[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.
____________________