[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 171 (Saturday, November 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2416-E2417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2416]]
 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

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on November 4, 2003 I had the privilege of 
entering into the Record the prepared remarks of President Chen Shui-
bian upon his acceptance of the International Human Rights Award on 
October 31, 2003. It is with great pleasure, Mr. Speaker, that today I 
am able to enter into the Record President Chen's remarks as delivered.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to once again 
commend President Chen for his decades-long struggle for human rights 
and democracy in Taiwan and congratulate him upon his acceptance of the 
International Human Rights Award. President Chen is a freedom fighter 
we can all look up to, and it is with great pleasure that I enter into 
the Congressional Record his remarks, as delivered.
       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 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 trial 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 blacklists, 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 
     America 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 an 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 fledgling 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 States 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.

[[Page E2417]]

       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.
       While I am standing on this stage, receiving this Human 
     Rights Award and giving this speech, out there is a group of 
     people protesting and shouting. I must tell them clearly: You 
     are in a wrong place and protesting to the wrong person; for 
     you should be happy for me to receive this Award. Human 
     rights are universal. The path towards human rights is the 
     right path and a road of no return. The democratic 
     achievements of Taiwan and the deepening of human rights 
     there can serve as a beacon for others. What you should ask 
     yourselves is: Why can Taiwan do it and we cannot? Along with 
     the 23 million people in Taiwan, I would like to invite the 
     people protesting out there to share my joy and pride in 
     receiving the Human Rights Award. Do believe in democracy, in 
     freedom and in human rights. We will make it.
       Thank you.

                          ____________________