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Activists press DPP on Chen’s health,
rights
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
Tsay Ting-kuei, left, speaks at a
protest outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei
yesterday, calling on the party to campaign for the release of jailed former
president Chen Shui-bian.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Supporters of imprisoned former president
Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday called for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
to be more active in fighting for medical parole or a presidential pardon for
Chen.
Led by Taiwan Referendum Alliance convener Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), dozens of
Chen’s supporters visited the DPP headquarters and the office of former DPP
chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in Taipei yesterday and demanded to meet with DPP
Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Tsai.
The supporters ended up meeting with neither, although both offices sent
representatives, including DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅), to
receive them.
Tsay expressed disappointment that Su and Tsai had not been available, saying
that the DPP heavyweights were among the most influential politicians in Taiwan
and should not evade the issue.
Tsay reiterated that Chen’s imprisonment was “political oppression” and lamented
the DPP’s refusal to “recognize the fact” and its abandonment of Chen.
“Everyone talks about rescuing Chen, but from what I’ve seen, Chen is still in
prison. He cannot be saved until he is free,” Tsay said in front of the DPP
headquarters building.
“If the DPP fails to actively intensify its rescue effort, President Ma Ying-jeou
(馬英九) will not be the only politician to embrace a flying shoe. We would throw
shoes at Chairman Su as well,” Tsay said.
Tsay was referring to a shoe-throwing incident on Dec. 10 last year, when
protesters — including Tsay — threw shoes at Ma to protest the president’s
treatment of Chen.
While the DPP has supported Chen’s medical parole due to his deteriorating
health, Tsay said the former president should be granted a presidential pardon
regardless of the final verdict of his legal cases.
Su and Tsai had previously called for Ma to respect Chen’s right to fair trials
and medical treatment, with the DPP launching a campaign across the country
which saw more than a dozen local councils reaching resolutions demanding
medical parole for the former president.
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