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UN relay lacks permit: city officials

The Taipei City Government yesterday acted on its opposition to the government's UN torch relay, issuing a formal document to the Sports Affairs Council saying the event was illegal.

"The council informed the city government about the relay, but never applied for the road permit. The city government can not cooperate in an illegal event and I urge the president to abide by the law," Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said during a question-and-answer session at the Taipei City Council.

The council informed the city government on Tuesday about the relay planned for next Wednesday. It is scheduled to begin by the Presidential Office and continue on Zhongshan S Road, Zhongxiao E Road and Nangang Road. The council invited municipal officials to join the relay and asked the city government to provide assistance for the sports event.

Taipei City Information Department Commissioner Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東) said the council had to apply to the city's transportation department for a road permit in accordance with municipal regulations for temporary events, and propose measures to prevent traffic problems during the relay to the department one month prior to the event.

Holding the event without a permit violates Article 82 of the Regulations Governing Road Traffic Safety (道路安全處罰條例) and Parade and Assembly Law (集會遊行法), Yang said, adding that the city government would uphold the law.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday accused the city government of politicizing the event, saying the relay was a sports event for the public's enjoyment.

"The relay should not be characterized as a political event just because politicians will join the run," Chang said.

Council Chairman Yang Chung-ho (楊忠和), meanwhile, said that the council had completed all necessary procedures to inform the city government about the relay, adding that the Parade and Assembly Law did not apply to sports events.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said separately yesterday that the government would hold the UN torch relay as planned.

"I will join the street relay and hope everyone comes and joins it. I dare [Hau] to arrest us," Chen, who is planning to lead and run the first leg of the relay, told reporters during a visit to Yunlin County.

"Why can Hau ride a bike but I'm not allowed to run on the road?" Chen said, referring to a cycling event the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) planned for the same day to promote its UN referendum proposal.

Chen said previous events that involved races in the streets had not required permission.

"I don't know of any law that backs their claim that holding a torch relay related to joining the UN is illegal," he said.

In response to Chen's pledge to lead the run, Hau said later yesterday that the city government would abide by the law.

Hau and other KMT officials, including KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), will join the KMT's cycling event, which will start at National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.

KMT Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) yesterday said the party had applied for a permit for its event and would not take the same route as the government's relay in order to avoid bumping into each other.

Ma joined Hau in calling on the president to abide by the law, adding that all political events are subject to the Parade and Assembly Law and that organizers must secure permits from the police or local government.

Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan
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