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ments of the people in Taiwan, said Acting Chair Chen Chu. They also gave the strongest warning to the current government, and we appeal to the Ma Administration to see and listen to the peoples displeasure. Acting Chair Chen noted that the Lugang Township by-election victory was gained with limited resources by the DPP, but with a clear vision, a willingness to fight and show sincerity, the
APRIL 2012 DPP was able to garner the publics identification and support. She also gave her deepest gratitude to the people of Lugang Township for their support of the DPP, and she congratulated Mr. Huang, wishing him well in his new responsibility as township mayor.
President Ma Administrations rst human rights report distorts real facts, shows no concrete actions
The President Ma Ying-jeou Administration released its first human rights report since taking over the presidency four years ago. In response to the contents of the report, DPP Spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien held a press conference on April 20 to cite examples showing that Taiwans human rights have in fact regressed. Spokesperson Lin said that since the administration of President Ma has taken over the presidency, there has been a human rights regression in Taiwan. He said that during the DPP administration, press freedom improved from worlds 35th to 32nd. Every year after the 2008 transfer of power, press freedom in Taiwan fell from the ranking of 43rd to 48th, he said. The fall in press freedom ranking for Taiwan should have already raised a red flag for President Mas Administration, however, no concrete actions has been taken to tackle this problem. In fact, press freedom has become even more restrained. If the NCC approves the media buyout of China Network Service (CNS), press freedom will take a even further step back because it would create a conglomeration of media services and limit the viewing choices for the public. In regards to freedom of expression, Spokesperson Lin said that the Taiwanese public has made several attempts to express their dissatis
faction to the government. More specifically, the recent rise in gas and electricity prices. However, the government has imposed more limits on permits to hold rallies such as the 519 rally planned by the DPP, where the government has placed greater boundaries over the protest zones compared to the inauguration four years ago. In President Ma Administrations first human rights report, he also mentioned the concern for human rights in China. Spokesperson Lin said that it was very ironic to include human rights in China because President Ma and his team has not once mentioned the issue of human rights in any cross strait negotiation. Also not once since taking over the presidency, Spokesperson Lin said, has President Ma met with China human rights dissidents, such as Wang Dan, who resides in Taiwan. President Ma Administrations first human rights report lacks the substance it needs to give an accurate picture of the human rights situation in Taiwan. There has been no improvement of judicial reform, and no specific actions mentioned by the government to tackle the improvement of human rights. President Ma Administrations human rights report distorts the real facts and shows no concrete actions by the government for the future. PAGE 2
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DPP issues statement congratulating Burmas NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi for success in recent elections
The DPP issued a statement congratulating the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for their recent success in the Burmese by-elections of April 1st. The DPP and NLD are both members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and Liberal International (LI), where both have held close exchanges on democracy, human rights and political party organization. Just last year, a DPP delegation was able to pay a visit to the NLD Party Headquarters in Rangoon, Burma. The DPP delegation also was able to visit Aung San Suu Kyi at her residence. Aung San Suu Kyi has championed the values of liberty, human rights and democracy for her country of Burma, values shared by the DPP. For the recently by-elections held in Burma, the DPP expresses its admiration for Aung San Suu Kyi and congratulates the NLD for their hard efforts carried out throughout these elections. The DPP hopes that these by-elections is not just an improvement of democracy for Burma, but also for the rest of Asia. The DPP hopes that in the future, other countries in Asia may also follow this example in allowing the people to exercise democratic participation. The DPP will continue maintaining a close contact with Aung San Suu Kyi through its alliance with the NLD, hoping to establish deeper channels of communication and hold close exchanges regarding the issues of democracy, human rights and freedom.
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