The National Police Agency (NPA) said yesterday it would dispatch tens of thousands of police officers and volunteers to maintain security during the election today.
NPA Director-General Hou You-yi (
Hou urged the public to obey the law, adding that the agency would not tolerate any violent or illegal action.
The Tainan District Court detained a man named Tsai Chen-chi (
Police said DPP Tainan Councilor Wang Ting-yu's (
Police arrested the suspected caller in Tainan on Thursday night.
Tsai admitted to making the phone call, but said his comments were protected under the freedom of speech, police said.
However, the Tainan District Court ordered Tsai's arrest as his remarks were considered a security threat.
In Taipei, the district Prosecutors' Office said yesterday it had dispatched officials to investigate the two rival camps' allegations of violating the President and Vice President Election and Recall Law (
Officials said the investigation would be conducted after the poll.
Hsieh on Thursday accused the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) of using "non-traditional" tricks to buy votes. He said the KMT intended to spend NT$470 million (US$15.3 million) and mobilize at least 200,000 people to ensure its victory.
The KMT filed suit against Hsieh, and the DPP filed a countersuit. Central Election Commission Chairman (CEC) Chang Cheng-hsiung (張政雄) told reporters yesterday that people who send text messages recommending a certain candidate or wear T-shirts bearing a candidate's campaign logo, number or name today may be subject to a fine of between NT$500,000 (US$16,000) and NT$5 million.
Chang made the remarks after an inspection of the central vote-counting center.
"The President and Vice President Election and Recall Law stipulate that there shall be no campaigning on election day," Chang told the press conference.
Other than text messages and T-shirts, hand gestures or verbal recommendation are also prohibited, Chang said.
"The rule applies to the candidates, their parties, their campaign staff and to private individuals," he said.
The CEC refused to comment when asked about campaign T-shirts that do not bear any of the stated features.
But he admitted that it wouldn't be easy to catch those who campaign privately, saying there were certain gray areas.
Chang also reminded all foreign nationals to refrain from campaigning for candidates in public.
"If a candidate invites a foreigner to campaign for him, the candidate will be in violation of the election law and will be fined between NT$500,000 to NT$5 million," Chang said. "If a foreigner gets on a campaign stage uninvited, he or she would be in violation of the Immigration Law (
Chao Kung-chung (
Chang said more than 200,000 staff members across the country to serve over 17 million qualified voters, Chang said.
Voting starts at 8am and ends at 4pm. With the CEC estimating around 75 percent turnout, the final result is likely to be released at around 9:30pm, Chang said.
The official ballot count can be viewed live at vote2008-3.nat.gov.tw.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
RSS