A pro-independence group announced yesterday it will mobilize 2 million people to take part in simultaneous cultural rallies to be held in 23 cities and counties nationwide on Nov. 27.
A spokesman for the Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan said former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) will serve as the convener of the activity, which is aimed at enhancing people's consciousness of Tai-wan's national identity and cultural heritage.
Encouraged by the success of the Feb. 28 Hand-in-Hand" rally, when more than 1 million people held hands together to symbolize their determination to protect their homeland, the spokesman said the alliance decided to organize cultural rallies on Nov. 27 to further promote their cause.
Organizers will set up large stages in public areas in 23 cities and counties for musical, dance, theatrical and folk art performances. The activities will all begin at 6pm and be capped by the release of lanterns.
"All local people are welcome to take part in the rallies and they will be asked to hold up lanterns, fluorescent rods, candles or flashlights to light up the place," the spokesman said.
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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