The decision this year by the Bush administration to drop its resolution condemning communist China's gross human rights violations was shocking, coming from a country and government that claims to defend and promote peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights everywhere. The decision also comes at a time when the regime in Beijing has placed itself above international moral laws and embarked upon criminal activities aimed at the invasion and annexation of Taiwan.
We believe the Bush administration should have acted in the spirit of the US' traditional role as a defender and promoter of peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights everywhere, and not condone the activities of a regime that has gained notoriety in destroying these values and ideals. The enactment of the "Anti-Secession" Law by the People's National Congress is enough to make Washington aware that China is hell-bent on denuding the inalienable rights and freedoms of whole peoples and nations, particularly the 23 million people of Taiwan, as part of its unambiguous territorial ambitions in Asia.
Africans United for Taiwan (AUT) therefore reiterates that the civilized democratic world has no other alternative than to condemn Washington's decision not to condemn China's tainted human rights record as a betrayal of confidence.
We have always canvassed for the need for a peaceful, just and fair resolution of cross-strait issues, with each state respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other as the only solution to save the world from a holocaust for the peace-loving people of Taiwan.
The truth is that the sovereignty and independence of Taiwan is real and no force on earth can change the status quo. The 23 million people of Taiwan are best qualified to decide on the future direction of the state of Taiwan. And the legally constituted authority in Taipei under the charismatic leadership of President Chen Shui-bian (
AUT believes that, as a first step, the civilized democratic world should create a united front to expose and condemn the Anti-Secession Law, and also force the government in Beijing to abandon its territorial ambitions over Taiwan.
We want to state also that the enactment of the Anti-Secession Law is an act of terrorism against the people of Taiwan, which must not be allowed to take root. It is also the desperate action of a failed government to cover up misrule against its own people. Rather than make a scapegoat of Taiwan's independence, the sinking regime in Beijing should admit that its arrogant, greedy, evil, subversive and war-mongering posturing has backfired.
The people of Taiwan on March 26 demonstrated to the world that no outside intimidation, or threat of invasion and annexation, can shake their determination to live in peace, and to maintain good democratic governance and freedom from outside domination. They have chosen the path of civilized standards of behavior and peaceful co-existence with their neighbors and are ready to defend their dignity with whatever means necessary.
We demand that the Bush administration abandon the game of hypocrisy and double standards on the issue of Taiwan and prevail upon Beijing to respect the sovereignty of Taiwan. We demand that the Bush administration declare the Anti-Secession Law an affront to peace, stability, democracy and freedom. And, above all, as an attack on the UN Charter, because it threatens another independent, sovereign power.
Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh is the president of Africans United for Taiwan.
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