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DPP Legislator Tien
voices support for PRC dissident
By Loa Iok-sin / Staff Reporter
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (¥Ð¬îÔ») and several other
supporters of renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (¦ã¥¼¥¼) yesterday voiced their
support for him, urging the public to help pressure Chinese authorities for his
release.
¡§As Taiwan develops closer connections with China, we should stand firmly behind
our values of justice and conscience, and voice our concerns when China commits
human rights violations,¡¨ Tien told a news conference at the legislature
yesterday. ¡§If we don¡¦t speak out, China will think that we agree with what they
are doing.¡¨
¡§Just like the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement that we¡¦ve signed with
China [in June last year], we should sign an agreement on freedom and democracy,
as the basis for cross-strait interactions,¡¨ founding president of the Taiwan
Association for China Human Rights, Yang Hsien-hung (·¨¾Ë§») said. ¡§If our
neighbors are not free, we are not free.¡¨
Ai is known for his role in designing the Beijing National Stadium ¡X nicknamed
the Bird¡¦s Nest ¡X used for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
However, since last year, he has been speaking out about artists and minority
groups suffering state repression, and made remarks in support of Internet
organized ¡§Jasmine Rallies¡¨ that took place in several major Chinese cities
starting in February.
Ai was detained earlier this month at Beijing Capital International Airport as
he was passing through security to board a flight to Hong Kong. Chinese
authorities said this week that he was arrested because of alleged involvement
in ¡§economic crimes.¡¨
Taipei Contemporary Art Center chairman Manray Hsu (®}¤å·ç) also voiced his support
for Ai, calling on China to ¡§respect such basic human rights as freedoms of
speech and thoughts.¡¨
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