President Lee Teng-hui attended and addressed the inauguration of the Human Rights Monument on Green Island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Full text of his speech follows:
To all the people in Taiwan, this day carries immense significance. The completion and unveiling of the Human Rights Monument on Green Island marks a beginning in our bidding farewell to misery and welcoming a bright future. It also symbolizes our determination to revere freedom and protect human rights.
Freedom and equality are inborn rights of humankind, but it took hundreds and hundreds of years and claimed countless human lives to realize these simple ideals. In Taiwan, too, the guarantee of human rights has come at the expense of youth, blood and tears of many people. We must thank these democratic pioneers for their struggle, which has made it possible for us to implement the ideal of democracy and enjoy the freedom that is ours today. Therefore, I wish to express here, on behalf of the government, my highest respect for those who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of democracy as well as my deepest apology to those who have suffered torments as a result of their fighting for human rights.
I personally experienced the same fear and suffering as that of many friends who upheld political ideals. Therefore, since taking office as president, I have made it a priority of my administration to build an environment free from fear where everyone can express his or her own free will. It is gratifying that with the full support and concerted efforts of our citizens, and through the implementation of democracy, we have built a grand system of party politics and secured equal right to political participation for all of our citizens. This has made the people's will a leading force in our national development and has given us enough courage to walk out of the historical shadows.
I fully understand that the deep scar in our memory of history can never be completely removed, but I also know that only by setting aside the miseries of the past, can we truly have the hope of rebirth. What we should do today is not to wallow in bitter memories, but rather to draw a lesson from history and cherish the hard-earned democratic fruits. We should take more active steps toward respecting life and protecting human rights, so that our fellow countrymen and future generations can be free from fear and live in happiness and stability.
Therefore, the Monument's towering over Green Island represents not only our remembrance of those who sacrificed and dedicated themselves in the past, but also our solemn commitment for the future. Facing up to the historical trauma, we shall allow no retrogression in democracy, no reemergence of authoritarianism, and no fear or suffering of this kind for our descendants.
I would like to thank the Human Rights Education Foundation for its efforts in making possible the establishment of the Monument. I am convinced that through our joint efforts, the idea of respecting human rights will take root and prevail in Taiwan in the 21st century. This Human Rights Monument stands not only on this offshore island but also in our hearts, as witness to our past and as vigilance for our future.
In closing, I wish you peace and happiness.