INDECISION:National Alliance for Workers of Closed Factories member Lu Chi called for Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to preside over meetings on the issue

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 22, 2015
By: Ho Shih-chang and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

An inconclusive outcome of a recent meeting between the Taipei Police Department and the city government’s Public Works Department on the issue of road applications for protests was panned by the National Alliance for Workers of Closed Factories, which said the police department was “reluctant” to simplify the application process.

Late last month, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) instructed both agencies to look into simplifying the application process for protests to convene and demonstrate due to the line of applicants often seen to the right side of City Hall ahead of elections or during protests over certain issues.

Standing regulations state that applicants apply at the New Construction Office for rights to use the roads at the designated time before filing an application to demonstrate with the Taipei Police Department, which would then notify both the applicant and the New Construction Office if the application is approved. The entire process can take up to nine days.     [FULL  STORY]