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Freedom House cites sovereignty woes
SURVEY: The rights watchdog identified political interference in Taiwan’s
media as a matter for concern, while repression and corruption have worsened in
China, it said
By Nadia Tsao
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Wednesday, Jul 07, 2010, Page 1
A report released by US rights watchdog Freedom House on
Monday said that although many Taiwanese are in favor of improving economic and
trade ties with China, critics believe the government has made concessions on
sovereignty, that cross-strait policies have developed too quickly and that the
process lacks transparency.
On Jan. 12, the Washington-based Freedom House released the political rights and
civil liberties scores for its Freedom in the World 2010 survey. Taiwan’s
political rights rating improved from 2 to 1, but its civil liberties rating
dropped from 1 to 2.
The full version of Freedom in the World 2010 released this week includes
individual country reports.
On Taiwan, the survey pointed to a number of worrying developments, including
Taiwan’s refusal last year to grant a visa to Uighur dissident Rebiya Kadeer,
Beijing’s continued hard-line position on the question of Taiwanese independence
and the fact that China has more than 1,300 missiles aimed at Taiwan.
These factors have led some Taiwanese to fear that increasing economic and
diplomatic dependence on China would put Taiwan in a straitjacket on issues that
Beijing regards as sensitive.
Last year, Taiwan ratified two important UN conventions — the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights — but in June last year, the UN declined to
validate Taiwan’s ratification.
This was a reminder that the UN recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the
sole representative of China, including Taiwan, the report said.
In its assessment of media freedom in Taiwan, Freedom in the World 2010
identified placement of information by the government as a major problem.
It also raised concerns about political interference in personnel changes in
some state-owned media, such as the appointment of a government spokesperson as
vice president of Central News Agency (CNA) soon after President Ma Ying-jeou
(馬英九) came into office in 2008.
CNA employees, the report said, received instructions to alter the content of
some reports to dilute criticism of the government.
The survey said that following the 2008 purchase of a majority stake in the
China Times Group by Want Want chairman Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明), a businessman with
commercial interests in China, a number of developments occurred that give cause
for concern.
The editorial board came under pressure to tone down criticism of the Ma
administration and of Beijing.
Also, in June last year, the China Times Group threatened to sue reporters and
freedom of the press advocates after they criticized the group during its
conflict with the National Communications Commission.
Last year, legislation requiring government approval of Public Television
Service programming was dropped after public protests, the report says.
However, local press freedom advocates and the Control Yuan criticized
subsequent government measures to expand the service’s board and replace its
management.
There are generally no restrictions on the Internet, which was accessed by more
than 65 percent of the population last year, it said.
Although Taiwanese educators can generally write and lecture freely, Freedom
House said, the ability of academics to engage in political activism outside the
classroom came under pressure last year.
In July last year, the legislature passed the Act Governing the Administrative
Impartiality of Public Officials (公務人員行政中立法), which contained provisions
restraining academics at public schools from participating in certain political
activities.
In addition, two teachers known for their involvement in human rights groups
faced prosecution for organizing peaceful protests surrounding the 2008 visit of
a Chinese envoy, the report said.
Meanwhile, China’s status in this year’s survey was reported as “not free.”
The survey says repression in China worsened last year.
Even though the Chinese government has sought to combat corruption, the problem
remains rampant, the report said, adding that this has led to growing popular
resentment.
The problem is especially serious in businesses that have heavy state
involvement, such as construction, land purchases and banking, the survey says.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said the
problems highlighted by Freedom House were accurate representations of many
concerns that it has already raised.
“These problems are common concerns for the public and we believe the government
should focus more on resolving them,” he said.
He said matters such as the possible impact on Taiwan’s sovereignty of changes
in cross-strait ties covered by the report were problems that have been
“conveniently forgotten” by the Ma administration.
“They talk about what they want to talk about, but they have been unwilling to
face up to the truth,” he said in reference to the cross-strait relationship.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) disagreed with the
report’s conclusions, calling the criticism “unfair.”
“The relations between Taiwan and China are special,” she said. “The ECFA
[Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China] is an economic issue. Why
do you need to turn it into a political one?”
On the report’s findings regarding freedom of the press, Lo said the government
should refrain from interfering in personnel reshuffles in the media.
Also reacting to the report, Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Johnny
Chiang (江啟臣) skirted the sovereignty issue and focused on freedom of speech.
That Taiwan was ranked a “free” nation for 10 consecutive years demonstrated the
government’s determination and continuous efforts to improve the human rights
situation, maintain democracy and rule of law, and ensure freedom of speech, he
said.
Chiang rebutted criticism that the government was subsidizing media outlets to
advertise its policies and achievements through coverage, saying the GIO did not
blur the lines between media coverage and advertisements in its public relations
efforts.
On Freedom House’s comments regarding CNA, Chiang said the office “fully
respected” the news agency’s independence.
Chiang said the government would review and discuss the findings and make the
necessary improvements to ensure a better ranking next year.
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