Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner's speech sparks election row

Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams stepped into an row when she addressed a Taiwanese presidential election rally last night.

Election monitors said today that the ruling party should be fined for inviting her to speak.

The Taipei Election Monitoring Committee said the Democratic Progressive Party violated a law that bans foreigners from campaigning in elections by inviting Ms Williams to give a speech at last night’s rally.

Ms Williams and Mairead Corrigan received the Nobel peace prize in 1976 for their work toward peace in Northern Ireland.

The committee said it’s presented its case to Taiwan’s Election Commission, which would decide on the matter.

Vice President Annette Lu slammed the move, saying Ms Williams only came to lend support to the government’s efforts to address China’s build-up of missiles pointed at the island, and not to campaign on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian.

“We invited her to show her concern and support for peace,” Lu said.

Voters will be asked whether Taiwan should beef up its defences if China refuses to redeploy some 500 missiles aimed at the island during a referendum to be held the same day as the presidential polls. The election is on March 20.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing still claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and has threatened to use force if the island refuses to reunify.