USERID_33224 Taipei Times - archives Tue, Feb 09, 2010 News Editorials 646734704 visits Front Page * CPC, Formosa cut prices after report * Costa Rica’s first female president wins in landslide * Power outage, jumper disrupt two Taipei MRT lines * Tehran says it will increase uranium enrichment to 20% * Chinese police shut Web site providing training for hackers Taiwan News * ECFA core issue at talks: SEF chairman * DPP repeats call for cross-strait legislative task force * Taiwan High Court extends detention period for Chen * Premier pledges caution on water project * Physicist slams US visa procedures * Ministry may not recognize some PRC qualifications * Government touts water conservation * First few days of Lunar New Year will be chilly * Three killed, five injured in car crash * CEPD approves Suhua Highway upgrade project * Institute introduces new touch-screen making machine * Change to insurance act keeping youth indoors * Taiwan News Quick take World News * Hundreds flee town ahead of offensive * Cowboy theme at American base in Afghanistan * Japanese monk gets down with the beat for Buddhism * N Korea threatens, wants talks * Australia seeks higher-skilled immigrants * Australia’s north too dry to become food bowl: report * Another would-be Filipino politician killed before poll * China finds another 170 tonnes of tainted milk powder * Anwar Ibrahim wants sodomy trial judge removed * Uncertainty as Ukraine’s Yanukovich claims win * Seychelles plan for jail to combat Somali pirates * MPs meet over ‘Saddam’ candidates row * Emotional former aide backs Blair over Iraq War * Swiss police hail a miracle after snow-buried skier rescued * Winter woes continue in the US * Obama uses big game for gambit on health care * Connecticut power plant blast kills five, injures 12 * Presidency bid in 2012 possible: Palin * Convicted Chinese spy set to receive espionage sentence * World News Quick Take Editorials * EDITORIAL : Beijing’s ‘anger’ collides with reality * Democratic liberty is fundamental * Obama’s China policy is reckless * Arms sales: the right move at the right time * Potential cosmic catastrophe raises crucial questions * US, other nations gripped by a crisis that keeps moving * Obama must do more than just muddle the US out of freefall * [LETTER] Sports * NFL: Saints go from chumps to champions * Drogba’s brace sends Chelsea top * Oudin sets up US-Russia Fed Cup semi-final * RBS: Two-try Bastareaud is the hero for victorious France * Proteas eye victory after Steyn skittles India’s batting order * Lopez outlasts Robert to end long trophy drought * Stricker closer to Woods after Northern Trust win * NBA: Magic burst past Celts for victory * NHL: Ovechkin leads Caps to 14th straight * SBL: Liquor rally to overcome Beer in double overtime * LEGA CAICIO : Inter crush Cagliari, AC Milan held * LFP: Nine-man Sevilla crash at Zaragoza * BUNDES LIGA: Frankfurt’s late rally downs Dortmund * LFP: Monaco’s title hopes in tatters after Les Verts loss * Sports Briefs * SPORT SOCCER SHORTS Business * Exports, imports soar to 16-month high * Chi Mei reports flat panel sales, AUO posts rise * Experts forecast no risk of contagion from Greece * Town to start exporting bell fruit to Germany, France * Chunghwa Telecom shares dip on return * Pimco favors emerging markets, El-Erian says * TWSE expects several foreign IPOs * Google sends letter warning Chinese copycat site: report * [BUSINESS BRIEFS] World Business * CIT taps ex-Merrill chief Thain as CEO * Nexus One faces competition from low-cost models * JAL to stay with American: reports * Apple co-founder supports Prius despite problems * Japan’s Kirin terminates merger talks with Suntory * India growth to hit 7.2% for year ending March * World Business Quick Take Features * Is monogamy realistic? Bilingual Pages * British pub fights get safer with new design glasses 新款酒杯可望降低英酒吧酒後鬧事傷害 * Igloo collapses on Canada’s finance minister 加國財長「卡門」慘遭冰磚砸背 * Business English   Photo News   More Editorials   Johnny Neihu     Community Compass   Back Issue    <<    Full List TaipeiTimes    Subscribe    Advertise    Employment   FAQ    About Us    Contact Us    Copyright Search Most Read Story Most Viewed Photo Enter your search terms Submit search form Taipei Times  Print  Mail  wiki links Democratic liberty is fundamental By Michael Danielsen Tuesday, Feb 09, 2010, Page 8 As one of the signatories of the open letter to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) (“An open letter to Taiwan’s president,” Nov. 13, 2009, page 8), I would like to respond to the article by Government Information Office Minister Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) (“Taiwan’s political liberties not eroded,” Jan. 26, page 8). I identify a sign of progress in the letter: He states that the government will give “due attention to possible flaws in our judicial system” and continued by stating that it will “keep pushing forward on these fronts.” I look forward to actual steps that go beyond mere words. Civil liberties are fundamental to democratic nations because they protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens and put limits on governments. Actions are warranted. Freedom House’s ­downgrading of Taiwan’s ranking in terms of civil liberties from 1 to 2 this year signals that the nation is going in the wrong direction, and it is worrisome. I hope Su’s mentioning only of the positive developments in Taiwan’s legal system over the last two decades and avoidance of further comment on what has happened over the last two years — according to Freedom House — is not a sign of self-deception or an argument for avoiding concrete action. In its report, Freedom House refers to violations of the rights of defendants in criminal cases and other new restrictions on freedom of expression and news freedom. In addition, Jerome Cohen and Chen Yu-jie (陳玉潔) stated in the South China ­Morning Post on Jan. 20 that now “it [the government] is trying to introduce legislation to punish ‘obstructions of justice’ that will inevitably restrict defense lawyers’ activities.” Thus, using history over the last two decades to showcase Taiwan’s democratic development is deceptive. Su seems to have a different understanding of democratic involvement than others. Based on his words, cross-strait relations are only important to the legislature if they are related to law, and the public should only have involvement between elections via the media. However, the agreements involving China and Taiwan deal with the key issue of Taiwan’s future and its existence as a free and democratic nation, and for that reason the agreements are always important to the legislature and the public because of tensions with China and that country’s obvious threats to Taiwan. During negotiation of agreements that fundamentally affect cross-strait relations, the legislature should be involved directly though a bipartisan committee instead of, as appears to be the case, acting as a rubberstamp parliament that is informed of, but not involved in, the decision-making process. Taiwan has much to gain through the increased involvement of all parties, including civil society, in cross-strait negotiations. Such a dialogue is essential if there is to be a broad consensus in Taiwan regarding relations with China. Michael Danielsen is chairman of Taiwan Corner. This story has been viewed 107 times. Advertising Copyright © 1999-2010 The Taipei Times. 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