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The Madness of Ma:
Slow-Motion State Violence in Taiwan and the Murder of Chen Shui-bian
Posted: 04/22/2013 9:35 am Jack Healey Founder, Human Rights
Action Center
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-healey/the-madness-of-ma-slow-mo_b_3131341.html
The Human Rights Action Center has been
involved for seven months in a investigation into the incarceration conditions
and medical care of former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian. We sent a
longtime Asia researcher, Harreld Dinkins, and Hans Wahl, a researcher with
considerable expertise on prison standards and the imperatives for prisoner
medical care to Taiwan last year. What we discovered was that, while the
President's material conditions of incarceration were close enough to
international standards that an argument might be dismissed, that his medical
care had been systematically denied or inadequate such that there were
conditions that emerged that were previously non-existent and conditions that
were made considerably worse and permanent. Indeed, consistent independent
medical reporting suggests that Chen Shui-bian is likely to have a host of
medical conditions that are permanent and will impact his quality of life and
perhaps a considerably shorter lifespan.
With considerable attempts to work with all sides on this issue, we never made
assertions about Chen's guilt nor innocence, for that should not impact an
individual's human rights or basic rights. We had just gotten to a place of hope
in fact. After a recent D.C. discussion with the savvy and charming former VP
Annette Lu in D.C., we thought we were likely looking to a parole or pardon
sometime soon. After all, Ma has no option to run for an additional term and an
approval rating lingering near 11 percent. The good (and compassionate) money
would seem to have been on trying to salvage something of the premise of "Thou
Shalt Not Kill" that was an important part of Ma's Catholic upbringing. Such
seems to no longer be a rule that Ma is leaning towards.
In a predawn transfer without any advance notice, Chen Shui-bian was recently
transferred from a medical facility capable of dealing with and managing his
multiple conditions and taken back to a prison with a rudimentary ability to
deal with complex medical issues. This transfer was done after a ten-person
panel of international human rights experts recently issued a report
recommending that Chen be kept in a sufficient medical facility and/or sent home
on medical parole or pardon. This transfer was done after our contacts on both
the "Blue" (KMT) side of the ruling party and the "Green" (DPP) side of the
opposition had begun to express optimism and even a willingness to forgive for
the thought was that Chen would be allowed to live his life with adequate
medical care and dignity.
Taiwan is at a strange crossroads. Ma Ying-jeou's government has been credibly
accused of interfering with the judicial process and being motivated by revenge
politics throughout this process. Still, in the past there have been moments of
compassion shown to Chen during this period. No longer. Based on his medical
conditions and the reports of our organization and credible human rights experts
(and to be sure there have been some fringe characters on both sides of this
debate as well), to transfer him back into a prison with merely a prison clinic
at this point and to do so against the advice of the medical team that was
caring for him, the Ma government has apparently chosen to take a former
president convicted of nonviolent financial offenses and to kill him through
systematic neglect. The outcome of this treatment to date has been exacerbated
conditions and permanent disability.
What would a rational observer conclude from this other than the Ma government
has decided to engage in a slow-motion form of murder?
We call on all peoples concerned about human rights and prisoner rights, around
the world, to send an email to your governments (good), to call your
representatives (better), or to write an actual physical letter (best) to ask
for a redress of this concern. For Taiwan, which faces what might be called a
"unique" diplomatic situation, the sensitivity to international politics and
business pressure is considerable. Remember: it does not matter if you think
that Chen Shui-bian is innocent or guilty. It matters that when the State
incarcerates any prisoner, the State becomes responsible for that prisoner's
well-being and health. The Taiwan government has acted shamefully in this
regard. They are not adhering to international standards. They are not adhering
to the legal/cultural traditions of their own history (unless they're trying to
emulate the White Terror or the 228 Incident in microcosm). The opposition
hasn't been that great at this either. With considerable party politics
contributing to grandstanding to win current or future publicity and votes,
there seems a loss to pay attention to the immediate and general focus of our
concern: the rights of Chen Shui-bian and of other prisoners to receive adequate
medical care and to have their dignity maintained.
Do not let Ma Ying-jeou murder Chen Shui-bian without speaking up against it. Do
not let this happen without letting him know that the eyes of the world are on
him and that he is behaving abominably. These are not the universal standards of
justice or human rights being implemented in Taiwan. This is grudge and
cowardice and abuse.
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