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Kaohsiung City Council goes into recess in protest

The Kaohsiung City Council yesterday decided to go into recess indefinitely until the Kaohsiung City Government demonstrates its sincerity over negotiations.

The decision was made to protest the absence of acting Kaohsiung Mayor Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭), after she failed to attend a special meeting in which she was scheduled to report on the cave-ins at the construction site for the city's mass rapid transit (MRT) project.

Two serious sinkages this month at two construction sites in downtown Kaohsiung have raised concerns about the safety of the rail system. There have been at least nine major accidents on the MRT project since construction began in 2001.

Due to the city council's sudden adjournment, the city government may not be able to get its budget for next fiscal year passed and implemented on time.

According to the city's Department of Information, Yeh was absent yesterday morning because she had to receive some foreign guests, and she had appointed Deputy Mayor Cheng Wen-lon (鄭文隆) to attend the meeting in her place.

But Yeh's absence irritated city councilors across the political spectrum, who criticized her for disrespecting the council.

They also attacked her for neglecting the budget and safety of the problematic mass-transit system just to receive some guests.

They also complained that she often refuses to communicate and interact with the council.

"Both the council and the speaker should act tough," said Deputy Speaker Tsai Sung-hsiung (蔡松雄). "The council should recess in order to express councilors' discontent unless the city government shows its sincerity."

At the councilors' request, council Speaker Tsai Chien-hsing (蔡見興), an independent, later ruled that the council would adjourn at noon.

The council has not yet finished its review of the city's annual budget for the next fiscal year. Since it has already arranged some recreational activities for councilors next week, and an inspection tour to Japan in the week after next, the session is unlikely to restart until the beginning of next year.
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