Freedom is viewed as a basic human right in today's modern society. But it is by no means a right that falls from the sky: humanity has to struggle constantly for it. From that perspective, Liberal International's decision to award the 2001 Prize for Freedom to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian (
On its Web site, Liberal International says it has given the award to Chen "in recognition of the Taiwanese struggle for Freedom and Democracy and their free choice concerning Taiwan's institutional future." Formerly a lawyer representing Kaohsiung Incident activists, Chen was in the vanguard of Taiwan's democracy movement for over two decades. After winning last year's presidential election, he also presided over Taiwan's first peaceful transition of political power, which finally brought real freedom and democracy to the country.
Past recipients of the Prize for Freedom include Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and Czech president Vaclav Havel. Chen's receipt of the prestigious award at a ceremony in Europe would have been a proud moment for all Taiwanese. Unfortunately, China continues to spare no effort trying to block Chen's appearance at any venue -- as evident during last week's APEC meetings and now again with the French visa issue.
Initially, Liberal International planned to present the award to Chen in Copenhagen, but the Danish government caved in under pressure from Beijing and refused to issue a visa to the legitimate, democratically elected president of Taiwan.
Liberal International then considered holding the award ceremony at a European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg in eastern France. But the French government was similarly reluctant to issue a visa to Chen, for fear of rubbing Beijing the wrong way.
After much bickering, the French government agreed to let first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) receive the award on Chen's behalf -- if she agrees to a long list of conditions: She should not pass through Paris; she must leave from the Charles de Gaulle airport immediately after the ceremony; she must not speak to reporters before the event and must keep a low profile throughout -- or risk having her visa canceled.
As the French newspaper Le Monde said on Saturday, it is difficult to understand the French government's refusal, given that it has been willing to set aside political issues and allow Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to travel in the country. Taiwan is a country with a clearly defined territory and a democratically elected government. On what basis can Paris refuse Chen a visa?
The pusillanimity of the French government should be a cause of shame for a country known as the birthplace of the ideas of freedom and human rights. Faced with immense military and economic pressure from China, the people of Taiwan have time and again demonstrated their bravery by choosing freedom and self-determination instead of capitulation. Taiwan's government also continues to work hard to safeguard that freedom. This is exactly the reason why Chen won the Liberal International award.
The people of France should step out and protest their government's timorous policy as well as Beijing's thuggish behavior. The French failure to approve the president's visa brings shame on a nation which purports to be dedicated to freedom, fraternity and equality. Let the president of Taiwan, the leader of a people struggling for freedom, go where it all began and share that freedom.
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