Taipei prosecutors today summoned former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and former KMT spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) for questioning for allegedly holding an illegal assembly in April.
KMT Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) is also expected to be summoned for questioning soon, prosecutors said.
Hsieh requested leave and would not appear in court today, people familiar with the matter said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
It was the first time that the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office had summoned Chu and Yang for questioning in the case, and they were released afterward.
“We are here today to uphold the Republic of China Constitution's guarantees on the people's rights to assembly and parade,” Chu said. “We are all adhering to the Constitution's protections for people's rights, and we will insist on the Republic of China Constitution's provisions safeguarding assembly and parade rights.”
“Every time we stand in front of the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, we are here to speak out for the nation’s democracy, freedom, fairness and justice,” Yang wrote on social media after being released.
She said that she would continue to be brave, and defend and strive for a future the younger generation wants.
Chu, Yang and Hsieh are suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding a protest on Apr. 17 outside the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed.
Chu called on party members to protest after Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹), director of the KMT's Taipei chapter, and several other KMT staffers were questioned over the alleged forgery of signatures in recall campaigns targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators.
Police said that they did not comply with repeated orders to disperse, in accordance with the Assembly and Parade Act, and the case was referred to Taipei prosecutors for investigation.
Immediately after attending a rally on Ketagalan Boulevard on Apr. 26, Chu, Hsieh and Yang went to the Taipei City Police Department's Zhongzheng First Precinct for questioning, despite being told to report to police on Apr. 28.
After leaving the precinct, Chu said that the Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly and association, and President William Lai (賴清德) was trying to silence the people.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiao-kuang
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
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
RSS