Independent Kaohsiung City Councilor Cheng Hsin-chu (鄭新助), a former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member, said yesterday he planned to lead listeners of his pro-independence radio program to demonstrate against president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) by setting off firecrackers upon his arrival in Kaohsiung for his inaugural banquet on May 20.
During a question-and-answer session at the city council, Cheng said many of his listeners saw Kaohsiung as “a heartless city” following the presidential election last month.
Cheng’s remarks were ostensibly in reference to DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh’s (謝長廷) defeat to Ma by 28,885 votes in the city, where Hsieh served two terms as mayor.
Cheng said his listeners had suggested imitating the campaign seeking to oust President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) led by former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) by “welcoming” Ma to the city by holding up banners and letting off firecrackers as soon as he and his foreign guests arrive.
Cheng said he was opposed to any expression of enthusiasm by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) — also of the DPP — as she receives the president-elect on May 20.
Cheng urged Chen Chu and Kaohsiung Police Bureau Director-General Tsai Chun-chang (蔡俊章) to determine whether his plan would be considered illegal.
“It is the right of residents to welcome or not welcome [Ma] in a peaceful way,” Chen Chu said.
During a question-and-answer session, Tsai said he would deal with the matter in accordance with the law.
Asked for comment later yesterday, Tsai said the city police and the National Security Bureau would ensure Ma’s safety on May 20, adding that setting off firecrackers upon his arrival was illegal.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday. The government would provide full scholarships for international students to further their studies for two years in Taiwan, so those who want to pursue a master’s degree can consider applying for the program, he said. The fields included are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, semiconductors and finance, Yeh added. The program, called “Intense 2+2,” would also assist international students who completed the two years of further studies in
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) departed for Europe on Friday night, with planned stops in Lithuania and Denmark. Tsai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday night, but did not speak to reporters before departing. Tsai wrote on social media later that the purpose of the trip was to reaffirm the commitment of Taiwanese to working with democratic allies to promote regional security and stability, upholding freedom and democracy, and defending their homeland. She also expressed hope that through joint efforts, Taiwan and Europe would continue to be partners building up economic resilience on the global stage. The former president was to first
Taiwan will now have four additional national holidays after the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment today, which also made Labor Day a national holiday for all sectors. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) used their majority in the Legislative Yuan to pass the amendment to the Act on Implementing Memorial Days and State Holidays (紀念日及節日實施辦法), which the parties jointly proposed, in its third and final reading today. The legislature passed the bill to amend the act, which is currently enforced administratively, raising it to the legal level. The new legislation recognizes Confucius’ birthday on Sept. 28, the
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
RSS