China snorts at What’s on July 16, 2004

China snorts at Western concern for human rights

AFP , BEIJING

China yesterday complained about Western hypocrisy on human-rights issues, including calls for greater democracy in Hong Kong and religious freedom in Tibet.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said after a frank exchange on human rights with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer that China did not need lessons from the West on Hong Kong.

"On this question, we are unhappy with our Western friends," Li told reporters. "Western politicians were silent when, under the British colonial leadership, our compatriots were unable to enjoy democratic rights. They forget to mention that."

He said China had a sovereign right to determine the legal privileges of the citizens of Hong Kong.

"It is important that Hong Kong is a part of China. It fills us with great joy that the population of Hong Kong can enjoy the rights of the fatherland according to the law," he said.

Fischer did not mention Hong Kong at a joint press conference with Li but noted German concern about religious and political freedom in Tibet.

Li retorted that the Dalai Lama was engaged in "subversive" activity that threatened to undermine Chinese sovereignty in Tibet.

An estimated 500,000 pro-democracy demonstrators took to Hong Kong's streets on July 1 protesting against a decision in April by China's parliament to rule out direct elections for Hong Kong's leaders and legislature by 2007 and 2008.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa this week rejected calls for greater representation, saying the overall interests of China were more important than Hong Kong people's wish for a rapid transition to full democracy.

On Tibet, China on Tuesday made clear to the Dalai Lama that there was no chance of negotiations for his return home until he publicly declared that both Tibet and Taiwan are part of China.

Democracy needs both diversity and unity

By Chen Lung-chu

Taiwan is a society made up of many immigrant groups. To build a sustainable, democratic and peaceful society, we must create equality among ethnic groups, foster mutual respect and tolerance and understand the disparities between different histories and cultural backgrounds.

Based on the idea that this country is a single community, we should seek to construct a multicultural environment where all ethnic groups are able to prosper and develop together.

"Ethnically diverse, but one as a nation," is how President Chen Shui-bian, during his inauguration speech on May 20, described the beautiful make-up of this country.

The nation's 23 million people should share the same destiny and bear honor and shame together. During the the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) authoritarian rule, driven by the ideology of "Greater China," the government distorted the distribution of social resources, caused an imbalance in ethnic dignity and clamped down on linguistic and cultural diversity.

Progress in democratization and social reform, bearing in mind respect for ethnic differences and diversity, has become a central value in national development.

Following the current trend, the government should adhere to the principle of mutual respect among ethnic groups, taking account of both the national interest as well as the special interests of those groups.

Establishing national identity is a major part of the development of an integrated community.

If a country has a divided national identity, this will affect its democratic system. If disagreements over national identity are not reconciled, it will blur the focus of government and the discussion of policy. Moreover, this makes it difficult to form a consensus that is such a necessary part of modern government and the lack of which causes considerable damage to national unity and development.

Therefore, the government and the people must join together to discard historical baggage and create a society that does not differentiate between indigenous people and outsiders.

This nation's ethnic groups include Aborigines, Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), Hakka and Mainlanders. Everyone should have equal status and opportunities to participate, develop, contribute and share in the fruits of the nation. This country is represented by a population with a shared memory and, aware of its own identity, it becomes more clearly defined.

In order for Taiwan to develop in a stable and unified fashion, we must incorporate a wide array of views from different ethnic groups. With confidence and patience, everyone should continue to solidify this identity in order to achieve the goal of becoming a "normal" country.

Chen Lung-chu is the chairman of the Taiwan New Century Foundation.

No healing without justice

Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of the lifting of martial law. It is indeed a day worthy of commemoration, for it ended more than four decades of terror and autocratic tyranny during the so-called "communist rebellion" period.

Further highlighting the significance of this day, President Chen Shui-bian handed over certificates restoring the reputation of White Terror victims to 87 victims or their families during a commemorative ceremony. Thus far, as many as 2,741 such certificates have been issued by the Compensation Foundation for Improper Verdicts on Sedition and Communist Espionage Cases during the Martial Law Period.

It is true that the government has made some earnest efforts in trying to redress past wrongs and obtain the forgiveness of the victims of the White Terror over the past decade, ranging from former president Lee Teng-hui's open and formal apology on behalf of the government during his presidency, to the passage of the law to provide compensation to victims and their families and restore the reputation of the victims, and also the establishment of the compensation foundation.

However, one cannot help but wonder whether these are enough to alleviate the pain and injustice suffered by the victims and their families. Many of the victims underwent brutal torture, beatings and violations of human rights, as well as the humiliation of being branded an outcast. In the many cases where the victims were executed on fabricated or groundless charges of espionage or treason without fair trials, or simply vanished from the face of the earth after being taken away by government intelligence agents, the pain of not knowing what happened, or in some cases even the location of the victim's burial site, loved ones left behind can only heal when the truth is finally unearthed.

The search for truth is not intended to justify reprisals against the oppressors, but to return justice to the victims and their families. But while love and tolerance is what this society needs more than anything, this does not mean that people should turn a blind eye to past evils. What the oppressors did should not be concealed or covered up, but brought into the light for public scrutiny. Heartfelt forgiveness and peace can be accomplished only when the truth comes out. No less important in the search for truth is to learn from our past mistakes and to never repeat such atrocities.

Unfortunately, many unresolved cases of the White Terror remain. Among these are the murder of Chen Wen-Cheng, who was found dead on the lawn of National Taiwan University after being taken away by the secret police, and the murder of family members of former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Lin Yi-hsiung. These are just the two most commonly cited of a great number of unsolved cases. For the same reason, while so far around 140,000 people have received compensation from the government for the injustices they suffered during the White Terror, the actual number of victims far surpasses this figure.

Chen has repeatedly emphasized that protection of and respect for human rights is a major focus of his presidency.

The best way to live up to that promise is to start by uncovering the truth and bringing justice to the victims and their families.

An Australian betrayal

In the Sydney Morning Herald, Kevin Rudd, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs, said in an article recently that "the Australian government must start putting public pressure on Taiwan to avert war with China."

Once again, this is in line with a long tradition of ALP members who visit China and end up "[kowtowing] to the Chinese Emperor." ALP officials both in opposition and government always say what [China's state-run] Xinhua news agency says they should. Rudd was concerned that "the situation could get right out of control," again displaying his total ignorance of the situation between Taiwan and China.

ALP officials have a good record of supporting oppressive regimes in both North and Southeast Asia. But Australia does criticize easy targets such as Myanmar, calling it a "despotic regime," as there is not really any chance of a trade deal with that country. However, Australia recently signed a US$20 billion liquified natural gas deal with China.

There is always the realpolitik or trade angle to play, which is fair enough -- to a certain degree.

Taiwan is a thriving, albeit imperfect, democracy. Neither the US nor Australia are perfect for that matter, but Taiwan is a democracy in Asia with Chinese cultural roots, and is more free than Singapore or Hong Kong.

Australia needs to grow up and be more mature and frank in its thinking, and in the conduct of its foreign policy. Rudd and his ilk are an absolute disgrace.

Michael McGregor  Taipei