■ Water
MOEA mulls price hike
Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) said yesterday that a tap-water price hike is necessary as the daily commodity has been provided at prices far below cost. A price increase is also needed as a means of controlling consumption, particularly at a time when water levels at all the major reservoirs around the island are approaching record lows, he said. Lin, however, said he is uncertain about the amount of the increase, noting that the question is being discussed by the Water Resources Agency and water companies of all levels. He also said he is uncertain when exactly the price hike will be implemented, but reiterated the fact that former premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) had promised the public during his stint, which ended February last year, that water prices would not be raised within two years. The ministry is determined to keep Chang's promise, Lin said.
■ Crime
Men arrested for cheating
Three men at a high-tech company have been arrested for allegedly using hidden microphones and earphones to help hundreds of people cheat at civil servant examinations, police said yesterday. The exam-takers communicated with company employees via cell phones hidden under their shirts, using microphones to read questions and wireless earphones to receive test answers, police said. One man from the company was arrested on Sunday after appearing for a civil servants test at a high school but departing early to sneak out the exam papers, police officers said. Two other suspects were arrested at their homes, police said. The arrests followed a year of investigation. The group had helped hundreds of people cheat at exams over the past 18 months, and at least 100 of the candidates passed the exams to be recruited as policemen, jail wardens, firefighters or public school teachers, the officers said.
■ Rescue services
Yu dismisses purchase claim
Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) dismissed reports yesterday that Taiwan will purchase helicopters from Indonesia. Yu made the remarks at a legislative committee meeting during which legislators expressed concern about whether to phase out Taiwan's old rescue helicopters in the wake of the recent crash of a UHIH rescue helicopter after picking up the victims of a derailed alpine train on Alishan in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, on March 1. Yu said that the National Fire Fighting Administration plans to buy 12 helicopters over three years to supply the needs of rescue operations, but the questions concerning buying which kinds of helicopters from which countries has yet to undergo professional assessment.
■ Diplomacy
Chen meets vice president
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday met with Guatemalan Vice President Juan Francisco Reyes Lopez, who had just arrived in Taipei for a four-day official visit. Chen expressed his thanks to the Guatemalan government for its support for Taiwan's bid to join international organizations. He said that at an international meeting organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization last year, Reyes urged the meeting to admit Taiwan. Chen noted that Reyes will sign a joint statement with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) on first-stage consultations on the signing of a free-trade agreement. Chen recounted his trip to Guatemala last May, saying that he was deeply impressed by a tour of an ancient city, accompanied by Reyes.
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