台灣解嚴20週年  彭明敏教授於歐洲議會紀念典禮致詞全文　2007年7月10日

 I appreciate being asked to say a few words on this meaningful occasion.

The martial law was imposed in Taiwan from 1949 to 1987, 38 year martial law is probably a longest in modern history.

For those like myself who lived through that period of terror, to commemorate its end in Europe brings up mixed feelings and emotions which the words could hardly express.

It is certainly a cause of joy and pride for the people of Taiwan to have gotten rid of the dictatorship and successfully engaged in the process of democratization.

On the other hand this is also a sad and sorrowful occasion to remember so many brave men and women who have courageously sacrificed their freedom, their families and their own lives for the sake of freedom, democracy and basic human rights.

With heart-felt admiration and gratitude, may I invite all of you to join me in paying the highest tribute to those men and women for their courage and sacrifices.

The people of Taiwan deserve to be proud for having established a democratic and free society after such a long struggles and tremendous sacrifices.

Nevertheless, tragically the plight of the Taiwanese people is not over yet.

All of us know that their hard-won freedom and democracy and their very existence as a free society are being seriously threatened by a colossal authoritarian regime just beyond their border.

On behalf of the all the people of Taiwan, I would like to appeal to the world to extend its concern to the dangerous situation in which Taiwan finds itself, and extend necessary assistance to the Taiwanese people to fend off that dangerous and irrational threat.

Many thanks again for inviting me here.