[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 158 (Tuesday, November 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2215-E2216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN OF TAIWAN UPON HIS RECEPTION OF 
                  THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                               TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 4, 2003

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the experts told us during the 1980's that 
freedom for South Africa was a lost cause, and sanctions would never 
work. South Africa is now free. They said that the Soviets would never 
release Nathan Sharansky. He is now a Member of the Israeli Cabinet. 
They said that freedom for East Timor was a lost cause. East Timor is 
now free. And they said democracy, free press and civil society would 
not thrive in Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Taiwan are living proof that there are no 
``lost causes'' when it comes to human rights, only battles yet to be 
won. Taiwan's democratic development is exemplary of Chinese people 
around the world who, regardless of where they live, seek the same 
basic human freedoms as everyone else.
  Mr. Speaker, like South Africa, Soviet refusniks, and East Timor, the 
road to freedom in Taiwan was not easy, and there were many choices to 
be made along the way. After political activists in Taiwan were 
arrested in 1980, Chen Shui-bian could have stayed silent. But instead, 
he joined the team of attorneys defending them. In 1986, when the 
Taiwan Government locked Mr. Chen behind bars for ``criminal libel''--
otherwise known as telling the truth--it would have been easy to 
withdraw from politics upon his release. Instead, Mr Chen joined the 
Democratic Progressive Party, and ran successfully for the legislature 
in 1989.
  In 1994, Mr. Chen ran for Mayor of Taipei even though the position of 
mayor had never been held by a member of the opposition party. He won. 
And during the 2000 Presidential elections in Taiwan, it seemed 
inconceivable that a member of the opposition would actually win the 
presidency for the first time in Taiwan's history. Not only did he 
prevail, but the peaceful transition of power demonstrated the strength 
and vitality of Taiwan's nascent democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, it would have been easy upon Mr. Chen's election to 
focus solely on ``bread and butter'' issues--the economy, national 
security, education. He did all that, but Mr. Chen never forgot the 
battle he waged for freedom, and the moral imperative to constantly 
fight for internationally-recognized human rights, freedom and 
democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, President Chen Shui-bian proceeded to enshrine human 
rights as part of Taiwan's laws. He established Taiwan's first-ever 
Human Rights Advisory Committee. He continues to fight for the 
Taiwanese people to receive the respect they deserve in the 
international community. And he has zealously guarded and promoted 
Taiwan's democratic system, serving as a beacon for democracy 
throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
  Mr. Speaker, some great fighters for freedom and human rights have 
preceded President Chen Shui-bian in receiving the International Human 
Rights Award--Nelson Mandela, Elie Wiesel, Andrei Sakahrov, and George 
Mitchell, to name but a few. Given Mr. Chen's decades-long struggle for 
human rights and democracy in Taiwan, it is only fit and just that he 
has been invited to join this most-exclusive and noble club.
  It is with great pleasure that I enter into the Congressional Record 
a copy of President Chen's speech upon accepting the International 
Human Rights Award.

            (By President Chen Shui-bian, Republic of China)

        President Horton, Congressman Lantos, Congressman 
     Ackerman, Mr. Rabaut, Mr. Wu, Executive Director Dr. Kantrow, 
     Board Member Dr. Chen, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and 
     Gentlemen: Good evening!
        On behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, I would 
     like to pay special tribute to the International League for 
     Human Rights (ILHR). Over the last 62 years since its 
     establishment, the League has worked unrelentingly in 
     carrying out its mission of defending human rights and rights 
     advocates who have risked their lives to promote the ideals 
     of a just and civil society.
        The Human Rights Award conferred on me this evening is an 
     honor bestowed upon the 23 million people of Taiwan. It 
     signifies both affirmations and expectations. The award is 
     representative of the international validation that the 
     people of Taiwan have received for decades of effort in 
     pursuit of democracy, freedom and human rights. It is also a 
     reminder that we have assumed by destiny the duty of 
     protecting human rights and of upholding international human 
     rights principles.
        The year 2000 marked Taiwan's first peaceful transfer of 
     power and our country's first alternation of political 
     parties, an accomplishment unprecedented in the history of 
     all Chinese societies. In my inaugural speech, I proposed a 
     goal of building our nation on the principles of human 
     rights. We are committed to abide by the Universal 
     Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on 
     Civil and Political Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and 
     Program of Action. We also pledged to bring Taiwan on par 
     with the international human rights system despite our 
     authoritarian past.
        Over the past three and a half years, concrete actions 
     have been taken to fulfill our commitments. In step with the 
     institutionalization of human rights protection mechanisms, 
     comprehensive human rights policies and implementation 
     measures have been carefully drafted, as outlined in our 
     Human Rights Policy White Paper, and the Organic Law of the 
     National Human Rights Commission is currently under review in 
     our National Legislature.
        My office has established a presidential Human Rights 
     Advisory Committee and the Cabinet has also established an 
     Inter-Ministerial Committee. Both have been collaborating 
     with local and international human

[[Page E2216]]

     rights NGOs for the purpose of incorporating the 
     International Bill of Rights into a ``Taiwan Bill of 
     Rights.'' Furthermore, the ``National Human Rights Report'' 
     will soon be published--another first for Taiwan--and work is 
     in progress for a National Human Rights Memorial Museum 
     responsible for social education and raising public 
     awareness.
        My friends, although our journey has not been easy, Taiwan 
     has not stood alone. Support from the international 
     community, particularly the United States, has played a 
     critical role. I will never forget the watershed event--the 
     Kaohsiung Incident--in Taiwan's democratization process. On 
     December 10, 1979, a group of Taiwan citizens defiantly held 
     a rally to commemorate International Human Rights Day. 
     Because such activity was forbidden by the ruling regime of 
     the time, rally leaders were charged with illegal assembly 
     and conspiracy for sedition.
        As a defense attorney in the Kaohsiung Incident, I 
     personally witnessed the efforts of ILHR, who sent Professor 
     John Kaplan to Taiwan to observe the trail at the military 
     tribunal. The rest of the international human rights 
     community also rendered assistance--and inspiration--to 
     Taiwan's democratic movement.
        My wife and I were both victims of human rights violation. 
     I was sentenced to prison for fighting for freedom of speech. 
     My wife was seriously injured in what is believed to be a 
     politically motivated accident and must spend the rest of her 
     life in a wheelchair. However, like the brave sacrifices made 
     by Taiwan's pioneers of democracy, our suffering only serves 
     to strengthen the determination of the Taiwanese people in 
     their pursuit of political and personal freedoms.
        Today, there are no more black lists, no more political 
     prisoners, no more religious persecution. Citizens in Taiwan 
     now enjoy full civil rights--freedom of speech, freedom of 
     expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of press and other 
     categories of rights. Despite our exclusion from the United 
     Nations, Taiwan has never slowed its pace to push for human 
     rights reform.
        At a time when the international community is caught up in 
     debates on ``clashes of civilization'' with regard to human 
     rights protection, Taiwan's experience is proof that human 
     rights are a universal value and humanity's common asset. All 
     countries and individuals should have access to these 
     universal rights; none should be subjected to a double-
     standard. As stated in the Universal Declaration of Human 
     Rights, ``Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms 
     set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any 
     kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political 
     or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth 
     or other status.''
        I would like to take this opportunity to express 
     appreciation to the government of the United States of 
     American for its efforts to help promote human rights in 
     Taiwan. Section II(C) of the ``Taiwan Relations Act'', which 
     was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1979, stipulates that 
     ``the preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all 
     the people on Taiwan are hereby reaffirmed as objective of 
     the United States.'' We appreciate, and are always mindful of 
     the concern and support a more established democracy has 
     given to a fledging one.
        Taiwan's achievement in human rights and democracy so far 
     would not have been possible were it not for the generosity 
     of those of the international community who have stood behind 
     us. Likewise, we would not be able to receive the affirmation 
     and commendation of the ILHR and other international human 
     rights organizations.
        Of course, a sound and solid institutionalized system is 
     requisite for the effective protection of human rights. 
     Taiwan has now established a fair electoral environment with 
     an increasingly vigorous civil society. However, much remain 
     to be further strengthened in terms of consolidating and 
     deepening our democracy and human rights. Whether we succeed 
     or not would rely on the collective and continuing efforts of 
     the people, particularly on whether we can consolidate our 
     democracy by rectifying the inadequacies in our 
     constitutional framework.
        More than two centuries ago, the founding fathers of the 
     United States spurred in Constitutional debate, prompting a 
     great New Yorker, Mr. Alexander Hamilton to criticize ``the 
     insufficiency of the present Confederation to preserve the 
     Union.'' He argued in ``The Federalist Papers'' that the 
     Articles of Confederation failed to address issues such as a 
     checks-and-balances system of the government, separation of 
     powers among agencies, fair representation of the states, and 
     safeguarding freedom of the people. He concluded that the 
     very design of the Articles of Confederation was insufficient 
     to meet the needs of the American people.
        As a result of extensive discussions and debates by 
     America's founding fathers, the Constitution of the United 
     States of America was created and has been honored to this 
     day. The U.S. Constitution became the pulse of American 
     society, and allowed for amendments, including Bill of 
     Rights, to be incorporated, thereby guaranteeing freedom and 
     laying a strong foundation for sustainable development of the 
     American democracy.
        Taiwan now faces a similar ``insufficiency'' of the 
     constitutional framework. As my country's leader, it is 
     imperative that I shoulder responsibility for Taiwan's 
     national development and set a clear vision for the future. I 
     believe that a sound and sustainable constitutional framework 
     can be created through rational debate and engendered by 
     civic consciousness. This is the rationale upon which I have 
     proposed the concept of ``hastening the birth of a new 
     constitution for Taiwan.''
        The ``hastening of a new Taiwan constitution'' will 
     determine whether or not our democracy can come into full 
     bloom. This, strengthened and supplemented by the 
     institutions of direct democracy, such as referendums, would 
     be a necessary step in advancing Taiwan's human rights and 
     the deepening of its democracy. One must not be misled by the 
     contention that holding referendums or re-engineering our 
     constitutional framework, bears any relevance to the ``Four 
     No's plus one'' pledge presented in my inaugural speech. 
     Neither should matters concerning Taiwan's constitutional 
     development be simplistically interpreted as a political 
     debate of ``unification versus independence.'' I stand before 
     you today, appealing to the collective conscience of the 
     world community, asking that the voice of Taiwan be heard, 
     for ours is the voice of democracy and progress. It is my job 
     as President, to safeguard the security, democracy, freedom 
     and human rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan, and, in 
     so doing, build a solid foundation for the sustainable 
     progress of Taiwan's continuing democratization.
        The progression of democracy and human rights in Taiwan 
     not only signifies a triumph of our people in the relentless 
     pursuit for freedom, it is also a torch of democracy for all 
     Chinese societies and has become an indispensable asset to 
     the United Stats as well as the international society. I have 
     great confidence that by advancing our democracy, we shall 
     show where Taiwan stands in terms of values: a veritable part 
     of the world's democratic community.
        While furthering human rights in Taiwan, I call for a 
     joint effort among Asian governments and regional NGOs for a 
     regional framework for the advancement of human rights, 
     including a state-sponsored regional charter, a regional 
     commission, and a regional court of human rights. The newly 
     founded Taiwan Foundation for Democracy can serve as one of 
     the channels through which we shall endeavor to make our 
     rightful contributions and share out experience in the 
     protection and promotion of human rights. I want Taiwan to be 
     a positive contributing force in the international human 
     rights movement.
        On the Green Island, situated off the south-east coast of 
     Taiwan, there used to be a concentration camp and prison for 
     the confinement and deprivation of countless human rights 
     defenders. On this island, the Taiwanese equivalent to the 
     infamous Robin Island of South Africa, there stands a 
     monument on which names of victims of human rights abuse are 
     inscribed. The epitaph reads: ``In those times, how mothers 
     wept through long nights for their imprisoned children.''
        I have kept that epitaph in my heart, and tonight, I would 
     like to share it with you as a tribute to all who support, 
     advocate, and have stood up in the name of human rights: Let 
     there be no more fear, let there be no more tears. Let the 
     world take Taiwan as an example. She is emerging from her 
     democratic metamorphosis.
        Thank you.

                          ____________________