6/09/2008
Department of International Affairs - Democratic Progressive Party
As we remember today on the nineteenth anniversary of the “June 4th”Tiananmen Square incident, Director of the Department of International Affairs Lin Chen-wei emphasizes that democracy, freedom, and human rights are key proponents in helping Taiwan and China take steps towards developing a stable, normal relationship. They are also the basis upon which peace and prosperity in Asia can continue to flourish and prosper. Taiwan should actively play the key role as promoter of democracy to China and also continue to support the democratic values the demonstrators of the Tiananmen Square incident sought to promote. The DPP will also continue to pay close attention to the development of democracy and human rights issues in China.
Lin stated that a few days ago, reports from a Hong Kong media announced that Yang Shang-kun, the former president and Vice-chair of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, revealed to friends while still alive that more than six hundred people perished during the Tiananmen Square incident. The actual number of people killed and imprisoned to this day because of the incident has yet to be revealed by the People’s Republic of China, and should be announced as soon as possible. China should also reflect upon this tragedy and release those who have been imprisoned because of political dissidence, allow those who have been politically exiled to return home, and start to reform its political structure and begin the process of democratization.
Lin pointed out that, President Ma Yin-jeou, a self-proclaimed democracy activist and who had in the past repeatedly criticized China for the June 4th Massacre, has instead turned into a coward and chosen to stay silent and avoid any discussion about China’s abuse of human rights and democracy. Ma stated in the past that unless the protestors of Tiananmen Square incident are politically rehabilitated, Taiwan will not even begin to engage in talks of unification with China. However, in his brief released statement about the Tiananmen Square incident not only tries to cover up for the violence caused by Communist Party, but also attempts to excessively glorify its achievements over the past thirty years. Furthermore, President Ma declared “Long live democracy in Taiwan” during his inauguration on May 20th but there is no evidence of such proclaimed democracy in the KMT-CCP platform. Additionally, the KMT-CCP proposal of “party-led politics” is not only a setback for Taiwanese democracy, but for the democratization process in China as well.
Director Lin believes that Taiwan should actively play the key role of promoter of democracy in China and act as a beacon of democracy to China so that intellectuals and citizens of China alike will understand that “democracy is a good thing.” We should encourage the desire of Chinese people to pursue democracy and eagerly play the role of the head of the democratization process in Asia. We should continue to support the democratic values the demonstrators of the incident sought to promote and pay close attention to the development of democracy and human rights issues in China, in order to secure long-lasting peace and create beneficial conditions in the Taiwan Strait as well as the rest of Asia.
Remembering the Tiananmen Square incident: Taiwan should actively play the key role as promoter of democracy in China
