The Human Rights Action Center based in Washington, D.C. has issued a preliminary statement on the prison conditions of Chen Shui-bian, the imprisoned former president of the Republic of China in-exile. Chen has already served four years of a lengthy prison sentence following his conviction for alleged corruption during his term in office.
Speaking at Taoyuan Hospital in Taipei, Hans Wahl of the HRAC called the 23-hour days that Chen Shui-bian is confined to his tiny cell “harsh treatment” and said that an explanation for such conditions will be sought from the Ministry of Justice and President Ma Ying-jeou, Chen’s successor in office.
Hans Wahl said: “This is also in contravention of international standards and only permitted for limited periods of time and in instances of the risk of violence, aggression, or escape. We would question the imposition of such a regime for any period in excess of a week or more let alone the entirety of four years.”
The human rights team visited Chen Shui-bian on Monday and spoke about the lack of any furniture in Chen’s small cell and other problems with his confinement. “Other aspects of President Chen’s prison conditions, such as having to sleep, eat, and write on the floor and the prevalence of dripping water, insects, and other sanitary problems are not normally of conditions found in modern democracies governed by the rule of law.”
“Finally, and most importantly, the conditions mentioned above as well as other factors of which we have not yet had an opportunity to examine, have contributed to, what appears to be a precipitous decline in the health of President Chen that is of grave concern to us.” Wahl said, “the fatigue, stammering speech, and shaking we witnessed have elevated these concerns.
Hans Wahl closed out the first day of a week-long fact-finding mission with a declaration. “It is a fundamental principle of international standards of the treatment of prisoners that imprisonment is itself a punishment and should never be used for further punishment.”
“Having visited with President Chen, learned of his treatment, and seen the profound deterioration of his health that has resulted, we look forward to hearing what measures the government of Ma Ying-jeou seeks to undertake to ensure the well-being of President Chen,” said Wahl.
Following the HRAC team visit with Chen Shui-bian, three doctors were allowed to examine Chen and review the results of a recent MRI test. Chen has suffered not just one cerebral infarct (4mm by 4 mm) but more than ten cerebral infarcts. This explains Chen’s stuttering and the deterioration of cognition said Dr. C.D. Kuo in a TV show interview where he revealed the MRI results.
Chen served as president of the exiled Chinese nationalist government ruling Taiwan for eight years until his term ended in 2008. Chen Shui-bian was convicted following a controversial trial marred by allegations of perjured testimony and an after-hours skit by courtroom personnel mocking Chen who continues to maintain his innocence.
Source: Michael Richardson - Boston Progressive Examiner
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