Taiwan will not give up UN bid

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said his government would review its strategies for entry into the UN and would not give up until Taiwan was granted a role in the world body.

"As long as we don't relent, one day we will again be part of the UN," Chen said yesterday at the annual convention of the Taipei Bar Association (台北市律師公會).

Although it was the Chen administration's first attempt at joining the UN, the defeat still came as a heavy blow as China appeared to be particularly active this year in having Taiwan's entry refused. For the past eight years, the DPP had long advocated that the government adopt the strategy of joining the UN as a new member instead of restoring the former status it held during Chiang Kai-shek's rule.

The DPP had also suggested applying for UN membership under the country name of Taiwan instead of the ROC. Chen's government submitted its application this year as the ROC.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂) had earlier said that entry strategies would be reviewed for future applications.

In his address yesterday, Chen also announced his intention to establish a committee to study the constitutional and political system (憲政諮詢委員會), with the aim of more clearly delineating organizations within the government and avoiding confusion among departments and agencies.

Chen's remarks came one day after Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) suggested that the time was right to revise the 54-year-old ROC Constitution and clarify the nature of the authority that exists between the president and the premier. Lu was speaking Friday at the National Bar Association's (全國律師公會) celebration of lawyers' day.

Chen also said yesterday that his government has been considering founding a World Peace Award (世界和平獎) in Taiwan to accent the drive for lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait and for peace throughout the world.

Attendants of yesterday's convention also included Chen's former professor and president of the Judicial Yuan, Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生), chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Ma and Chen recently publicly locked horns over tax redistribution funds for the city, but yesterday the two did not interact.

Once a practicing lawyer himself, Chen appealed for judicial reform and a greater emphasis on human rights.

"Once judicial reforms are put into place, there will be a bit of pain. But as lawyers, we must all shoulder our fair share of the responsibility," Chen said.

He added that due process would always be respected during the crackdown on "black gold," and added that the national human rights task force, headed by Lu, had been formed to make a more active contribution in promoting Taiwan's regard for human rights, in accordance with international standards.