For the first time in Taiwans history, two areas in Taipei City will be specifically designated for public demonstrations, and starting August 1 approval may be granted for their use immediately upon receipt of an application.The city government passed a proposal on Tuesday that designates the amphitheaters in Taipei 2/28 Peace Park and Ta-An Forest Park as demonstration and assembly areas. The plan removes the regulation in the Assembly and Parade Law that required demonstrators to apply seven days prior to the protest date for permission to use the areas. The new regulation, which goes into effect starting August 1, allows that permission to use the areas for protests may be issued immediately upon request.

Sheng Chih-jen, director of Research Department and Evaluation Commission under the city government, said that the city government had allocated the two sites for demonstration purposes following an agreement reached by the ruling and opposition parties. The new policy also guarantees the basic human rights of the population, he said.

Sheng said demonstrators will be required to file their applications at designated police stations, and most requests will be approved as long as no public security issues are involved.

The city government stressed that the selection of the two demonstration areas had nothing to do with politics. The concert plaza in the 2/28 Peace Park was chosen because it is located at a distance from the Presidential Office, which means that any protests held there would not disturb the staff at the Presidential Office, the city government noted.

When asked by reporters why it had decided to specify two areas for public demonstrations, the city government said the decision was fair.

"It is a time of rivalry in society - the same issue may trigger different opinions from the different campaigns. Two demonstration areas will cater to the needs of the different groups," the city government was quoted by Central News Agency as saying.