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UN road run an illegal event: Taipei mayor

The Taipei City Government yesterday accused the central government of violating the law by failing to acquire a permit for its UN torch relay next Wednesday.

The city government pledged to administer the law against the "illegal event."

"The Sports Affairs Council applied for the relay as a sports event, but everyone knows that it's a political event. The city government will not allow the [central] government to skip the application procedures and ignore our authority," Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) told reporters at the Taipei City Hall.

The council issued a document on Tuesday informing the city government about the relay next week -- which will begin in front of the Presidential Office and then march along Zhongshan S Road, Zhongxiao E Road and Nangang Road -- and asked the city government to provide assistance with the sports event.

Hau condemned the central government for violating the law, adding that holding a relay on busy streets during a weekday would would inconvenience city residents.

"Whether or not it's a sports or a political event, the government should apply for a road permit from the city government. We will not allow the government to keep violating the law," he said.

Yeh Chin-yuan (葉慶元), the city's Law and Regulation Committee commissioner, said the central government should apply for a permit with the city's New Construction Office in accordance with the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法).

It should have also presented a proposal on traffic maintenance during the relay to the city's transportation department one month before the event, Yeh said.

Yeh said holding the torch relay without applying for a permit in advance would be a violation of Article 183 of the Criminal Law, which states that people who endanger the public danger by damaging or blocking roads or bridges face a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Hau called on the government to reconsider holding the relay and vowed to exercise his full authority if the illegal event were to proceed.

At a separate setting yesterday, Peng Tai-lin (彭台臨), head of the council's Department of Sports for All, said the run would take place as planned.

Peng said those wanting to participate in the run can still do so on the designated day, since the road run is a sporting event for everyone.

No traffic controls are required during the run since participants should be able to handle their own safety by stopping at red lights, Peng said. He added that the council would also arrange to have staff help participants deal with traffic safety issues.

Additional reporting by staff writer
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