【大紀元2014年04月10日訊】（大紀元記者黃捷瑄編譯報導）來自9個國家、長期觀察台灣社會發展的38位學者，在太陽花即將「轉守為攻，出關播種」之際，發表公開信給太陽花學運及總統馬英九，信中讚揚台灣學生的理性、平和，且強調，全世界都在關注總統先生能否為了台灣拿出智慧與意願，與學生及公民一起守護台灣的民主成就。
這封有著美國資深兩岸問題專家譚慎格（John Tkacik）及邁阿密大學政治學教授金德芳（June Dreyer）等38名國際學者及作家聯署的公開信提到，他們樂見台灣1980年代的民主轉型，以及前總統李登輝及陳水扁時代民主更加鞏固，也肯定台灣在國際社會爭取平等地位的訴求。
然而，過去6年，他們在許多場合深刻感到「必須表達對自由、民主、人權遭到侵蝕的憂慮。現在的執政當局正以台灣好不容得來的自由與民主為代價向中共靠攏。」
對於學生以占領立法院反對政府強行通過〈兩岸服務與貿易協議〉的行為，學者們完全理解，而且支持學生「和平、合理、理性的手段」。
信中提到，這項「極度不尋常」的行動是對政府「漠不關心來自社會的關切、玩弄民主，所造成的挫折感的累積效應，他們針對的不只是《服貿協議》本身，還包括政府偷偷摸摸企圖使其生效的行為。」
「法治，意味著政府屬於人民、與人民同在，也為了人民而存在。學生們以非常具有說服力的方式表示，政府要用法律保護弱勢，使那些沒有聲音的人悍衛自己的權利。如果政府沒有辦法盡到這樣的責任，仍然對（社會的）關切沒有回應，那麼人民就會以行動重建這些基本的民主原則。」
「中共顯然把協議作為『統一』的踏板。」
「我們堅定的相信，台灣的民眾為了民主努力著，想保留自由與民主。他們希望自己決定自己的未來，而不是被壓抑的、不民主的中國所強迫。」
學者們強烈敦促總統馬英九秉持台灣民主的精神及原則走向台灣亟需要的和解。
「您已經建立了兩岸和解政策，但過程中卻給中共領導人帶來統一已近在咫尺的深刻印象。」
「這完全是個不利於台灣及其主權的偽前提。」
「沒有人反對台海和平，但和平必須是明確認知到中國完全尊重台灣的主權及那裡的人民有決定自己未來的自由。」
「在這一點上，沒有理由相信北京的動機。」
學者們建言，和解的第一步是馬政府跟隨立法院長王金平化解僵局的行動，若馬政府對此沒有正面回應，將對台灣的國際形象及民主自由造成嚴重後果。總統應責無旁貸地確保討論能夠自由、民主、屬於公民地進行。
經歷了太陽花運動，學者們相信：「台灣能有一個光明的未來。國家大可為青年們能夠為了自己的想法、理念而忍耐感到光榮。」
3月30日50萬人的集會顯示學生的行動有著廣泛的社會基礎。現在「就看您了，總統先生，為了台灣以及台灣的未來，展現與學生及其他公民團體共同努力的智慧與意願。全世界都在注視著這件事。」
（責任編輯：畢儒宗）
《給太陽花學運與馬總統的公開信》原文
Open letter to the Sunflower Movement and President Ma
As international academics and writers from nine different countries, we the undersigned are longtime observers of developments in Taiwan.
We lauded the transition to democracy in Taiwan in the late 1980s and rejoiced when the people of Taiwan moved to consolidate their democracy under former presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). We also applauded Taiwan’s quest for acceptance in the international community as a full and equal member.
However, during the past six years, we have on multiple occasions felt it necessary to express our deep concern about the erosion of freedom, democracy and human rights.
Under the current administration, Taiwan has been drifting toward China at the expense of the country’s hard-earned freedom and democracy.
This brings us to the present crisis surrounding the occupation of the Legislative Yuan by the Sunflower movement in protest against the way the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government was pushing the highly controversial cross-strait service trade agreement through the legislature.
We fully appreciate the reasons the students took this action, and express our support for the peaceful, reasonable and rational approach they have taken.
This highly unusual act was the cumulative effect of the broadly felt frustrations with the way the government was making a mockery of democracy by not being responsive to concerns from many sectors of society, not only about the substance of the service trade agreement itself, but also the secretive way the government was attempting to enact it.
The precipitating factor was the highly irresponsible decision by KMT Legislator Chang Ching-chung (張慶忠), the chairman of a legislative committee, who declared the clause-by-clause review of the pact completed after 30 seconds, without any deliberations.
This patent violation of the basic principles of democratic procedure galvanized the students into action.
When one talks about the rule of law, then this means a government of, by and for all people.
The students’ actions show in a very eloquent way that the government needs to use the law to protect the weak and to allow those without a voice to defend their interests.
If the government fails in that responsibility and remains unresponsive to those concerns, people will act to restore those basic democratic principles.
As longtime observers of developments in Taiwan over the past decades, we believe that the concerns and anxiety are also prompted by the underlying political agenda.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) obviously perceives this trade pact as a stepping stone toward “unification.”
We firmly believe that the people in Taiwan, having worked hard for their democracy, want to remain free and democratic. They want to determine their own future, and do not want to be coerced by a repressive and undemocratic China.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), we urge you strongly to proceed in the spirit of, and in accordance with, the principles of Taiwan’s democracy, and move toward a much-needed reconciliation in Taiwan itself.
You have built your policies on rapprochement across the Taiwan Strait, but in the process have given PRC leaders the distinct impression that their goal of unification is within reach.
This is a false premise that is detrimental to Taiwan and its sovereignty.
Nobody is against peace across the Taiwan Strait, but peace must be brought about under the clear understanding that China fully respects Taiwan’s sovereignty and the freedom of the people in the nation to determine their own future.
At this point there is little reason to trust Beijing’s motives.
The first step toward a Taiwan consensus would be to follow the lead of Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) who proposed a way forward out of the present impasse.
Failure to respond positively will have serious consequences for Taiwan’s international image, and for the future of democracy and freedom in Taiwan.
It is also incumbent on you, as president, to ensure that the debate is continued freely, democratically and civilly.
Sending in riot troops with sticks and batons against peaceful students is not a responsible way to move forward. Instead it damages the nation’s credibility.
The Sunflower movement shows that Taiwan can have a bright future. The nation can be proud of what these young people have been willing to endure for their ideas and ideals.
Multiple opinion polls as well as the massive attendance of about 500,000 at the rally on Sunday March 30 attest to the movement’s very broad basis of support in society.
It is up to you, Mr President, to show wisdom and willingness to work with the students and other civic groups for Taiwan and its future. The world is watching.
Clive M. Ansley
Thomas Bartlett
Coen Blaauw
Gordon G. Chang
Elsa Chen
Wen-yen Chen
William Cox
Michael Danielsen
Rebecca Doran
Brian A. Dursum
June Teufel Dreyer
Brock Freeman
Stephen R. Halsey
William T. Hipwell
Michael Rand Hoare
Thomas G. Hughes
Richard C. Kagan
Bruno Kaufman
Jerome F. Keating
Hon. David Kilgour
Paul Kovenock
Steven I. Levine
Daniel C. Lynch
Victor H. Mair
The Very Reverend Bruce McLeod
Justin Ritzinger
Terence Russell
Michael Scanlon
Christian Schafferer
David Schak
Michael Stainton
Peter Tague
Reverend Milo L. Thornberry
John J. Tkacik Jr.
Arthur Waldron
Gerrit van der Wees
Joseph Weidenholzer
Michael Yahuda
（轉載自：http://taiwancorner.org/?p=1534）
