President Chen Shui-bian (
"It's true that the president is scheduled to receive an award from a globally renowned human rights group during his transit through New York," said Michael Tsai (
An government insider confirmed Tsai's statement and further identified the group as the International League for Human Rights (ILHR).
The ILHR, now in its 58th year, has been defending individual human rights advocates who have risked their lives to promote the ideals of a just and civil society in their homelands.
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and Chinese dissident Fang Lizhi (
The president is slated to receive an award by the organization and to make a pertinent speech following the award-giving ceremony during his three-day stay in New York City, officials said.
The event will highlight Chen's transit through the US, making his stay in the metropolis a de facto visit to the US, officials stressed.
"We'll try to get US congressmen to fly to New York City to meet with the president," Tsai added.
Sources, however, declined to elaborate on the president's full itinerary while in the New York for fear of triggering any unnecessary hassle for the US government.
Chen and his delegation are slated to take a China Airlines charter flight to the US on May 29th.
The probable return route will take the president through Alaska, before returning to Taiwan. The presidential office desires such a route so that the president will be able to meet with the Alaskan Governor Frank Murkowski, who has long been a staunch supporter of Taiwan.
"We are waiting for approval from the US government," said the government source, "basically, Governor Murkowski has already expressed a warm welcome to President Chen's visit."
According to the government's current schedule, the president and his delegation will stay in New York City for three days before heading for Costa Rica on May 31. During his three-day visit to Costa Rica, President Chen will serve as the host at the opening ceremony of the Bridge of Friendship between Taiwan and Costa Rica.
The president will then stay two days in Belize, fly to Haiti for another two-day state visit and then complete the last leg of his trip by visiting the Dominican Republic for one day.
Chen will be the first Taiwanese president to make state visits to Belize and Haiti, whose heads of states have visited Taiwan several times. The president's debut visits are reciprocation for the state visits.
As for the return route, officials responsible for organizing the visit noted that if the plan to transit through Alaska is not a possibility, then the president will likely stop in Miami, Florida.
"There is a long-term friendship between Taiwan and the Alaskan governor, Frank Murkowski," said the source, "Governor Murkowski was a former member of the US Senate, and his daughter is now also a Senator."
Chen's delegation is scheduled to return on June 11.
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