Chen lauds former S African president

The process South Africa used to create a new constitution is worth emulating, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday while receiving former South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk.

"South Africa had a transitional constitution in 1990 and enacted a new Constitution in 1996. During the two-year legislation process, political negotiations were conduced and the public participated fully. It is an example worth following for Taiwan," Chen said. "Taiwan is in the process of drafting a new constitution that is viable, timely and relevant. We think the constitutional re-engineering project must be from the bottom up, from the outside in and from the people to political parties."

De Klerk, a Nobel peace prize winner, is in Taiwan at the invitation of former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德). It is de Klerk's fourth visit here. His first visit was in October 1985 when he was education minister. He came again in 1991 when he was president and then in August 2001 as a Nobel laureate to attend a peace activity organized by Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).

De Klerk has been supportive of Taiwan. In August 2001, he publicly called on the international community to recognize Taiwan's achievements in human rights, democracy and economic development. He also urged Taiwan and China to resolve their disputes via peaceful dialogue. No matter what the conclusions of such talks, he said they should not tamper with Taiwan's accomplishments in human rights, democracy and economic development.

Chen yesterday expressed admiration for de Klerk, calling him a "contributor and guiding hand" in his country's transformation from "white South Africa" to a democratic and great nation.

"It would have been easier to play the role of Nelson Mandela than [to play] your [role]," he said.

During de Klerk's presidency, he lifted a ban on the African National Congress and all other political organizations. He announced Mandela's release, bringing apartheid to an end and opening the way to draft a new constitution. He also held a presidential election in which all races could participate and served as vice president during Mandela's presidency.

Chen said that South Africa had found the third way during its transition from a authoritarian regime to democracy and from apartheid and minority rule to equality and freedom.

"Without forgiveness, people cannot move on and do not have a future. That is why South Africa established a truth and reconciliation commission," Chen said. "Forgiving is not the same as condoning mistakes, but is restoring truth and using it as the condition for clemency and the foundation for reconciliation."