[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 102 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TAIWAN PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN CHAMPIONS HUMAN RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2001

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan recently 
completed his first year of service as head of state, and I would like 
to take this occasion to congratulate him and comment on a few of 
Taiwan's achievements.
  Taiwan has long been a friend of the United States. Over the last 
decades, Taiwan has made great strides towards becoming a model of 
rapid political reform. Taiwan subscribes to the private enterprise 
system and offers its people one of the highest standards of living in 
Asia. In terms of its trading relations with us, Taiwan represents our 
seventh largest export market, thus providing many jobs for our 
manufacturers. In addition, more than 30,000 Taiwan students are 
studying at U.S. colleges and universities. The U.S. is the number one 
destination for most of Taiwan travelers. Taiwan and the United States 
share many values in common such as attachment to freedom, democracy, 
and human rights.
  One of the most notable feature of President Chen's administration is 
his championing of human rights. For many decades, human rights had 
been a taboo subject in Taiwan until Taiwan's martial law was repealed 
in 1987. In recent years, the government has been cooperating with 
civic groups to recognize the government's past mistakes and has taken 
concrete steps to help raise human rights awareness. Under the 
sponsorship of the Human Rights Foundation, in 1999 a monument was 
erected in Green Island, off the southeast coast of Taiwan, opposite 
Taitung County. The monument was to help people remember the many 
victims who were imprisoned and died in Green Island, a notorious 
prison camp. To prevent future violations of human rights, Chen's 
government has made every effort to guarantee its people the most basic 
human rights--freedom of expression, the right to assemble peacefully, 
and freedom of association. There will be no more prisoners of 
conscience and no more extrajudicial killings. Civil liberties are to 
be respected at all times.
  In his inaugural address delivered on May 20, 2000, President Chen 
committed Taiwan to upholding the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and 
the Declaration and Action Program of 1993 Vienna Conference on Human 
Rights. In essence, President Chen believes that every citizen ought to 
enjoy the right to work, the right to freedom of thought, conscience 
and religion, the right to an education, the right to medical care, the 
right to participate in elections, and the right to social security in 
the event of unemployment, illness, and disability. Also, President 
Chen has urged the Taiwan legislature to consider drafting legislation 
to protect the rights of women, children, the elderly, and the 
indigenous people, laborers, and soldiers. Clearly, there is a long way 
to go and human rights work is a never ending effort.
  It is appropriate that we applaud Taiwan's many efforts in upholding 
and maintaining human rights for its people. Taiwan is indeed fortunate 
to have its president as its foremost human rights champion.

                          ____________________