June 7, 2009
關注六四，是對我們民主與人權信念的試煉
台灣公民社會支持紀念「六四」二十週年聲明
我們都還記得，整整二十年前，許許多多台灣人民在電視前看著坦克車開進北京城，看著學生與市民身上滿溢的鮮血，我們流下了眼淚。我們也都記得，當時朝野政治人物如何批評中國共產黨，演藝界群星攜手激動地吟唱「蒙上眼睛，就以為看不見」。我們記得，那是「歷史的傷口」。
二十年後的今天，以及過去許多年，台灣人民彷彿患了集體失憶症。如今，台灣的媒體及執政黨齊聲歌頌的主旋律是「發展才是硬道理」，是中國美麗風光的旅遊，是上海北京的雄偉建築。我們忘記了這個國家二十年來，依然被一個不折不扣的專制政權所統治。八九民運人士仍然身陷獄中或在海外流亡，天安門母親依然被圈禁在家中暗自飲泣，甚至在中國各角落不斷有人為著爭取人權、保護弱勢竟被逮捕關進黑牢。我們還能視若無睹嗎？
台灣人為何要關注六四？因為這是對我們自身民主信念的重要試煉。
首先，做為一個走過民主化荊棘路的民主國家公民，我們深信民主與人權乃是普世價值。我們固然要關心台灣本身民主的缺失，同時我們也應該關注鄰近國家的民主與人權，和那些爭取民主的鬥士站在一起。
其二，在目前的兩岸局勢中，對經濟利益的關注成為海峽兩岸最大的共識。八九之後，中國一切向錢看，市場支配一切，六四以及其他政治改革的呼聲全被消音。而當台灣和中國互動愈加密切，我們似乎也感染了歷史失憶症與民主冷漠症。在這個兩岸大和解的氣氛下，人權似乎成為最不合時宜的話題。但如果我們附庸於中國的主流論述，眼中只看經濟利益，深怕得罪中共當局而不顧人權與民主，這豈不是對我們自己辛苦紮根的民主信念最大的嘲諷嗎？
我們不能再冷漠。在「六四」二十週年的今天，我們呼籲台灣各界應該和全世界有良知的人們站在一起，展現我們追求民主與人權的決心，支持追究「六四」責任、推進中國民主的一切努力！
連署人簽名：黃默、黃文雄、林世煜、王興中、蔡季勳、李仰桓、林欣怡、李介楣、楊長鎮、張鐵志、阿潑…
June 2, 2009
June 4th is a test of our belief in democracy and human rights
Statement (translated)
June 4th is a test of our belief in democracy and human rights
Taiwan’s civil society supports the commemoration of
the twentieth anniversary of June 4th
We still remember, exactly twenty years ago, how we shed tears as we watched on television the tanks roll into Beijing city, the blood stream down the faces of students and ordinary citizens. We also remember, how Taiwanese politicians both in government and in opposition condemned the Chinese Communist Party, and how celebrities held hands and sang for the demonstrators. We remember, that was the “Wound of History.”[1]
Twenty years later, the people of Taiwan appear to be suffering from collective amnesia. Today, Taiwan’s media and ruling party sing praise for economic development, lauding China’s scenic areas and the impressive architecture in Shanghai and Beijing. We seem to forget that over the past twenty years, China has continued to be ruled by an authoritarian regime. Those who took part in the 1989 demonstration for democracy are still in jail or in exile, and their mothers are still weeping in the darkness. In every corner of China, people are being arrested and locked up for speaking for human rights and protecting minorities. Are we still going to turn a blind eye?
Why should the people of Taiwan pay attention to June 4th? Because this is an important test of our belief in democracy.
First of all, as citizens of a democratic country that fought hard for our democracy, we firmly believe that democracy and human rights are universal values. As we strive to improve our own democracy, we should also care about human rights and democracy in neighboring countries and stand in solidarity with those democracy fighters.
Secondly, the current situation is that economic interests have gained the upper hand in cross-strait relations. Ever since 1989, China has been focused only on making money, while muting all calls for political reform. As Taiwan develops closer ties with China, we seem to have been affected by historical amnesia and democratic apathy. In this atmosphere of cross-strait reconciliation, economic interests have become the top priority whereas human rights seem to be taboo. But if we ignore the call for human rights and democracy out of fear of upsetting China, wouldn’t that be the greatest mockery of the democratic ideals that we ourselves fought so hard for?
We can no longer remain apathetic. On the twentieth anniversary of June 4th, we call on all sectors of Taiwanese society to express our firm commitment to the pursuit of democracy and human rights, to support the prosecution of those responsible for June 4th, and to push for democracy in China.
Signatories:
Mab Huang (黃默), Professor, Soochow University’s Chang Fo-chuan Center for the Study of Human Rights
Peter Huang (黃文雄), Chairman, Amnesty International Taiwan
Wang Hsing-chung (王興中), Director, Amnesty International Taiwan
Tsai Chi-hsun (蔡季勳), Secretary-General, Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Lin Hsin-yi (林欣怡), Executive Director, Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty
Yiong Cong-ziin (楊長鎮), Executive Director, Deng Liberty Foundation
Li Jieh-mei (李介媚), Office Director, Deng Liberty Foundation
Tieh-chih Chang(張鐵志), Writer
[1] “The Wound of History” was the name of a song that a chorus of Taiwnese pop celebrities sang in support of the Tiananmen demonstrators.
