In the New Taipei City mayoral race, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Yu Shyi-kun (游錫堃) has complained that his camp has been subjected to Martial Law era-like suppression in the final days of campaigning.
Yu said he and other DPP candidates were impeded in their efforts to hold an election eve rally at the plaza in front of Mass Rapid Transit sytem’s Banciao Station (板橋車站), due to political interference by the New Taipei City Government, which is under Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Mayor Eric Chu’s (朱立倫) administration.
As of yesterday, despite holding negotiating meetings, the authorities had still not granted a permit for the DPP’s election eve rally, which is to take place tonight.
Photo: Taipei Times
Yu’s campaign office last night said that with or without permit, they are determined to hold the rally tonight at the original intended site — the Banciao Station plaza, which is north to the New Taipei City Government Building.
The former premier said his team had applied to use the site on Aug. 8, but the city government delayed its decision, then rejected the application 12 days ago.
“Then we applied for three other sites, but they were all rejected. So we still have no legally permitted place to hold our rally. Also, on Wednesday, workers distributing our campaign brochures were detained by police,” Yu said.
“Taiwan is now a free and democratic country. However, some people’s value judgements still remain in the Martial Law era. It’s like back in the White Terror years,” he added.
“Our application to hold the rally is the freedom of assembly granted by our Constitution, but this government took 103 days to reject our application. Then we tried other alternative sites, but were all refused,” Yu added. “Refusing to allow us to hold our election eve rally and confiscating our campaigning brochures violates our society’s freedom and democratic values. I want to make a strong protest to Mayor Eric Chu.”
New Taipei City Government officials said Banciao Station is a main transportation hub, with massive passenger flow from the convergence of road traffic, the Taipei MRT system, the railroad and the High Speed Rail system, so it was feared that holding a big rally would disrupt traffic and cause other problems.
Chu asked Yu’s camp to find other suitable places, and said by insisting on this site, DPP was making thing difficult for government officials.
For tonight’s festive campaign finale in New Taipei City, Yu and DPP candidates will launch an event with a music concert theme at the plaza, which is one block north of the government office building.
Organizers said DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will make her appearance at about 6pm, and the event is to include entertainment by popular singers and musicians.
Eric Chu’s election eve rally tonight is at the Banciao Stadium on Hanseng E Road, which lies two blocks south of the site of the DPP’s event. President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and other KMT luminaries and entertainers will be present through the proceedings.
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