The Executive Yuan yesterday said than a criminal investigation had been launched into a group of pan-blue lawmakers who led supporters on a violent rampage outside the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Friday night.
People First Party (PFP) legislators, including Lee Ching-hua (
The protesters shouted, "Truth unclear, suspend declaration; down with the commission," and smashed windows at the entrance before forcing their way inside. They also threw rocks and eggs and scuffled with police.
PFP Legislator Fu Kun-chi (
"The lawmakers who led the crowd to break into the CEC yesterday to attempt to stop the official announcement of the winners of the election have broken the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法) and the Criminal Code. The judiciary has finished gathering evidence and has started to investigate the case," Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said.
Lin said that Premier Yu Shyi-kun had instructed the judiciary to investigate the incident yesterday.
Lin said that the damage to CEC property and threat to civil servants who were carrying out their duties yesterday was a violation of the Criminal Code, and that lawbreakers could be sentenced up to three years.
"Some pan-blue legislators broke the law intentionally and gathered a crowd to cause a riot. This is a wrong example for democracy and everything will be investigated according to the law," Lin said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also set up a special task force, headed by the premier, to deal with the pan-blue's mass demonstration yesterday.
Yu said that the administration should monitor the demonstration closely, and that there was no space for China's intervention in Taiwan's domestic affairs.
He also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to keep in close contact with the US and Japan, and to hold international press conferences whenever necessary.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a