|
Taipei Accused of Bowing to Beijing over Chinese
Muslim Leader's Entry
TAIPEI, Dec 19 (AFP) - A radical pro-independence
party on Wednesday denounced the Taiwanese government
for bowing to pressure from Beijing by denying an
entry visa to an exiled Chinese Muslim leader.
The Taiwan Independence Party (TIP) had invited
Dilixat Raxit, the spokesman for the East Turkestan
Information Center, a group of exiled Uighur Muslims
from China's northwestern Xinjiang province, to visit
the island, a TIP spokesman said.
But the Democratic Progressive Party government, known
for its pro-independence stance, turned down an
application for Dilixat's visit.
"We have no idea why the government rejected the entry
visa of Mr. Dilixat Raxit while permitting visits by
Chinese democracy activist Wei Jinsheng," TIP
spokesman Huang Yu-yen said. Wei, who spend 18 years
in jail in China, lives in exile in the US.
"The denial of the trip has tarnished the image of the
DPP," which has touted its efforts in the protection
of human rights, Huang said.
Dilixat, now exiled in Sweden, had hoped to attend a
conference here on independence for ethnic minorities.
"We felt the government's refusal to issue him the
entry visa was in deference to Beijing, fearing it
could further jeopardise ties with China," said
another TIP official Tsai Ting-lin.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have flared since
Chen Shui-bian of the DPP swept to power last year,
ending the 51-year rule of the Kuomintang (KMT), which
favours eventual reunification with China.
Beijing has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan
should the island ever declare independence.
The Uighur leader had planned to meet with Taiwan Vice
President Annette Lu and former president Lee Teng-hui
during the trip.
|
ETIC REPORT 2000 
