20130103 Exclusive look at Chen Shui-bian’s fall from ROC presidential office to prison

Exclusive look at Chen Shui-bian’s fall from ROC presidential office to prison

January 2, 2013 By: Michael Richardson

http://www.examiner.com/article/exclusive-look-at-chen-shui-bian-s-fall-from-roc-presidential-office-to-prison

The Taiwan Justice Rescue Force led a 36-day march around Taiwan in support of Chen Shui-bian's freedom
Photo credit: Mary Loan

Taiwan Political Prisoner Report, Jan. 2, 2013. In November, I accepted an important assignment from the Formosa Association for Human Rights to investigate the corruption trial of Chen Shui-bian. Chen was prosecuted for alleged corruption shortly after completing an eight-year term in 2008 as president of the Republic of China in-exile.

Although President Chen’s trial, and that of the former First Lady, did attract international media attention, the news coverage was superficial and limited, leaving the public, particularly the English-speaking world, unaware of the specific details of the controversial trial and multiple charges.

View slideshow: Taiwan Political Prisoner Report

After four long years of close confinement in a tiny punishment cell the former leader’s health has deteriorated and he is now confined to a government hospital cell. Current attention to Chen’s plight has focused on the harsh conditions of his imprisonment while largely ignoring the underlying prosecution that resulted in Chen’s conviction and lengthy prison sentence. Ma Ying-jeou, Chen’s successor in office, has denied any role in the prosecution of Chen, however, many observers doubt Ma’s assertion and argue to the contrary that political considerations, particularly relations with the People’s Republic of China, control the case.

In December, I made a two-week trip to Taiwan to learn, firsthand, what occurred during the trial and to investigate the fairness of Chen’s trial. I met with Chen Shui-bian in his hospital cell, interviewed Chen’s wife about her role in the case, talked to Chen’s attorneys, visited with Chen’s volunteer medical team, met with legislators, interviewed law professors, talked to editors and journalists, met with court-watchers, and spoke with members of the Taiwan Justice Rescue Force and other human rights activists.

Although my final report to the Formosa Association for Human Rights must necessarily wait for completion of translation and a careful review of the court record, I am at liberty to share my initial findings based on thirty hours of recorded interviews with key people familiar with the case.

For the rest of January, I will explore in close detail, including photos and video, the shocking story of President Chen’s fall. It is a sad story and one which makes a mockery of justice. Chen’s trial was grossly unfair and irregular and represents a significant slide backward to the days of martial law and the White Terror period by the occupying Kuomintang government.

Unfortunately, the story is not just one of official misbehavior against Chen but includes a disregard for human rights under the exiled Chinese government that was imposed on Taiwan after World War II by the United States.

The only instruction given to me by the FAHR sponsors was to “follow the truth” wherever it may lead. For the next month, readers will discover a story that has not before been fully told about Taiwan’s political prisoner, Chen Shui-bian.