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MAC, DPP call for Ai
Weiwei’s release
By Vincent Y. Chao and Ko Shu-ling / Staff Reporters
The Mainland Affairs Council and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have
called for the release of a Chinese artist detained on Sunday.
Chinese authorities have not commented on the arrest of Ai Weiwei (艾未未), an
outspoken government critic who was scheduled to arrive in Taipei yesterday.
The council said in a statement released on Tuesday night that because the
demands of the Chinese people for freedom, democracy, human rights and reform
have increased, Chinese authorities must take the issue seriously.
“We hope the Chinese authorities will respect the requests of their people for
freedom of speech and freedom of thought, as well as respect such universal
values as fundamental human rights,” it said. “We hope they make efforts to
respond to their demands and make improvements accordingly.”
The DPP, meanwhile, said in a statement released yesterday that “Democracy,
freedom and human rights are universal values.”
“[We] express deep regret that … the Chinese government continues to carry out
improper arrests, suppresses democracy activists and fails to commit to the
protection of human rights,” it said. “[We] solemnly appeal to China to respond
to the demands of the rest of the world and immediately release Ai Weiwei.”
The DPP has regularly released statements in support of detained Chinese
dissidents, the last time being when Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波) was jailed
in October.
The party also called on the government to take more “concrete measures” to show
support for democracy activists in China.
“The DPP strongly urges the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in
pursuing cross-strait exchanges, to stop tolerating the suppression of democracy
in China,” it said.
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