[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E358]]
      HUMAN RIGHTS AND REPUBLIC OF CHINA PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2001

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, while the world's 
attention has focused on human rights abuses in the People's Republic 
of China, attention ought also be given to the commendable human rights 
record of the Republic of China.
  The Republic of China's constitution guarantees its citizens basic 
civil liberties, including freedom of peaceful assembly and 
association, freedom of speech and press, and freedom of religion. The 
Republic of China is also now a recognized full-fledged democracy that 
respects political rights, as evidenced by last year's election of 
President Chen Shui-bian in free and fair elections. This occasion 
marked the first time in Chinese society that an opposition party 
candidate was elected President. Son of a farm laborer, Mr. Chen was an 
active political reformer and activist for many years and served time 
in prison for his beliefs. After gaining his release, he served as a 
lawmaker and later as mayor of Tapei. His presidential victory last 
March 18 signaled to the world that true democracy has taken hold in 
the Republic of China.
  In his inaugural address last May 20, President Chen announced: ``We 
are willing to promise a more active contribution in safeguarding 
international human rights. The Republic of China cannot and will not 
remain outside global human rights trends. We will abide by the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Contention for 
Civil and Political Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and Program of 
Action. We will bring the Republic of China back into the international 
human rights system. . . . We hope to set up an independent national 
human rights commission in Taiwan, thereby realizing an action long 
advocated by the United Nations. We will also invite two outstanding 
non-governmental organizations, the International Commission of Jurists 
and Amnesty International, to assist us in our measures to protect 
human rights and make the Republic of China into a new indicator for 
human rights in the 21st Century.''
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud President Chen's commitment to democracy and 
human rights. As we approach President Chen's first anniversary in 
office, I hope my colleagues will acknowledge his full commitment to 
safeguarding human rights in the Republic of China. President Chen and 
his cabinet ought to be applauded for their continuing efforts to make 
Taiwan one of the freest places on earth and for proving once again 
that political freedom and a prosperous market-oriented economy go 
hand-in-hand. I wish to congratulate president Chen and send him my 
support and best wishes.

                          ____________________