Editorial: When superpowers deny human rights

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3129 Edition

February 13~19, 2012

Editorial

Editorial: When superpowers deny human rights

Translated by Lydia Ma

The Jasmine Revolution or Arab Spring that began last year has inspired 
citizens in oppressive regimes to rise up and demand reform and the resignation 
of their autocratic leaders. In response to these demands, we’ve seen 
autocratic regimes unwilling to relinquish power use deceit, appeasement, and 
even violence to drown out their citizens’ voices calling for reform.

One example of a regime that responded to protests with violence is the 
government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Using its economic and 
military superiority, the Assad government ordered the military to shoot 
non-violent protesters and arrest and torture anyone found to be critical of 
the regime.

President Assad has so far turned a deaf ear to all advice from the Arab League 
and has disregarded all pressure from the international community because he 
knows that he has two powerful allies in the UN Security Council backing him: 
China and Russia. Indeed, Russia and China recently used their veto powers to 
overrule a set of sanctions painstakingly crafted by the Arab League in 
consultation with various scholars and experts.

Many European and American diplomats have pointed out bluntly that using the 
veto power available to permanent nations in the Security Council to support an 
autocratic regime is shameful. However, the Chinese government countered this 
claim by saying that sanctions won’t solve current problems in the Middle East. 
In its defense, the Russian government warned that overthrowing Assad’s regime 
might create a militant Islamic government and a bigger problem.

Though Beijing and Moscow’s explanations make sense, their use of an iron fist 
when governing their own people, coupled by their track record of disregarding 
human rights and their longstanding support of Assad’s regime prompts us to 
wonder if the real motive behind their vetoes is simply their disregard and 
negation of the value of human rights.

Psalm 82 says, “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among 
the “gods”:

“How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?” The 
Security Council is akin to an assembly of the most powerful countries in the 
world and the leaders of these countries are akin to gods who hold the fates 
and lives of countless humans, as well as the creation and destruction of 
countries, in their hands. 

The veto power given to permanent members of the Security Council is a 
mechanism given for the purpose of balancing the power of these countries and 
is, therefore, not a bad thing. However, if such a balancing mechanism is 
instead used to let the wicked get away with murder or help the wicked oppress 
the poor, do we expect God to stand by idly and do nothing?

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan’s polity is typified by the rule of 
assemblies where a lot of ministries and strategies are decided after extensive 
consultations. From local church sessions to general assemblies, many people 
are entrusted to manage and decide important issues and ministries.

The PCT has a long-standing tradition and concern for human rights in Taiwan 
and Taiwan’s national sovereignty and we have used our polity to make that even 
clearer through extensive consultations before deciding evangelistic 
strategies. However, our assemblies are still human inventions that depend on 
fallible human beings to act according to their God-given convictions and views 
about God’s kingdom. Once our representatives are no longer guided by their 
consciences, all that is left is a balance of power mechanism. Therefore, it is 
imperative that PCT decision-makers examine their hearts and their motives 
often.

As we reprimand the rulers of this world for using their veto powers to trample 
on human rights, let us do so with fear and trembling, lest we repeat their 
mistake in our lives with the powers and responsibilities entrusted upon us by 
others. Through Asaph’s words in Psalm 82, God reminds us by saying, ”I said, 
‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere 
mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” (verse 6-7). As God’s children 
who are set apart from other mortals, let us defend the oppressed and be 
messengers of righteousness.

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