In support of Taiwan’s application to participate in the World Health Assembly and the World Health Organisation

To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives Assembled in Parliament:

The petition of the undersigned residents of Australia draws to the attention of the House as follows:

• that the World Health Organisation’s Constitution, states “...the enjoyment of the highest obtainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, political belief, economic, or social condition.”
• that Taiwan, with a population of similar size to Australia, has been repeatedly denied participation in the World Health Organisation and World Health Assembly as a result of political pressure from China.
• that without access the World Health Organisation’s network of services severely impairs the ability of Taiwanese health authorities to respond to and assist in disease outbreaks, thereby endangering the welfare of the people of Taiwan.
• that infectious diseases such as avian flu can spread quickly by means such as international air travel, and it is the responsibility of all countries to work with the World Health Organisation to control and monitor these diseases, irrespectively of political differences.
• that while China claims it represents the people of Taiwan, China does not and cannot represent the needs of the Taiwanese people in the World Health Organisation, World Health Assembly and the United Nations, as they are not the democratically elected government of Taiwan.
• that, given Australia has repeatedly displayed to the world its determination to defend democracy (e.g. committing its troops to Iraq and leading the peace keeping mission in East Timor), our Government ought to recognise Taiwan’s democratic government and support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organisation at all levels.
• that Taiwan’s participation in the World Heath Assembly and the World Health Organisation is paramount, not only for the safety and welfare of the people of Taiwan but also for the rest of the world .

The undersigned petitioners therefore respectfully request and plea to the House, that in the interest of fairness, equality and justice for all human beings, politics be set aside and all honourable members give their support to Taiwan’s efforts to participate in the World Health Assembly. We further call on the Parliament and the Australian Federal Government to recognize the democratically elected government of Taiwan as a suitable representative of the Taiwanese people to the World Health Organisation. Australia and Australians are known for their respect of human rights, their ideals on democracy and freedom of speech. Please show that we stand for the ideals this country is founded upon and we truly do care by supporting Taiwan’s efforts to participate in the World Health Assembly and the World Health Organisation.