President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of December 11 at the Presidential Office met with International Ombudsman Institute President William P. Angrick II, who also serves as citizens' ombudsman for the US State of Iowa. President Ma extended a cordial welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Angrick for traveling from afar to visit Taiwan.
The president said that the function and nature of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) is similar to that of the Control Yuan and the members of the Control Yuan in the ROC (Taiwan). An ombudsman is sometimes also referred to as a tribune, he said. The responsibility of these individuals is to protect the rights of citizens and to monitor the government in the administration of its affairs. In other countries, the duties of ombudsmen are carried out on an individual basis. It is only in the ROC (Taiwan) that a formal arm of the government has been established to carry out this responsibility. The Control Yuan is one of the five arms of the government here, he said.
The president said the ROC (Taiwan) has had the opportunity to expand its international horizons with regards to ombudsman-related issues by establishing close ties with IOI and the Asian Ombudsman Association. He said the Control Yuan has long worked to foster ties with these agencies. While the ROC (Taiwan) has been excluded from many international activities due to pressure exerted by Mainland China, the president said he is pleased that the country still frequently takes part in activities held by IOI.
President Ma stressed that he supports a constitution of five powers and hopes that those charged with oversight will maximize their function within the government and also participate in a range of exchanges and interaction with likeminded international organizations.
Mr. Angrick expressed his deep appreciation to President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him. He said the hospitality and friendship of the people of Taiwan have made a deep impression on him. Also, in his capacity as IOI president, Mr. Angrick has invited the Control Yuan to participate in his organization's annual meeting to be held in June next year in Stockholm, Sweden, and to engage in interaction with other member countries.
Mr. and Mrs. Angrick were accompanied by Control Yuan Member Louis R. Chao to the Presidential Office in the afternoon to meet with President Ma. Also in attendance were Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien and National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lee Hai-tung.