President Chen pledges to respect human rights

On the eve of International Human Rights Day, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) drew upon every symbol from Taiwan's jagged past to drive home his hope that Taiwan will become a country that respects and upholds human rights.

Standing next to a monument erected on Green Island (綠島) -- a memorial to individuals who Taiwan's former rulers imprisoned there for their political beliefs during what is known as the White Terror period -- Chen expressed his apology to family members of the victims.

He also pledged to reinforce human rights education within Taiwan and that the nation would abide by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

"As we welcome the arrival of International Human Rights Day, we have to reflect upon the darkest pages of our history .? However, we are not afraid to admit our past errors, because only with the acknowledgement of our mistakes can we create a society where human rights are safeguarded. ? To respect human dignity and create an environment where human rights are upheld is our ultimate goal," Chen said.

He went on to convey his apologies to family members of the victims of the White Terror era.

"As the president of the ROC, I would like to convey my sincerest apology ... on behalf of our government to those who have suffered and lost family members during the White Terror period," he said.

The president added that the meaning and value of human rights, democracy and freedom could not be sacrificed under any circumstances, and that Taiwan would not be excluded from the universal effort to better safeguard human rights.

"We aim to make Taiwan into a human rights leader by following the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the Citizens' Public Trust Treaty and the declarations and guidelines publicized at the world human rights meeting in Vienna," he said.

Chen said that a national human rights commission, formulated by the new government, will push the Legislative Yuan to approve the International Statutes of Human Rights, and to make it an official principle of Taiwan's human rights code.

Chen stated that he was pleased, on the eve of International Human Rights Day, to grant the first amnesty to convicts since he took office, in accordance with the power bestowed to him based on the Constitution.

He said the move would live up to the public's expectation and would also symbolize a small step made by the new government to improving Taiwan's human rights record.

Chen signed papers on Friday to grant presidential pardons to 21 convicts, which are to take effect today. The 21 people granted amnesty include Su Pin-kun (蘇炳坤), convicted of murder and robbery in 1987, Tseng Mao-hsing (曾茂興), a labor rights leader, and 19 Jehovah's Witnesses who refused to do military service.

Dedicated to the memory of Taiwan's prisoners of conscience, the Green Island monument was erected last year. It was severely damaged during recent typhoons.