Since he took office in May, Ma said his efforts to protect human rights had never flagged.
Following the ceremony, Yang and Tsai told reporters they were curious to know when an “appropriate time” for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan would be.
“Ma said earlier [last week] that the timing is not appropriate for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan. I’d like to ask him: ‘When would be an appropriate time?’” Yang told reporters after leaving the ceremony.
“Anyone who supports the idea of peace and freedom should be able to visit the free country of Taiwan,” Tsai said.
The Tibetan religious leader should be allowed a visit at any time as long as he has a legal status, they said.
Ma’s rejection of the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit has received much criticism.
Ma said during an interview with FTV on Tuesday that his decision had nothing to do Beijing and that the “appropriate time” would be a time “that is convenient for both of them.”
At a separate event later yesterday, Ma offered an apology to the victims and family members of the 228 Incident, promising to bring ethnic harmony in Taiwan.
“Mistakes can be forgiven, but history cannot be forgotten. We should learn the lessons from history and prevent any violations of human rights in future,” Ma said while addressing the opening ceremony of an exhibition at the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum.
The 228 Incident refers to the KMT government’s bloody crackdown on demonstrators and the local elite under the administration of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石).
The exhibition featured a video series created by 29-year-old Ho Hsin-yi (何欣怡), 228 victim Wang Tien-teng’s (王添燈) great-granddaughter.
Her works portray the life of her grandmother and other family members and told the history of the 228 Incident through the eyes of the family members of a 228 victim.
Ma, who offered an apology to the victims and their family members when he was Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman, promised to institutionalize the protection of human rights in Taiwan.
The Cabinet is expected to approve the two treaties today and send them to the legislature for final approval, the president said.
A middle-aged man shouted at police outside the venue after being prevented from approaching while Ma was addressing the ceremony.
The man condemned the government for ignoring his rights.
Ma did not respond to the protest.
The exhibition at the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum ends on Jan. 31.
Also See: EDITORIAL: Ma's ironic Human Rights Day
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