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TAINAN, Taiwan—An invitation to visit Taiwan made to a well-known Chinese communist official and wanted human rights offender has stirred protests by politicians and human rights activists on the island.
The invitation was offered by Chairman Chiang Pin-kung of the Straits Exchange Foundation on June 30, to Bo Xilai. Bo currently serves as the Chinese communist party boss of Chongqing; in November last year he was indicted by the Spanish Supreme Court for his role in crimes of torture and genocide committed against Falun Gong practitioners.
After hearing of the invitation, two former Taiwanese government officials called on the Straits Exchange Foundation to retract the invitation. Their protests then sparked others.
Both Joseph Wu, ex-minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, and Michael Tsai, ex-minister of Taiwan’s National Defense, say that Bo’s visit would taint Taiwan’s reputation because of his notorious human rights record.
Bo is known to have ordered brutal methods of persecution against Falun Gong adherents when he was mayor of Dalian City, and also when governor of Liaoning Province. He sat atop a communist political structure that fostered institutions such as the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp, which was selected to transmit to other labor camps the methods of “transformation” of Falun Gong practitioners it had developed. Such methods included stretching the detainee out by tying the hands and feet and then injuring the genitalia with a club, the force-feeding of saltwater and human feces, and more. “Transformation” refers to having a Falun Gong adherent sign a statement promising to no longer practice the spiritual discipline.
Lee said that on behalf of the Taiwanese people, someone involved in such activities should be barred from visiting the island.
“If a person like Bo, who destroys human rights, comes to Taiwan, it will affect the image of Taiwan; it means we recognize his behavior as correct. We, as representatives of the people, must express our solemn position that we will not appease a criminal,” Lee said.
As a former radio program host with a large network of contacts, Lee indicated that he would pull out all stops in protesting any visit by Bo Xilai. Direct protests and press conferences were on the cards, he said.
“Of course we hope the government will pay attention to this matter. We cannot fail to discriminate right from wrong,” he said.
The Taiwan Falun Dafa Association is also following the case, and says it is prepared to request an international arrest warrant from Spain’s National Court (Audiencia Nacional) should Bo travel to Taiwan.
Bo is currently facing civil and criminal charges in 12 countries world-wide for his record of persecuting Falun Gong adherents; he has not yet given a public reply to the invitation to visit Taiwan.
UPDATE:
Soon after the initial fraccas, other figures in Taiwanese politics came to weigh in on the issue. Among them was Dr. Lai Ching-te, a member of the Taiwan Legislative Council and president of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) Asia Chapter; Chiu Huang-chuan, lawyer and vice president of the CIPFG's Asia Chapter, and Chen Ting-fei, a member of the Taiwan Legislative Council and also a member of the CIPFG.
Mr. Chen, reiterating what others had said, told Sound of Hope radio that inviting Bo Xilai to visit Taiwan will damage Taiwan’s international position as a defender of democracy and human rights.
Dr. Lai Ching-te expanded in his own interview, sounding a cautionary note: “If we do not defend human rights in China today, and do not criticize those officials who abuse human rights in China, but continue to interact with them to achieve short term gains, perhaps even walking the same path as them; then Taiwan will be the next place where human rights are abused and where people’s lives and properties are in danger.”
Ms. Chen Ting-fei, a legislator, also strenuously disagrees with inviting Bo Xilai to Taiwan, for many of the same reasons. “I think before we invite Bo Xilai, Mr. Chiang Pin-kung must clarify to the Taiwanese people why you are inviting a human rights abuser, one who has been charged for persecuting Falun Gong and even with an arrest warrant being issued for him…" she said.
"Mr. Chiang Pin-kung must explain clearly to the Taiwanese people his reasons why."
Read the original Chinese article.
