dpp newsletter dec2012

7/30/2019 DPP Newsletter Dec2012

1/9

DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 1

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

Lets Not Allow Taiwan Disappear from the Team ofGlobal Democracies

Remarks by DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang on International HumanRights Day, December 10, 2012

Today is December 10, which

is Human Rights Day. Sixty-

five years ago, the United Na-

tions issued the Universal Dec-

laration of Human Rights. Thisday holds a special meaning

for the development of democ-

racy and human rights in Tai-

wan.

Thirty-three years ago, in order

to pursue democracy, freedom

and human rights for Taiwan,

the Taiwanese people took to

the streets, receiving in return,brutal suppression by the mili-

tary police in Kaohsiung and

were later sent to military

courts.

As I was just a little over 30years-old, that was my first

time in front of the military

courts as a defense lawyer for

those persecuted in the For-

mosa Incident. During those

times, the power of the Tai-

wanese people and those from

the Tangwai (former opposi-

tion) movement formed a great

union, which later bred the

Democratic Progressive Party

of today.

Along the road, the DPP

moved forward in order topurse the universal values of

democracy, freedom and hu-

man rights, and ever since the

DPP first gained power, it vig-

orously promoted the UNs In-

ternational Covenant on Civil

and Political Rights and the

International Covenant on

Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights so they could be incor-porated into Taiwans legisla-


2/9

DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 2

tion, but without a majority in

the legislature, it was heavily

blocked by the KMT.

Even though the KMT took overthe reins of government and fi-

nally passed the two covenants,

we still see President Ma Ying-

jeou unable to put them into true

practice. From the past four

years, we have seen that the ac-

tions from President Mas ad-

ministration have allowed a de-

cline of human rights and de-

mocracy. Furthermore, we see acomplete lack of reform related

to the two covenants and a lack

of real and concrete actions.

From a recent poll released by

the DPPs Survey Center, as

well as polls released by other

organizations, there is clearly a

new phenomenon displayed by

the Taiwanese people, which is arecurring concern and dissatis-

faction over human rights. This

also shows that under the ad-

ministration of President Ma,

human rights in Taiwan have

step-by-step gone into decline

and the current democratic sys-

tem is going through a serious

crisis. In the two areas of judici-

ary and the media, this is espe-cially obvious.

Since the second transfer of

power, the abuse by prosecutors

in the judiciary have been too

numerous to count, and this is

how affairs has been conducted

in the judiciary. As society was

paying wide attention, public

prosecutors unjustly went after

former DPP officials. Purposely

spreading rumors and violating

the principle of privacy, they

gave information to the media

outlet of their choice, painting

former DPP officials as havingcommitted atrocious crimes.

However, through years of legal

battles, they were found not-

guilty, indemnified from the

miscarriage of justice, but given

that it is already a miscarriage of

justice, compensation will not

be able to bring their honor and

dignity back, and their life and

reputation have already beenruined.

Along the same lines, the degree

of abuse in power by govern-

ment agencies has also brought

great pain. It is not surprising

that in every poll released, the

peoples trust towards the judi-

ciary is extremely low. This is

very disadvantageous for thehealth of Taiwans democratic

development and human rights.

In the media environment, Tai-

wans press freedom has gone

through serious deterioration.

Freedom House has warned that

in the past three years, Taiwans

press freedom ranking has con-

tinuously declined. Additionally,Chinas interference into report-

ing methods is also a critical

concern.

From the recent business deals

creating media conglomeration,

there are suspicions and worries

that there is a China factor in-

volved. Channels that should be

public in nature are becoming

privatized. So it is the China

factor that is posing the greatest

threat to Taiwans democracy.

Surveying the past, even under

the martial law era controlled bythe KMTs one-party autocracy,

Taiwan was able to break

through martial law, ending the

press ban and seeking for free-

dom and human rights protec-

tion. This came as a result of the

concerns shown by several in-

ternational organizations and

many of our international

friends from the United States,Japan and other countries.

The DPP, as a party that has pur-

sued democracy, freedom and

human rights, facing now with

the decline of human rights in

Taiwan and the crisis in our de-

mocracy development, will not

stand idle. We are sincerely call-

ing the attention of democraticcountries around the world to

know the reality that Taiwans

democracy is going through a

crisis. Furthermore, today, we

are announcing that the DPP

plans to organize a big protest

march, appealing to all the pub-

lic to join forces with the DPP in

order to protect Taiwans de-

mocracy. We hope that the peo-ple can express their anxieties

and concerns to those holding

power. The DPP also hopes that

the international community

pays greater concern to Taiwan

and show their support. Lets not

allow Taiwan disappear from the

team of global democracies.

Thank You!


3/9

DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 3

DPP releases public opinion survey

regarding human rights in Taiwan

Survey conducted December 6-7, 2012 with sample size of 1,170.

Sampling error: 95% confidence interval within 3.06% sampling error

Target group: citizens with right to vote and over 20 years of age

Weighting: age, gender, place of residence

1. Are you satisfied with the current guarantees in Taiwan for economic rights? Economic rights: fair

tax system, protection of consumer rights, etc.

Satisfied Unsatisfied No opinion

23.0% 67.5% 9.5%

2. Are you satisfied with the current guarantees in Taiwan for the protection of human rights in the ju-

dicial system? Judicial human rights: impartiality in judicial trials, proper treatment of inmates, etc.


22.6% 67.0% 10.4%

3. Are you satisfied with the current guarantees in Taiwan regarding environmental human rights? En-

vironmental human rights: proper processing of garbage waste, non-contamination in public spaces,

proper urban planning, etc.


30.5% 61.1% 8.5%

4. Are you satisfied with the current guarantees in Taiwan for the human rights protection of disadvan-

taged groups? Human rights protection of disadvantaged groups: fair treatment and proper assistance

in the aspects of healthcare, education and employment for elderly, children, poor and disabled.


29.6% 64.0% 6.5%

5. Are you satisfied with the current guarantees in Taiwan for civil rights?

Civil rights: guarantees in the legitimate rights and interests of the people, the government paying at-

tention to public opinion.


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DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 4


25.2% 64.9% 9.9%

6. From an overall perspective, are you satisfied with the current guarantees in Taiwan regarding theprotection of human rights?


31.1% 62.3% 6.6%

DPP pays concern to Tibetan youth in

Taiwan on hunger strikeNine Tibetan youth in Taiwan

started a hunger strike to protest

against the treatment of Tibetans

in China, which has resulted in

occurrences of self-immolation.

The Tibetan youth in Taiwan

had been on hunger strike for 49

hours and sitting-in at Liberty

Square in Taipei. DPP Chair Su

Tseng-chang, accompanied by

party staff, paid a visit on De-

cember 10, International Human

Rights Day, to express the

DPPs support for the human

rights situation of the Tibetan

people and to show his concern

for the health and well-being of

the Tibetan youth on hunger

strike.

Chair Su called into question

President Ma Ying-jeous stand

on human rights, who before

and after the election has shown

conflicting standards. He also

appealed the Taiwanese public

to show concern for the human

rights situation in Tibet.

Representative of the Tibetan

government-in-exile in Taiwan,

Mr. Dawa Tsering, described the

declining human rights situation

in Tibet, saying that there has

been 96 Tibetans who have self-

immolated in the Western region

of China, among which 30 of

them took place in November of

last year. He said that the last

words of the Tibetan who self-

immolated were to hope for Ti-

betan democracy, freedom and

human rights.

In relating

to the plight

of the Tibetan

people, Chair

Su said that

along the road

to its democ-

racy, Taiwan

was not en-

tirely alone as

many interna-

tional organi-

zationshelped the

people of Taiwan. He empha-

sized that the Taiwanese people

are very concerned about

Chinas treatment of the Tibetan

people, but that more needed to

be done.

Chair Su gave his full support

to the Tibetan people as leader

of the DPP, saying that he hoped

that the Taiwanese people col-

lectively expresses concern for

the human rights situation in

Tibet.


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DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 5

Chair Su Tseng-chang receives former U.S.Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian

and Pacific AfairsDPP Chair Su Tseng-chang

received Mr. Christopher Hill,

former US Assistant Secretary

of State for East Asian and

Pacific Affairs on December

10. The hour-long meeting

included discussions on the

democratization of China and

cross strait relations.Regarding cross strait

relations, Chair Su said he

believed that in facing China,

the interactions must be

friendly, but with no haste as

there were still many problems

within China itself. He

emphasized that Taiwan should

allow time for China to change

gradually, showing patienceand goodwill.

He also pointed out that

cross strait relations cant be

solved by either side alone, and

there are not just only cross

strait conditions to be taken

into consideration, but the

entire region as well. The DPP

believes that it is necessary to

maintain peace, but in no

condition should Taiwans

sovereignty be forsaken, and

this is what DPP has been and

will always insist upon, he said.The DPP hopes for peace

in the cross straits, but it must

avoid over-dependence on

China and maintain a regional

strategic balance said Chair

Su.

He cited examples from

President Ma Ying-jeous

administration which

destabilized regional balance ofpower such as assisting certain

groups of Taiwanese people go

to the Diaoyutai Islands and

proclaim sovereignty for China

instead of Taiwan. Chair Su

said that these actions

obviously shook regional

stability and affected many

sides, especially embroiling the

United States because it is a

signator of the Treaty of

Cooperation and Security with

Japan.

Chair Su said that with theseproblems, Taiwan is at a critical

geographic location, and hence,

it is bestowed with the

responsibility in maintaining

regional stability and avoid

triggering any conflicts.

Ambassador Hill said that

Taiwan is not a instigator of

problems in the Asia-Pacific

Region, but rather, Taiwanwould be the solution to the

problem since it is a paradigm

of liberty and democracy. Mr.

Hill also said that Taiwan

should be allowed more

international space so that the

Taiwanese people, especially

the young people in Taiwan,

can participate in global affairs

and not sense feelings ofisolation.

Chair Su replied that just as

Mr. Hill had said, he hoped that

Taiwan can join the world as a

family member and that

Taiwanese youth will have a

chance to enhance and

maintain the values of liberty,

democracy and human rights.


6/9

DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 6

In regards to the controversial

issue surrounding Chinas newly

designed passports, the DPP has

strongly voiced its opposition to

Chinas unilateral steps in

claiming territories in which

they have no jurisdiction. The

DPP, throught its international

channels, have jointly expressed

its firm stance against suchmove by China. On November

28, the DPPs Central Standing

Committee passed a resolution

condemning the new Chinese

passports.

Recently the DPP discussed

this issue with member parties

of the Council of Asian Liberals

and Democrats (CALD), and

passed a resolution to restateCALD members disatisfaction

to Chinas new version of its

passports.

CALD is an alliance of

democratic parties in Asia, and it

aims to promote the

development of democracy and

human rights in Asia. Full,

observer, individual and

hononary members of the

alliance include Taiwan,

Mongolia, Philippines,

Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia,

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore,

Hong Kong and Japan, with a

total of 16 members.

Below is the CALD Resolution

in full:

CALD Resolution No. 4 S.

2012

CALD resolution expressing

concern on Chinas inclusion of

disputed or national territories in

the map imprinted on its new

electronic passport; recognizing

that the act may be construed as

provocative by other Asiancountries; and calling on all

concerned countries to respect

each others territory and

maritime jurisdiction, as defined

by international law, in the spirit

of peaceful, constructive and

amicable settlement of disputes.

Aware that China recently

released an electronic passportwith an image of a new map

demarcating territories in the

South China Sea which it claims

as under its sovereign

jurisdiction;

Recognizing that the

demarcation in the map includes

territories which are either

integral parts of other East,

Southeast, and South Asian

states territorial and maritime

jurisdiction, or subject to

competing territorial claims

under international law;

Concerned that the act may be

construed as provocative by

other claimant countries, as it

may be considered as a strategy

to force them, when they stamp

the passport, to implicitly

acknowledge Chinese

sovereignty over all territories in

the South China Sea;

Mindful that the inclusion of the

map may be considered as a

violation of the Declaration on

the Conduct of Parties in theSouth China Sea (DOC) that

China and the 10-member

countries of the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations

(ASEAN) signed in 2002;

Noting that paragraph five of the

ten-year-old DOC states that

parties should exercise

self-restraint in the conduct ofactivities that would complicate

or escalate disputes and affect

peace and stability, including,

among others, refraining from

action of inhabiting on the

presently uninhabited islands,

reefs, shoals, cays, and other

features and to handle their

differences in a constructive

manner;

Cognizant that the inclusion of

the map may also be interpreted

as contradictory to the statement

of China indicating its readiness

to make joint efforts with

ASEAN countries to implement

the Declaration on the Conduct

of Parties in the South China

Sea, and safeguard regional

DPP, CALD protest against Chinas con-troversial passports


7/9

DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 7

peace, stability, cooperation and

development; in the same vein,

the maps inclusion of two

Taiwanese tourist sites also

appears to go against Chinasdeclaration of softening its

stance on cross-strait relations;

Calling on ASEAN, China, and

other claimant parties to hasten

the adoption of the Code of

Conduct (COC) in the South

China Sea, and to be fully

committed to its implementation

once adopted;

Urging all concerned countries

to respect each others territorial

sovereignty, exclusive economic

zone and maritime domain, in

conformity and in accordancewith international law,

specifically the United Nations

Convention on the Law of the

Seas (UNCLOS), and to refrain

from actions which may become

source of renewed tensions or

conflicts;

The Council of Asian Liberals

and Democrats hereby expressesconcern on Chinas inclusion of

disputed or national territories in

the map imprinted on its new

electronic passport; recognizes

that the act may be construed as

provocative by other Asian

countries; and urging allconcerned countries to respect

each others territory and

maritime jurisdiction, as defined

by international law, in the spirit

of peaceful, constructive and

amicable settlement of disputes.

More information can be found

at:

http://www.cald.org/site/resource.php?i=Resolutions

Protecting Taiwans sovereignty, DPP in-troduces Taiwan is my Country pass-port stickers

In order to show the DPPs

strong oppositon to Chinas

newly designed passports, the

DPP prepared appoximately

10,000 copies of Taiwan is my

country stickers for Taiwanese

citizens to paste it on the cover

of their passports. This

campaign is an attempt to clarify

and restate that Taiwan is an

independent country and not

part of China, said DPP

Spokesperson Wang Min-sheng.

On the stickers, there is a

map showing clear demarcations

of the Asian countries of

Taiwan, China, the Phillippines,

Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore,

Thailand and Indonesia.

What President Mas

administration has failed to do,

we the people must do it

ourselves, said Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang explained that the

DPPs campaign was created to

protest against Chinas unilateral

actions, which he said has

severely injured Taiwans

sovereignty. He also pointed out

that this issue has shown the

incompetency of President Mas

administration, the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs and the

Mainland Affairs Council.

The stickers were designed in

the three different collors of

yellow, pink and dark green.

They have been delivered to

party branches in every county

and will soon be passed outside

of the governments Bureau of

Consular Affairs for the general

public collecting new passports.
http://www.cald.org/site/resource.php?i=Resolutionshttp://www.cald.org/site/resource.php?i=Resolutionshttp://www.cald.org/site/resource.php?i=Resolutionshttp://www.cald.org/site/resource.php?i=Resolutions


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DECEMBER 2012

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DPP sends election observation mission toSouth Korea

The South Korean Presidential

Election, which received wide

focus worldwide, concluded

with the new president-elect

Park Geun-hyes achieving

election victory.

DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang

sent a congratulatory message

to her party, the New Frontier,

or Saenuri, Party. Meanwhile,

he also expressed the DPPs

hopes to strengthen ties with

South Korea following the

conclusion of their elections.

The delegation set off on

December 14, returning on the

20th, and comprising of 14

delegates. Participants in the

mission included DPP Deputy

Secretary-General Lee

Chun-yi, legislators Chen

Ming-wen, Tsai Huang-lang,

Chen Ting-fei, Lin Tai-hua,

and party staff.

The mission included visits

to both campaign headquarters,

the major political parties in

South Korea, think tanks and

universities in Seoul and

Gwangju. The delegation was

able to experience the passion

of South Korean voters. In the

process, it was noted that

supporters of Park Geun-hye

concentrated mainly in the age

range above 50 years-old, and

the supporters ofMoon Jae-in,

the opponent, were mainly

people with younger age

ranges. The so called Divided

Generation prooved to be true

in the face of the campaign.

Additionally, the DPPdelegation also paid a visit to

the original place of South

Korean democracy -

Gwangju. The May 18

Memorial Foundation

Chairperson Kim Juntae

happily offered a calligraphy

present to DPP Chair Su

Tseng-chang and

Secretary-General Lee

Chun-yi offered one in return

on behalf of Chair Su, with

the letters meaning Long

Last Democracy, wishing

democracy to continue

flourishing for both South

Korea and Taiwan.

Aside from the visits to

campaigns, the South Korean

tour also included the Asian

Institute for Policy Studies and

Hankuk University of Foreign

Studies. In their meetings, the

South Korea Presidential

Election and issues over

Northeast-Asia situation and

Korea-Taiwan Relations were

discussed. Scholars agreed on

the small difference in

popularity for both South

Korean election candidates.

Lastly, the DPP delegation also

visited the Taiwan Office

stationed in South Korea.


9/9

DECEMBER 2012

PAGE 9

DEMOCRACY &

PROGRESS

PUBLISHED BY:

Department of International

Aff

airs DemocraticProgressive Party

9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping EastRoad, Taipei, Taiwan

Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306

Fax: 886-2-2393-0342

Email: [email protected]

Website:

http://www.dpp.org.tw

DPP plans The Peo-ples Train of Fury Ral-

lies for January 13

The Peoples Train of Fury Rallies, organized by

the DPP, was officially launched on December 15 in

front of Lungshan Temple in Taipei. The public was

invited to assemble and express their frustration

against the failed policies of President Mas

administration.

People from all walks of life gathered together and

chanted the slogans, Lets get on the streets and

express our fury; We want life, we want

democracy, we want reforms!

The Peoples Train of Fury Rallies will culiminate

on January 13 at Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the

Presidential Office.

DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang said that the people in

Taiwan are living in a difficult situation while

President Ma remains ignorant by publicly saying

inappropriate responses to public criticism.

President Mas inaction has made all the people

angry, he said.

It is obvious

that the people

are furious, and

we will go onto

the streets to

express our

displeasure,

Chair Su said.

We must tell

President Ma that

we want a better

life.
http://www.dpp.org.tw/http://www.dpp.org.tw/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

dpp newsletter dec2012

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