Independent Greater Kaohsiung city councilor candidate Lee Cheng-hsien (李政憲) yesterday morning drove a four-by-four vehicle through the front doors of Kaohsiung City Hall and poured gasoline on the floor of the lobby as he shouted: “Rise against tyranny.”
Lee threatened to ignite the gasoline with what appeared to be an electronic lighter, but was quickly subdued by two police officers and a security guard.
Lee said his protest was aimed at Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lee Yung-te (李永得), whom he alleged had “persecuted” his daughter’s company — which won a bid in November 2012 to build a badminton court in Fongshan District (鳳山) — resulting in the firm spending NT$5 million (US$160,750) to maintain the venue.
Photo: CNA
No one would listen to his complaints, forcing him to resort to a “last-ditch” measure, he said.
No one was injured in the incident, which began at 10am, and the glass doors did not shatter.
Police said Lee Cheng-hsien had two 36 liter containers of gasoline in the vehicle.
Photo: CNA
A police officer stationed at the mayor’s office on the third floor rushed downstairs after hearing the loud sounds of a vehicle’s brakes and joined another officer and one of the lobby guards in overpowering Lee before handcuffing him to a chair next to the information desk, police said.
Lee Cheng-hsien was taken in for questioning and later charged with violating public safety regulations and obstructing an officer in the discharge of duties.
The deputy mayor said he had heard of Lee Cheng-hsien, but did not know him personally.
Lee Yung-te said he could not understand the candidate’s accusations, as he had never interfered with the family’s leasing of land.
Local media reports said Lee Cheng-hsien was using the sports facility as his campaign headquarters in contravention of regulations on the use of public facilities and was ordered to remove all campaign materials from the premises.
Kaohsiung Information Bureau Director-General Ting Yun-kung (丁允恭) was quoted in media reports as saying that the order was in line with the law, which specifies that the land on which the building stands can be used for sports purposes only.
Ting said candidates should not attempt to harass government agencies as a way of attracting public attention and should let their campaigns speak for themselves.
The city’s Department of Sports said the badminton court is very popular with district residents.
Additional reporting by CNA
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
RSS