Rights seen as the path to statehood

While careful of the language used to describe Taiwan's status in his inaugural speech, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) appeared to head on an alternative track to claim Taiwan's statehood by pledging to bring the country into the fold of international human rights standards.

Among the many issues raised in the speech, Chen's pledges on human rights -- including ratification of the International Bill of Rights and creation of an independent human rights commission -- were heartily welcomed by rights groups and largely seen as an attempt to break through Taiwan's international isolation.

"I can't believe our government would ever make such pledges on human rights. But I'm so glad to see Chen has created a precedent by raising a concrete outline on the protection of human rights," said Bo Yang (柏楊), one of Taiwan's most prominent writers and a long-term human rights advocate.

Other groups were also impressed with the president's pledges.

"It's a new era for the country's human rights, and it's certainly a milestone for Taiwan, which has wavered on the edge of the international human rights system," said Sue Wang (王時思), secretary-general of the Judicial Reform Foundation, a member group of a coalition advocating the establishment of a human rights commission.

"While Taiwan is desperate for support from international circles, we feel President Chen has taken a smart approach to bring the country onto the international stage by way of human rights," Wang added.

President Chen stated in his speech yesterday that the new government will request that the legislature ratify the International Bill of Rights -- encompassed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights of 1966, and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966.

In fact, the ROC has signed but was unable to ratify the latter two international instruments before being forced out of the UN in 1971.

Moreover, Chen pledged to set up an independent national human rights commission, which has been advocated by the UN since the question of national human rights institutions was first discussed by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1946.

Also, Chen said he intended to invite two non-governmental organizations, the International Commission of Jurists and Amnesty International, to assist Taiwan in measures to protect human rights and make the ROC a "new indicator for human rights in the 21st century.

Peter Ng (黃文雄), former chairperson of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (台灣人 促進會) and a key advisor on the content of Chen's speech in relation to human rights, emphasized an urgent need to establish a human rights infrastructure in Taiwan and spoke of the benefits the country would acquire from the measures.

"Long-term international isolation has had a negative effect on human rights awareness in Taiwan. There is no denying Taiwan is one of the world's thriving economies, but how come this wealthy country doesn't even have minimum human rights awareness?" Ng asked.

"In a way, day-to-day human rights violations here have prompted an urgent need to establish a minimum human rights infrastructure. And also important are benefits to be created through the actions," Ng said.

"While the international political situation is so far in favor of China, what better place could Taiwan find to assert its statehood in the age of rights?"