Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has stopped eating to protest against what he called the “death of the judiciary,” his lawyer Cheng Wen-long (鄭文龍) said yesterday.
In a statement issued by Chen’s office, Cheng said his client had not eaten since he was detained on Wednesday morning in connection with corruption allegations, although he was drinking water.
Cheng did not use the term “hunger strike” in describing Chen’s action, and at press time it was not clear if Chen’s fast was intended to be a hunger strike.
PHOTO: CNA
Cheng said he had visited Chen at the Taipei Detention Center yesterday morning.
Officials at the center said they would keep a close eye on Chen’s condition, the lawyer said.
Chen is suspected of embezzling about NT$15 million (US$450,000) during his two terms in office. He is also suspected of money laundering, taking bribes and forgery.
The court’s decision to detain him capped a six-month investigation into the graft allegations against the former president. Chen has denied any wrongdoing.
His detention came five days after Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) ended a controversial visit to Taipei.
Chen has criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration for “political persecution” and waging a “political vendetta” against him to curry favor with Beijing.
Cheng said he tried to talk Chen into eating something during their meeting yesterday, but Chen refused and asked him to make public the 10 reasons why he stopped eating.
From reasons were: The judiciary is dead; democracy has regressed; he is willing to go to jail for the Taiwanese; he is willing to sacrifice his life for a Republic of Taiwan; he is opposed to authoritarianism, communism and dictatorship; he wants sovereignty, freedom and democracy for Taiwan; Taiwan must be protected from China’ bullying; Taiwan and China are “one state on each side of the Taiwan Strait”; Taiwanese must rise and make an all-out effort for the cause; and persistence will prevail.
Cheng said Chen wanted him to relay his appreciation to those who cared about him, especially the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has issued a five-point statement, and DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Tsai has called Chen’s detention “shoddily administered and an abuse of power.”
She also urged authorities to show more respect for the rights of a former president and not to incite people and cause division.
Chen also thanked former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), DPP legislators, human rights groups and other private institutions for their support.
Meanwhile, Chen’s office said it was helping plan a nighttime event on Nov. 22 in Yuanshan Park to back Chen. The event would be organized by the Ketagalan Institute, which Chen founded.
Chen’s office said it had asked the DPP’s Taipei chapter to apply for police permission for the event and Tsai has promised to offer any necessary assistance.
Executive Yuan Spokeswoman Vanessa Shih (史亞平) refused to comment on Chen’s detention, saying his case had not been discussed at the weekly Cabinet meeting.
“The government’s position on cases under judicial investigation has been ‘no comment and no interference,’” Shih said.
She urged those planning to take to the streets in support of Chen to respect prosecutorial independence, keep faith in the judicial system and remain rational.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHIH HSIU-CHUAN
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