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Ma calls for Liu Xiaobo’s release
HUMAN RIGHTS:The president’s call came in the wake of
criticism that he had failed to join other world leaders in calling on Beijing
to free the jailed writer and activist
By Ko Shu-ling / Staff Reporter
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday urged Beijing to release jailed Chinese
writer and dissident Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波), who was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace
Prize on Friday.
“If Liu Xiaobo could regain his freedom, I believe Taiwanese would appreciate
such a move from China,” Ma said while addressing a party for about 7,000
expatriates returning home to attend the Double Ten Day at the Taipei Arena
yesterday afternoon.
Ma’s call came in the wake of criticism from the opposition party and critics,
who earlier yesterday slammed the Ma administration for failing to call for
Liu’s release in its statement on Friday congratulating Liu for winning the
Nobel Prize.
In a written statement on Friday, Ma described Liu’s winning the award as
bearing “significant historical meaning” for the development of human rights in
China, as well as Chinese communities around the world.
“We expect mainland China to address the issue of human rights with a whole new
attitude, solve major human rights incidents with honesty and confidence, and
treat dissidents with more tolerance,” the statement said.
The failure to call for Liu’s release in the statement drew criticism from
Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who yesterday
morning said it was disappointing that Taiwan, as a democratic country, failed
to join other world leaders in calling for Liu’s release.
She said that under the Ma administration, Taiwan’s human rights standards had
regressed to that of China.
Former deputy National Security Council secretary-general Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信)
also dismissed the Presidential Office’s Friday statement as “rubbish” and
“empty talk,” alleging Ma did not have the guts to join other world leaders and
ask for Liu’s release.
Citing US President Barack Obama as an example, Chen said that although Obama
wants to make friends with China, he was also clear on his position and values.
“Even if the Ma administration wants to adopt a China-friendly policy, it should
not let it get in the way of its insistence on human values,” Chen said.
Tung Li-wen (董立文), a professor at the Graduate School of Public Security at
Central Police University, observed that China was more likely to further
suppress political dissidents than open up after Liu’s winning the Nobel Peace
Prize.
Tung said he had mixed feelings about the honor bestowed upon Liu. On the one
hand, Tung said he was happy that the international community paid attention to,
and was willing to challenge China’s human rights record and democratic
development. On the other hand, as Liu is still in prison, Tung said he was not
optimistic about Liu’s personal future.
“There are two possible developments in China,” Tung said. “The possibility that
it will become more suppressive and authoritarian is more likely than that it
will become more open and democratic.”
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