elections, but how the ministry will take action has yet to decided.

"Based on the Council of Grand Justices' conclusion, the Taipei City government obviously made a administrative mistake when it postponed the borough-warden elections," Yu said.

"But we are still studying whether and how to reprimand Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). We might leave this issue to the public," Yu said.

If the MOI concludes that Ma should be reprimanded for the decision and recommends discipline to the Cabinet, Ma would be the second local government leader case ever to have his case turned over to the Control Yuan by the Cabinet for action.

Lee Ya-jing (李雅景), former commissioner of Chiayi County was the first local government leader who's case was delivered to the Control Yuan by the Cabinet.

Lee was charged for mishandling the Pachang Creek (八掌溪) incident, in which four workers were drowned in flash flooding, after the government failed to rescue them in 2000.

Last Friday, the council ruled on the case filed by the Taipei City Government in May, after the ministry instructed the city government to reverse the postponement decision.

Under the council's interpretation, the central government is entitled to overrule a local government's decision.

Also, only unpredictable circumstances, such as natural disasters can be considered as legitimate reasons to postpone elections.

"The council's interpretation obviously entitles us to the right to take action against the Taipei City Government's decision.

Despite the fact that the council didn't explain why the Taipei City government's decided to postpone the election, the city government's excuse to postpone the election is unacceptable," said an MOI official familiar with the case, speaking under the condition of anonymity.

The Taipei City Council passed the Autonomous Regulation Governing the Taipei City Borough Organization on April 3.

The legislation called for a postponement of the elections -- originally scheduled to he held on June 8, when the nation's borough- warden elections were held.

The ministry had opposed the decision, saying the city government abused its power over the issue, while the city government argued that the date of local elections is an inherent right of local governments.

After a six-month postponement, Taipei City is going to hold a borough-warden election on Jan. 8.