TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (
"It's unbelievable in a democratic society that the government has failed to come up with any concrete response 20 days after Hsu Bo sought political asylum during a transit at CKS International Airport," Chen said at a press conference yesterday.
Chen said the government should respect Hsu's desire to stay in Taiwan irrespective of China's possible opposition to such an arrangement.
"The government's deference in its handling of the issue can only contradict its stance on human rights and humanitarian concerns," Chen said.
Chen held the press conference with Xiang Lin (相林), deputy secretary of the Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition, a group led by dissident Wei Jingsheng (魏京生).
Xiang has identified Hsu as the head of the group's office in Seoul, a position he has held since March last year.
The overseas representative offices in Seoul, Geneva and Tokyo have contacted several agencies to confirm Hsu's status as an international refugee recognized by the UN High Commission for Refugee Affairs (UNHCR), government sources said.
Chen said if the lack of an asylum law prevents the government from finding any legal grounds to grant Hsu political asylum, then he should be allowed to stay in his capacity as a UNHCR-recognized international refugee.
"This matter, if mishandled, may tarnish Taiwan's image in the international community," Xiang said.
Xiang said Hsu fled China four years ago after the publication of his book, Red Fascist, which criticized the Beijing authorities.
Fearing deportation from South Korea back to China, Hsu chose to seek asylum in Taiwan, Xiang said.
But the government has reservations about Hsu's identity as a democracy fighter in China and fears setting a precedent in accepting a self-proclaimed Chinese dissident, a government official familiar with the case said under condition of anonymity.
Xiang and Chen distributed to the press yesterday a petition letter Hsu wrote to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to him to support his request for asylum.
Hsu said the "absolute advantage" that the country enjoys vis-a-vis China is its democracy, and he urged the government to support campaigns aimed at democratizing China.
The TSU lawmaker said he would ensure the letter got to the Presidential Office.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) convened a meeting earlier this week to discuss the issue, according to an aide to a lawmaker who attended the meeting but wished to remain anonymous.
Xiang and Chen said they would meet Hsu this morning at CKS International Airport, where Hsu has been detained since Jan. 26.
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