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Tumors spur calls for
Chen’s release
APPEAL FOR COMPASSION: Chen’s family and members
of the Democratic Progressive Party joined calls for him to be released from
prison to undergo medical treatment
By Rich Chang and Chris Wang / Staff reporters
Security officers escort jailed
former President Chen Shui-bian, in wheelchair, to Taoyuan General Hospital for
a medical check yesterday. Chen’s son, Chen Chih-chung, right, also attended the
check-up.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
Doctors found another small tumor on
former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) prostate yesterday after he was granted
a temporary release from prison for follow-up medical checkups in a hospital.
Chen was transported from Taipei Prison to Taoyuan General Hospital at about
6am.
Dozens of Chen supporters shouted: “A-bian [阿扁, Chen Shui-bian’s nickname] is
not guilty, release A-bian” as he arrived in the hospital.
After the checkups, Chen returned to the prison at 8:15am.
Chen’s office secretary, Chiang Chih-ming (江志銘), told reporters at the hospital
that while doctors had found a small tumor — measuring about 1cm — on Chen’s
prostate in an initial checkup on March 7, another small tumor was found
yesterday, adding that the first had become bigger.
Chiang said the doctors have decided to take Chen off his heart medication for
10 days, after which he will undergo a biopsy to determine whether the tumors
are malignant.
Chen’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), and daughter, Chen Hsin-yu (陳幸妤), went to the
hospital, but they were barred from accompanying their father during the medical
exam.
Chen Chih-chung said his father was suffering from chest pain and had trouble
breathing, adding that his heart and lung problems were becoming more serious.
“He has trouble breathing even when he’s simply sitting in a wheelchair. The
doctors said such a condition was very rare,” he said.
Chen Chih-chung again appealed to the authorities to grant his father leave from
prison to receive medical treatment because his father was suffering respiratory
failure.
The doctors found Chen Shui-bian was suffering from acute coronary syndrome —
reduced blood flow to the heart — in the checkup on March 7 and arranged for him
to undergo a cardiac catheterization. Chen remained hospitalized from March 7 to
13.
Chen Shui-bian is serving a 17-and-a-half-year prison term on corruption
charges.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday also repeated its call for the
former president to be released for medical treatment.
“Former president Chen should be immediately granted a release for medical
treatment on humanitarian grounds,” spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said.
Chen Shui-bian’s judicial rights and medical rights have always ranked high on
the priorities of the DPP’s Central Standing Committee and its acting
chairperson Chen Chu (陳菊), he said.
The DPP’s position on the issue has been consistent, Lin said.
“The DPP maintains that Chen should be released for medical treatment. In terms
of a presidential -pardon, that would be the president’s prerogative. We hope
President Ma [Ying-jeou (馬英九)] will approach the issue with the mindset of a
national leader,” Lin said.
The amnesty issue has been a hot topic in the DPP’s chairperson election
campaign, with former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) the only candidate holding
the same position as the party.
Former DPP chairperson Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), former vice premier Wu Rong-i
(吳榮義), former Tainan County commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) and former DPP
lawmaker Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) have all called for a presidential pardon for
Chen.
The four candidates attended a rally for Chen’s amnesty in Madou District (麻豆),
Greater Tainan, on Saturday.
The Ministry of Justice said last weekend that Chen could be granted a medical
release only if his condition could not be adequately treated in prison.
In a letter last week, US Representative Dan Lungren of the Republican Party
called on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and other US House of
Representatives members to investigate Chen’s imprisonment.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer
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