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UN torch relay is 'unstoppable': Chen

"This [the torch relay] is obviously a sports event. There is no point arguing with the city government. We'll just go ahead with the plan. They can do whatever they want."

Shieh Jhy-wey, Cabinet spokesman

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) remained at odds with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday over the Taipei City Government's position that Chen's torch relay to promote the government's UN bid is illegal.

Chen said Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) was "wasting his energy" in trying to block the torch relay because seeking entry to the UN using the name "Taiwan" reflects the "unstoppable" mainstream public opinion in Taiwan.

Calling on Hau to be more flexible, Chen questioned the city government's allowing the KMT's cycling campaign while blocking the torch relay.

Both events are scheduled to begin in Taipei on Wednesday.

Chen made the comments while addressing Taiwan Heart, an independence group founded by Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday morning.

Hau, a KMT member, maintains that the organizer of the torch relay has not applied for use of the roads and traffic control with the city government and that as such the gathering would be considered illegal.

The Sports Affairs Council, the organizer of the event, sent a letter to the city government "informing" it of the torch relay.

In the letter, it also invited Hau to participate in the event.

The event is scheduled to start on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office on Wednesday, to coincide with UN Day in commemoration of the implementation of the UN Charter on that date in 1945.

The city government has criticized the council for failing to apply for permits for the event, saying the relay would be in violation of the Regulations Governing Road Traffic Safety (道路安全處罰條例) and the Parade and Assembly Law (集會遊行法).

Asked for comments yesterday, Ma urged Chen to abide by the law and apply for a permit with the Taipei City Government.

During a visit to Pingtung's Hakka community yesterday, Ma said the KMT had applied for and obtained permits from the 17 cities and counties for its round-the-nation cycling campaign promoting its referendum bid on "returning" to the UN using the name "Republic of China" or other practical titles.

"The difference [between the cycling campaign and the torch relay] is that organizers of the relay did not apply [for a permit]. We followed the law while they did not," Ma said.

"I am sure the president knows he has to abide by the law. He doesn't need others to remind him of that," Ma said.

Taipei City Government director of information Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東) told reporters that the city government was emphasizing the requirement for permits application out of consideration for the rights of Taipei residents. Yang called on Chen not to set a bad example by breaking the law.

"A man should not ask his fiancee whether she wants to get married. Instead, he should just propose," Yang said.

Asked for comments, Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) urged the KMT not to treat the torch relay using "the mindset of the martial law period."

"This is obviously a sports event. He [Hau] should say no more," Shieh said. "There is no point arguing with the city government. We'll just go ahead with the plan. They can do whatever they want."
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