In terms of what you are talking about, we are very much paying attention, particularly when there’s any kind of links between complaints about rights violation in Taiwan. It maybe a little too early to judge right now, but it will be one of the things we will be looking at in 2009.
TT: You mentioned bumps in the road. In your assessment, how many bumps, or incidents billed as isolated cases, will there be before you start thinking something might not be right?
Walker: I’d think of how much these cases have actually worked through the process. If the judgment is that the process hasn’t been responsive and, for example, the trials for former president Chen [Shui-bian (陳水扁)] are decided a week from now, I suspect over the course of this year, that case or other important cases, will [give us] sufficient information to make assessment. Again, not to repeat, but in 2009, given things that started after last year’s elections, after the rotation of power, after some of these events again in the last part of the year, all of these things suggested that this year, depending on how they are administered, or dispensed with, will determine our evaluation on these issues.
Welsh: One thing I’ll say is although there’s the polarization, blue and green and so forth, there’s a healthy debate. There’s a healthy discussion here on some of the key issues, and even the most recent negotiation on the assembly provision, I think about how to a certain degree, the system is working. Not to say that it is perfect, nowhere is it perfect, but you have the dialogue and discussion, and some compromise is being reached. That made some changes already in the way the law is being amended. Process is very important. Democracy is not just about elections, but is also about process.
TT: There is concern that the with new US administration under president-elect Barack Obama, Washington may be anxious to promote good relations with China and overlook human rights violations in Taiwan. What approach would you suggest to show the new administration’s support for Taiwan’s democracy?
Walker: I think it is pretty fundamental. I think you’d hope any administration would keep a close eye on developments here and do anything in its power to enhance, and safeguard the country’s democratic development.
The Freedom House’s position is that, there are a range of interests and concerns that the United States would have with many countries, but in no case, should issues of human rights, transparency, democratic accountability be set aside, it should be part of that larger discussion.
RSS