5 mass rallies to be held in Taipei today

Police urged people who need to go to downtown areas to observe the traffic controls in the affected districts.

On the surface, the gatherings were organized by different groups and will be held to promote various causes, but the participants were mobilized by political parties with the upcoming elections in mind.

Officials seeking reelection and new candidates joining the fray will be among the prominent figures at the rallies.

Tight traffic control will be established around the assembly grounds because organizers have to set up stages and participants will take to the street.

The following is a list of the planned events:

1) 228 Concert at Peace Park (8 a.m.-9 p.m.):

This is another follow-up event to commemorate victims of the "228 Incident" normally held on Feb. 28, but more activities will be staged throughout the year because of the elections.

The "228 Incident" took place on Feb. 28, 1947 as riots against law enforcement officers broke out in Taipei, following an incident between police a peddler who was caught selling smuggled cigarettes in violation of the tobacco monopoly regulations in effect at the time.

Riots spread to other areas of Taiwan and an unspecified number of old and new immigrants were killed and injured in the confrontations.

The government made formal apologies for the incident and a statute was enacted to give financial compensation to families of all victims except new immigrants who moved here from China after World War II without surviving families or relatives.

Organizers hope to draw 3,000 people to the concert.

2) Flag-raising ceremony for U.N. bid (8 a.m.-4 p.m.):

Organized by the "908 Taiwan Nation Movement," participants will raise Taiwan's national flag and sing Taiwan's national anthem on Songji Road, adjacent to the Taipei City Hall.

Organizers hope to attract 50,000 to 100,000 people with a march that will also cover Songgao Road and Songren Road.

Political causes will include establishing a new nation and pushing for Taiwan's acceptance into the United Nations under the name of Taiwan.

Chairman Yu Shyi-kun of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chairman Huang Kun-hui of the Taiwan Solidarity Union, a major political ally of the DPP, will be among the speakers who will address the crowd at the event.

It will also serve as a warm-up for a much larger rally and march to be attended by President Chen Shui-bian on Sept. 15 in the southern Kaohsiung City along with Premier Chang Chun-hsiung, DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh, vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang and the DPP's legislative candidates.

3) Demanding U.S. support for U.N. bid demonstration (4 p.m-10 p.m.)

Demonstrators will march from the northern end of Renai Road (intersection of Guangfu South Road and Sun Yat-sen Road) to Keelung Road, Heping East Road, and end the march at Section 2 of Jianguo South Road.

Organizers plan to draw 2,000 people to call for U.S. backing for Taiwan's gaining the U.N. membership.

4) Protest Against Financial Reforms I (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

More than 10,000 employees from 21 banks will protest the government's second-stage financial reforms, including mergers and acquisitions among financial institutions.

They will gather at the Legislative Yuan on Zhongshan South Road and the planned route will take protesters through Linsen South Road, Linsen North Road, Beiping East Road, Shaoxing North Street, Shaoxing South Street, Jinan Road, and back to the parliament.

They will present a petition to Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, urging the lawmakers to prevent state-owned banks from selling or trading its shares for mergers with private financial groups before the government's reform plan is thoroughly reviewed.

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