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Campaigners say the move to revoke permits is unfair and unreasonable

A campaign to depose Taiwan's scandal-plagued president, Chen Shui-bian, could be forced underground after his government pressured police to halt further anti-Chen protests in Taipei.

Police in the capital announced last night that they would revoke the permit issued to campaign organisers for a round-the-clock sit-in outside the presidential office from tomorrow until October 27.

'We decided to revoke their permit because they had violated the freedom of assembly regulations by staging illegal activities on October 1, 5 and 10,' a police spokesman said. 'Such violations had seriously disrupted order and traffic.'

But the organisers of the 'Million Voices Against Corruption' campaign could continue their current sit-in at the square outside Taipei railway  station until next Wednesday, the spokesman said.

Police had previously rejected an application by the campaign organisers for the protest to be staged outside Mr Chen's residence from October 19 to 30.

The revocation came after Interior Minister Lee Yi-yang ordered the National Police Administration to step in and demand that Taipei's Chungcheng police station, which supervises the area around the presidential office, issue no more permits to campaign organisers and revoke permits already issued to them.

'Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou has set a bad precedent by giving free rein to the campaign headquarters for round-the-clock protests outside the presidential office and the Taipei train station. Those people have been there for over a month. We have got to put a stop to such a red terror so that residents of Taipei can return to a normal life,' Mr Lee said.

But Mr Ma said Mr Lee had no right to order the Taipei police to revoke the permit, because this violated their autonomy. However, Mr Ma said he would leave it up to the Taipei police to make the final decision.

Mr Lee's reference to 'the red terror' was referring to a series of protests led by Shih Ming-teh,  former chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), since September 9 to demand the resignation of Mr Chen over a string of corruption scandals surrounding him, his family and government.

Mr Shih's campaign uses the colour red to symbolise public anger over alleged presidential corruption. Mr Chen is under investigation over the alleged embezzlement of state funds.

Clad in red, anti-Chen protesters have swamped the streets, shouting 'depose Chen Shui-bian' whenever the embattled leader appears in public.

On Tuesday hundreds of thousands of protesters embarrassed Mr Chen in front of foreign guests during the island's Double Tenth celebrations by shouting slogans and unfurling banners to demand his removal from office.

Mr Chen has defied all calls for him to step down and has insisted he will complete his term, which ends in May 2008.

Campaign organisers branded the revocation 'unfair and unreasonable'. 'We have long applied for the holding of the protest and have been given approval to do so. How can they revoke it?' said Feng Ting-kuo,  a spokesman for the campaign headquarters.

He said the headquarters would reapply for the permit.

Mr Shih said he felt ashamed for the DPP, which had in the past taken to the streets to demand freedom of assembly.



Government  seeks ban on  anti-Chen  protests