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Election security
details unveiled
By Rich Chang / Staff Reporter
The National Security Bureau yesterday unveiled its plan to provide security for
candidates during next year¡¦s presidential election, saying it would do
everything in its power to protect both the candidates and their campaign
support staff.
The bureau is expected to submit a full security report for the election
campaign to the legislature¡¦s National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee
meeting today.
The nation¡¦s main civilian -intelligence agency, the bureau said it had
earmarked a budget of NT$127.6 million (US$4.4 million) for security operations
during the campaign.
This involves the proposed procurement of 41 vehicles of various types, eight
motorcycles, communications equipment, bulletproof vests and other items.
To avoid a repeat of the -election-eve shooting of then--president Chen
Shui-bian (³¯¤ô«ó) and vice president Annette Lu (§f¨q½¬) on March 19, 2004, and that
of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Central Committee member Sean Lien (³s³Ó¤å) on
Nov. 26, the bureau said it would step up the protection of campaign officials
at all campaign events.
Despite the timing of Lien¡¦s shooting, investigators have been unable to link
the incident to the elections and, according to the would-be assassin, it was a
case of mistaken identity over a business dispute.
The bureau has proposed that candidates should use its armored vehicles when
campaigning in public. It also said it would urge presidential and vice
presidential candidates not to ride in the same vehicle when campaigning.
It is also looking to ban fireworks at campaign activities, the bureau said.
The candidates¡¦ campaign teams would also be required to assist agents from the
bureau conduct security check at campaign events and offices.
The bureau said 135 agents would be divided into three security task forces,
with 45 individuals per task force. These are set to begin operations on Nov. 21
and wrap up on Jan. 14 ¡X election day.
From Jan. 14 through June 30, another security task force would be deployed to
handle security for the president and vice-president-elect.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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