CHAN:
Now over to Taiwan where Freedom House, an American think tank organization, released their annual report on freedom in the world. Their report evaluates the state of freedom in nearly 200 countries on basic standards of political rights and civil liberties. And as you can imagine China was a subject that got more than one mention. According to the report, corruption in China remains a problem and the Chinese Communist Party continues to violate human rights and restrict the freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. NTD's Ben Hedges reports.
STORY:
[Christopher Walker, Freedom House]:
"We decided to release our findings here for the first time, due to Taiwan's strategic position both economically and geographically, and due to the fundamental fact that it is one of the region's most vibrant democracies."
Representatives of Freedom House come to Taipei to release their annual report, entitled "Freedom in the World."
[Christopher Walker, Freedom House]:
"'Freedom in the World' has been done now since 1972 and its purpose is to offer a clear evaluation of political rights and civil liberties developments in every country in the world."
In this year's report, Finland came out top, as most free and North Korea as least free. 2.2 billion people live in countries designated 'Not Free' by this year's report and more than half of those are in China. Freedom House's analysis of China and its future naturally drew attention at the launch.
[Christopher Walker, Freedom House]:
"The framework has been economic growth supplants political rights, and at least the working assumption of the authorities in Beijing has been, that works, and as long as the economic part of the bargain is upheld, the political rights are set aside. That may be the big question for the coming period, certainly with the economic downturn we're seeing now, whether is removing economic growth from that equation whether that model can continue."
Asia researcher Sarah Cook explains her analysis of the possibility political change in China.
[Sarah Cook, Asia Researcher, FH]:
"Changes often come when there is a push from the bottom, even if in order to bring the change you have to have certain government permission and the changing of laws. But you've really seen this element of reaction and pushing of the boundaries, by people on the bottom, whether they are journalists or lawyers."
As well as the significance of Charter 08, an appeal to the Chinese communist regime signed by a large number of Chinese lawyers and activists.
[Sarah Cook, Asia Researcher, FH]:
"One of my readings of Charter 08 was this is a call to the Chinese people to say, we really need to have wholesale reform here, this isn't just a matter of tweaking here and there, particularly in a time of economic down turn, we really need to have a multi party democracy. That's essentially what they were calling for and to the communist party that is revolutionary and some of these people are being brought up on subversion charges."
Whether governments of the world listen to and act upon this report however, can't be guaranteed.
This is Ben Hedges, NTD, Taipei.
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"China Leading the Way in Net Censorship" - Freedom Houseby NTDTV688 views
Taiwan is no different than mainland China. I work as an English teacher for the Taichung City Government School Board, and they are trampling my civil liberty because they do not recognize my religious beliefs not to work on a specific day or time because of my religious conviction. Democracy in Taiwan mus allow me to have my religious freedom but because they are trampling my religious freedom, this will be my last year working in Taiwan.
sheltv100 1 year ago
I expect Taiwan to pick on the mainland.
Bozewani 1 year ago