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Taiwan Quick Take

■ MOFA mum on Chen
With eight days to go before the inauguration of Nicaraguan president-elect Daniel Ortega Saavedra, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday refused to reveal whether President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) would attend the Oct. 10 event in Managua. Spokesman David Wang (王建業) would not say whether Chen would go to Managua in person or send an envoy in his place. Wang added that the ministry was working on the arrangements for the trip, including the transit stops. "We won't disclose our plan until everything is settled," Wang said, adding that showing the ministry's hand too early might cause trouble in light of Beijing's ceaseless attempts to stymie Taipei's diplomatic efforts.

■ Society
Many call for local flavor
The countdown to the New Year's fireworks at Taipei 101 has become a world attraction, but many urged that more local color be added to it. Although the 188-minute fireworks show wowed tens of thousands of revelers, the absence of keywords like "Taipei" or "Taiwan" was seen as a missed opportunity to market the country. The phrase that appeared atop Taipei 101 -- "2007 Bravia by Sony" -- was an exclusive advertising opportunity which Sony Taiwan Ltd obtained through an investment of NT$30 million (US$9.2 million). "We hope that a more local flavor will be added to future New Year's Eve parties to show the world what Taipei is like," Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said yesterday during a municipal meeting.

■ Politics
Chai plans signature drive
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) said yesterday that he and his colleagues would soon initiate a signature campaign in support of his referendum proposal which suggests that the nation's capital be moved to southern Taiwan. In his proposal, Chai said a southern capital would be better for the nation because its political and economic centers should be separate. Moving the capital to southern Taiwan would help balance development, he said, adding that making the change would represent a fresh start for the nation. Chai and DPP Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) picked up a referendum application form at the Central Election Commission yesterday morning. They will need to gather the support of 0.5 percent of the nation's citizens, or 83,000 signatures, for the referendum proposal to proceed. The Referendum Law (公投法) states that, having achieved the initial threshold, another 830,000 signatures will have to be gathered within six months for a referendum to be held.

■ Traffic safety
Lin questions amendment
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Shu-shan (林樹山) yesterday proposed a motion on the legislative floor calling for the reconsideration of an amendment which calls for rear-seat passengers to wear seat belts when traveling on freeways. The legislature passed the amendment on Dec. 22. Drivers of vehicles on freeways in which rear-seat passengers are caught not wearing seat belts will be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$6,000. The new regulation, which will come into effect in March, came in the wake of a car accident which left Taichung Mayor Jason Hu's (胡志強) wife Shaw Hsiao-ling (邵曉鈴) critically injured. Lin said that the regulation was not effective in protecting children. "Seat belts are designed to fit adults, not children," Lin said.

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