LAWMAKERS TO INTRODUCE RESOLUTION URGING BEIJING TO RELEASE ACTIVISTS
2005/03/07 22:50:11
Taipei, March 7 (CNA) Several legislators from the ruling and opposition parties promised Monday to jointly introduce a resolution at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan urging the Beijing authorities to release all detained pro-democracy activists, including Dr. Wang Bingzhang. Ruling Democratic Progressive Party legislators Lin Cho-shui, Hsiao Bi-khim, Chiu Chuang-chin and Chen Chung-hsin, as well as Wu Chih-yang of the Kuomintang and Kao Szu-po of the People First Party were attending a press conference jointly called by the [Worldrights], the Chinese Association for Human Rights and the Taiwan Association for Human Rights at the legislature. Kao said that Wang was jailed on suspicion of collecting information for Taiwan's intelligence agencies, so the people of Taiwan have an obligation to help the pro-democracy activist clear himself of the false accusation. He called on the Beijing authorities to shake hands with political dissidents and to free Wang. Lin said giving moral support to Chinese pro-democracy activists will make them more confident in their efforts to promote democracy in China and he voiced the hope that all 1.3 billion Chinese people can one day enjoy the universal value of human rights. For his part, Timothy Cooper, executive director of the [Worldrights], thanked the legislators for their support for all Chinese pro-democracy activists. (By Luis Huang) ENDITEM/J