Green Island, Taiwan, Dec. 10 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged mainland China Tuesday to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights and offered to help it in the pursuit of these universal values.
Chen made the appeal in a speech delivered at a ceremony marking the opening to tourists of the "Oasis Villa" -- an old jail for prisoners of conscience on Green Island off Taiwan's southeastern coast in connection with the celebration of Dec. 10 World Human Rights Day.
Noting that the "villa" has borne witness to Taiwan's martial law era, Chen said the transformation of the prison into a memorial hall marks yet another step forward in the island's human rights development. "While we Taiwan people are now enjoying freedom, democracy and human rights, we earnestly hope that our neighbors on the other side of the Taiwan Strait have the same luck to enjoy these rights, " Chen said.
He called on the mainland leaders to embrace universal values and forsake authoritarian rule. "Suppression cannot be everlasting. Every person's basic rights should be respected and protected. Only then can the nation bring happiness and prosperity to its people, " he said.
Chen, who once defended political dissidents during the martial law era, said Green Island used to be a symbol of Taiwan's human rights suppression. "We have come a long way to end authoritarian rule and complete a peaceful democratic transition of power between different political parties. Moreover, we have bravely faced up to the bloody history of our pursuit of freedom and human rights. We must pursue the truth of history and preserve our archives so that our children understand the hardships we endured and learn lessons from previous mistakes, " Chen said.
In response to an appeal from human rights groups, Chen said his administration has carefully planned and transformed the old prison into a human rights park in memory of the darkest days of Taiwan's human rights history.