Taiwan: Push for Creating International Human Rights Laws in Taipei

The Alliance for Legislating Five International Human Rights Laws held a press conference on March 2nd, 2010, at the Legislative Yuan. The organisation pushes for making and amending five human rights laws and with the hope the the laws can prevent international crimes and provide asylum for victims of persecution.

The Alliance of Legislating for Five International Human Rights Laws held a press conference on March 2nd, 2010, at the Legislative Yuan

(right to left) Tian Chiu-Chin, Lai Ching-Te, Chiu Yi-Ying

Vice President of Taiwan Association of Human Rights Fort Fu-Te Liao

The speakers and participants at the press conference included Chiu-Chin, founder of the Alliance Tien, along with legislators, a law professor, and many lawyers.

Punishment for Persecutors of Falun Gong Is Needed Justice

The Five Laws allow Taiwan to have universal judicial jurisdiction over crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of torture, and hate crimes. They also ask to deny entrance of the those who commit the crimes. The alliance has also asked the government to offer protection to refugees from China, Hong Kong and Macao who suffer natural and artificial disasters.

Allowing Dictators to Enter Taiwan Insults Its People

The persecution of Falun Gong in China has been ongoing for over ten years, and over 3,300 Falun Gong followers have died as a result. Spain's National Court has indicted five Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials for crimes of genocide and brutality. A federal judge in Argentina ordered the arrests of two officials who masterminded the persecution.

Legislator Ken Chiu said that many high-ranking CCP officials have been to or wanted to come to Taiwan. "With the knives in their hands stabbing the Chinese people, it would be the biggest insult to people in Taiwan if they received courteous receptions," said Chiu.

Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin did not want future generations in Taiwan to face what people in China are now facing--persecution and suppression of human rights. "Human rights are as precious as the air we breathe," said Tien. She also called on authorities not fear caring for those who suffer in China.

Human Rights Refugees Are Mostly from China

Fort Fu-Te Liao, Vice President of the Taiwn Association of Human Rights, stated that making and amending the Five Laws is a great opportunity to connect with the real world and not just an ideal. Liao said that most refugees are from China, and the refugee laws would be worthless if they excluded people in China. "Human rights are human rights and not politics," said Liao.

Yang Hsien-Hung, a senior journalist, said he believed that Taiwan and China should reach common understanding on the issues of human rights and the universal values of lives before they start talking cooperation.

Yang has interviewed many people in China, including human rights activists and Taiwanese businessmen there. He believes it is important that people in Taiwan value the human rights situation in China. "If your neighbour beats his child constantly, would you let your child to go there to play?" Yang asked.