The National Police Agency (NPA) yesterday approved a request by the Kaohsiung Police Department for backup to maintain order in the city as two marches for and against Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) are to take place tomorrow.
A rally in support of a drive to recall Han organized by Wecare Kaohsiung is scheduled to begin at 1:30pm at the Kaohsiung Cultural Center on Wufu First Road and march 11.1km to Dayi Street, organizers said.
The “Rise of the South: Kaohsiung’s Glory” parade in support of Han, the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) candidate in the Jan. 11 presidential election, and his running mate, former premier Simon Chang (張善政), is to start at 1:11pm at Aozihdi Forest Park (凹仔底森林公園) and conclude at the gate of Smile Park (微笑公園) on Wenzi Road about 3.1km away.
Photo: CNA
Despite the narrowest distance between the two marches being approximately 3.8km, the department had asked the agency for backup to ensure that the events proceed peacefully, Cabinet spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka said on the sidelines of a weekly news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei.
The department requested the backup in the hope that it would be prepared for any possible clashes stemming from the “highly confrontational” events, Kolas said, adding that the agency had granted the request.
Asked to comment on a remark by Han’s deputy chief campaign officer Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) that there could be another incident reminiscent of the 319 Shooting — an assassination attempt on March 19, 2004, against then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and then-vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) — in the run-up to next month’s election, Kolas said that politicians should speak on evidence and refrain from causing tension or divisions in society.
Photo: CNA
As disinformation abounds before elections, politicians should avoid misleading the public, which would not be in the nation’s interests, she said.
Separately yesterday, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) stressed the importance of ensuring social order in the run-up to next month’s presidential and legislative elections, and ordered all relevant agencies to intervene in any possible election-related violent incidents as swiftly as possible.
Su made the remarks after being briefed by the Ministry of the Interior on an incident in which a man surnamed Wu (吳) last week allegedly placed a triacetone triperoxide bomb at the KMT’s offices in Tainan’s Houbi District (後壁).
The man was detained by police in Kaohsiung on Saturday last week following a raid and gunfight.
The premier ordered the ministry and the Ministry of Justice to strictly enforce the law and crack down on any violent activity, as some people could adopt more aggressive ways to express their opinions as the elections approach.
In related news, the American Institute in Taiwan warned US citizens in Kaohsiung about the “possibly conflicting” events, urging them to exercise caution in the vicinity of the rallies or, if possible, avoid them completely.
It also warned of anticipated traffic congestion along the events’ routes and on the Kaohsiung MRT.
Additional reporting by CNA
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