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US senator urges US
involvement in Chen¡¦s prison case
By William Lowther / Staff reporter in WASHINGTON
US Senator Sherrod Brown is urging the administration of US President Barack
Obama to become involved in the case of former president Chen Shui-bian (³¯¤ô«ó).
Brown has sent a plea for help to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian
and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.
US representatives Robert Andrews and Dan Lungren last week sent a report
calling for medical parole for Chen to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
The report, prepared by a team of independent US doctors who visited Chen in
prison last month, says that Chen¡¦s health is deteriorating steadily.
Now Brown has sent the report to Campbell asking him to give it ¡§careful
consideration.¡¨
¡§Earlier this year, the people of Taiwan held national elections,¡¨ Brown said in
a letter to Campbell.
¡§As advocates for human rights, freedom, democracy and the rule of law around
the world, it is critical that we continue to support Taiwan as it builds a
society based on the ideals of freedom we hold so dear,¡¨ Brown said.
Commenting on the matter, Formosan Association for Public Affairs president Mark
Kao (°ªÀsºa) said: ¡§There is a growing chorus of congressional concern about the
deterioration of Chen¡¦s physical and mental health.¡¨
¡§Senator Brown is one of the strongest and longest Taiwan supporters on Capitol
Hill,¡¨ he said.
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