The need to cry out

The problem with Taiwan is that it is not an internationally recognized country. All its efforts in relation to human rights over the years have eroded very quickly after the change in administration. There is now a difference between saying that Taiwan is a country in which there are human rights problems and one in which human rights are under threat.

Taiwan needs help from the international community. Since it is not treated as a country, its ability to help other countries on human rights issues is severely hampered.

The pro-China government of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is attempting to sacrifice human rights in accordance with the demands of China. The president is even afraid of allowing the Dalai Lama to visit, which means that Taiwan is a “needy case,” as Amnesty International Taiwan director Peter Huang (黃文雄) has argued (“Taiwan should seek spotlight on human rights: forum panel,” Dec. 12, page 3).

I admire Linda Gail Arrigo’s long-term concern for human rights. But when she said that Taiwan needs to “stop crying to the international community” and try to help other countries with more serious human rights problems, one would respond by saying that Taiwan still needs to cry to the international community for help.

This does not mean that Taiwan should ignore the poor human rights conditions of Burma, Tibet and other places with human rights problems.

Kuojung Ni
Hsinchu