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Ma signs UN rights covenants

Members of the Wild Strawberry Student Movement protest in front of Taipei Guest House as President Ma Ying-jeou signed two UN human rights covenants there yesterday morning. The students claim that the draft amendment to the Assembly and Parade Act violates the conventions. PHOTO: CNA

Amid heavy security and restricted media access, protesters engaged in skirmishes with police outside Taipei Guest House yesterday where President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) signed two UN human rights covenants in the run-up to the first anniversary of his inauguration.

Holding banners reading “The Assembly and Parade Act is unconstitutional, human rights are disappearing” and “peaceful, rational and non-violent,” civic groups gathered outside the Chung Yung-fa Foundation at the intersection of Xinyi Road and Renai Road to protest the government’s proposed amendments to the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法), which they said violated human rights.

Members of the Wild Strawberry Student Movement proceeded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue the protest, but were surrounded by police.

One student surnamed Chang (張) was blocked by a plainclothes police officer when she tried to cross Ketagalan Boulevard.

“Why can’t I cross the street?” she shouted.

A clash ensued.

She was holding a cartoon poster featuring Ma signing the two UN conventions with his right hand while holding a hammer with his left hand striking the Assembly and Parade Act and the Chingmei Human Rights Memorial Park, with the English words “double fisted hypocrite” written at the bottom.

The plainclothes police officer declined to identify himself. Four or five of his colleagues surrounded the student and told her she could not cross because she was “holding a protest banner” and that she was “heading toward a restricted area where the two conventions were to be signed.”

Chang said she would sue the plainclothes police officer or complain to media outlets once she discovered his identity.

Chang and members of the student movement managed to cross the street and join a group of a dozen protesters led by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City councilors outside the Taipei Guest House.

Chanting “police violate the Constitution” and holding banners reading “Ma Ying-jeou, don’t lie!” and “No to leaning toward China, yes to human rights,” protesters said Ma had signed the two covenants with one hand but broke them with the other. The protesters dispersed at 11:45am, shortly after Ma and his motorcade left the Taipei Guest House.

The media were barred from covering the signing ceremony, except for the state-owned Central News Agency and some TV stations on rotation to broadcast events attended by the president.

In a press release later, Ma said: “I want the public to ­understand that the government is committed to protecting human rights, and it is not lip service but real action. I now declare to the world that Taiwan’s protection of human rights will be on the same track as the international community and at the same pace.”

Ma said that over the next two years, his administration would complete a blanket review of all laws and regulations to find those that conflict with the two UN covenants. They will be amended as soon as possible, he said.

Ma described Taiwan’s human rights as reaching “adulthood” and said signing the two UN covenants marked a milestone in the country’s efforts to protect human rights.

Ma said the two covenants he signed should be sent to the UN and will take effect in three months. Although he expected difficulty along the way, he has signed the implementation decree, which became effective on April 24.

Participants at the ceremony included the heads of the five branches of government, foreign diplomats, lawmakers and a handful of civic representatives.
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