TT: How do you feel about the US granting China PNTR (Permanent Normal Trade Relations) from a human rights perspective?
Hoffman: Amnesty doesn't have a position on the issue. But we always closely watch human rights conditions in China, where there are more executions than any other country in the world. It's arguable that openness in trade would lead to greater freedom, but China has a lot to do to improve its human rights conditions.
TT: Human rights organizations often warn countries of the dangers of having a poor human rights record. What's the importance of human rights in terms of regional and global security?
Hoffman: All aspects of international human rights tie in with peace and security. One of the lessons that was learned from WWII was that when people are denied their human rights, it's easier to have totalitarian rule or a kind of holocaust. I think Amnesty, the UN and the whole international community is committed to respecting individual human rights. Without that, you can't have peace.
TT: Are there any other areas where Taiwan isn't doing enough to protect human rights?
Robert: We've been watching human rights developments in Taiwan for many years. The developments we've seen have been quite positive. Twenty years ago, there were 50 prisoners of conscience in this country, and now there aren't any. And there have also been a number of important legal changes made.
So if you take a long-term view, I think our assessment of human rights in Taiwan is one of very clear progress having been made over the years.
But of course there are still a number of areas in which we're concerned. The first is our continuing concern over police brutality in this country. And also I think the mechanisms for people to complain about human rights violations are not sufficient.
Second, there are still concerns about brutality against military conscripts.
And the third issue is that, in Taiwan, the laws relating to asylum-seekers and refugees do not meet international standards.
Finally, a major concern is the continuing use of the death penalty.
TT: Do you think it is possible for a country to raise its international profile through improvements in its human rights record?
Hoffman: I think Taiwan has a huge opportunity to be a beacon for other countries. And I think the commitment President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has made ... could really show the way for other countries, because there are many countries that have ratified human rights treaties but don't actually implement them. And while the president has talked about it, we hope he's not just saying that the country is going to live up to international standards, but that it is actually doing it.
If Taiwan abolishes the death penalty, that will carry huge significance in this region because there are many countries in this region that continue to use the death penalty and resist abolishing it.
TT: How is it possible for Taiwan to change its international status by protecting human rights?
Hoffman: I don't know. But what we can say is that if Taiwan has better human rights, that will be better for the people in Taiwan and for people outside Taiwan.
TT: President Chen said in his inauguration speech that he will invite Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists to assist Taiwan in measures to protect human rights. Would you like to participate?
Hoffman: We'd like to cooperate with the government to help fulfill its promises. One of the reasons we met with government officials in this visit is to talk about cooperation and our desire to work with the government toward fulfilling its promises.
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