For Immediate Release
Washington DC – July 13, 2012
Contact: (202) 547-3686
U.S. Representatives Submit Report Calling For Medical Parole For Chen Shui-bian To Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
On July 12, U.S. Representatives Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) submitted a report titled: “The Effects of Incarceration On the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan” to the co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Reps. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and James McGovern (D-MA).
Rep. Andrews is also submitting the full report for insertion into the Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives. (For text cover note. See Appendix 2)
The report was drafted by an American medical team of private citizens consisting of Joseph Lin, Ph.D., Ken Yoneda, M.D., and Charles Whitcomb, M.D., which traveled to Taiwan to visit President Chen in jail on June 11.
The medical team’s report concluded that: “Because it is not easily predictable how much CSB’s incarceration conditions need to improve to prevent further serious physical and mental damage such as adjustment disorder or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)…medical parole is the most appropriate effective treatment intervention.”
The team further recommended: “That former president Chen Shui-bian be released from confinement on medical parole based on the above assessments, conclusion and recommendations, and on compelling humanitarian grounds.”
Team leader Dr. Joe Lin, states: “We went to Taiwan as private neutral American citizens, concerned about reports on the medical condition of President Chen, and we came back convinced that the conditions of his confinement are utterly unacceptable having caused extreme mental stress and serious medical symptoms, some potentially life threatening. His mental state is particularly worrisome.”
Lin further emphasizes that: “as a beacon of human rights around the world, the United States should promptly intercede to help put an end to this humanitarian injustice.”
In their report, the doctors express the hope that “by presenting this report to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission a hearing will be convened, and at the same time the Commission will strongly urge President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan to grant medical parole to his predecessor on humanitarian grounds.”
FAPA President Mark Kao, Ph.D. states: “Not only Taiwanese Americans are outraged about the treatment of former president Chen, but it is clear that the deterioration in his physical and mental health is becoming disturbing to more and more members of Congress.”
Dr. Kao concludes: “Our bottom line is that in order to safeguard the welfare of the former president, prevent the deepening of social conflict in Taiwan, and preserve Taiwan’s status as a democratic, rights-respecting country, the Ma administration must act immediately to grant medical parole to president Chen.”
Recently, commenting on Chen’s continued incarceration, former co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) declared during a Congressional hearing on March 28, 2012: “I think for an administration to come in and essentially jail the previous administration is a tragedy.” Chabot said that the charges against Chen was tantamount to a “criminalization of politics,” and compared Taiwan to a “banana republic.”
美眾議員提報「湯姆•蘭托斯人權委員會」呼籲批准陳水扁保外就醫
紐澤西州民主黨眾議員安德魯斯（Robert Andrews）議員及加州共和黨議員朗格倫（Dan Lungren）議員於七月十二日提出一份標題為「長期囚禁對台灣前總統陳水扁身心狀況的影響」的報告給國會「湯姆•蘭托斯人權委員會」的共同主席維州共和黨眾議員沃爾夫（Frank Wolf）議員及麻州民主黨議員麥高文（James McGovern）議員。（報告全文詳「附件一」）
安德魯斯議員也準備將該報告全文提交納入國會眾議院會議紀錄中。（提交書全文詳「附件二」）
該報告係由林文約博士、日裔的米田謙（Ken Yoneda，音譯）醫師及查爾斯•威康（Charles Whitcomb）醫師所組成的民間私人醫療團，於六月十一日赴台並於台北監獄中面會陳前總統後所草擬。
該報告總結：「要評估陳前總統的監禁環境需要改善多少，才能預防諸如適應障礙或創傷後壓力症候群（PTSD）等身心傷害並不容易，所以批准其保外就醫才是目前最妥適也最有效的處理方式。」
醫療團並建議：「有鑑於以上所列之診斷、結論及建議，並基於人道主義精神，應該准予陳前總統保外就醫。」
醫 療團領隊林博士表示：「我們幾位美國公民組成的私人醫療團，秉持著公正立場，此行訪台是因對陳前總統健康情形的擔憂。訪後我們更加肯定，他受監禁的環境導 致了他極度的心理壓力及嚴重的生理症狀，有些症狀甚至有致命的危險，而他的心理情形更是令人擔憂；這樣的環境是難以被接受的。」
林博士並強調：「美國貴為世界的人權標竿，應該要介入仲裁此事，停止人權的不公義。」
醫療團在報告中指出他們希望藉由提交此報告，「湯姆•蘭托斯人權委員會」可以舉行聽證會，並以委員會名義強烈呼籲台灣總統馬英九，應基於人道主義精神批准其前任執政者保外就醫。」
台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士表示：「如今已不只台美人對陳前總統的待遇感到氣憤，亦有越來越多美國國會議員對他日益嚴重的身心狀況表示擔憂。」
高博士總結道：「為了維護陳前總統的身心健全，防止社會對立加劇，也為了維護台灣的民主人權制度，馬政府應該要立刻批准陳前總統保外就醫，這是我們堅持的最基本底線。」
國會台灣連線前共同主席，俄亥俄州共和黨眾議員夏波（Steve Chabot）議員於三月二十八日的一場聽證會上，針對陳前總統持續受到囚禁的情事評論道：「我認為政權輪替後，將前朝執政者下監實在是一件悲劇。」他表示當局對於陳前總統的起訴是「政治犯罪化」，並將台灣比喻為「香蕉共和國」。
Cover Note Submitting Report to Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
July 12, 2012
Dear Chairman Wolf and Chairman McGovern:
As advocates for human rights, freedom, democracy and the rule of law around the world, we hereby submit to you the attached report which was delivered to our offices, “”The Effects of Incarceration On the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-Bian of Taiwan.”” The report was drafted by a medical team led by former professor, Joseph Lin, Ph.D., and professors of the University of California Davis Medical Center, Ken Yoneda, M.D., and Charles Whitcomb, M.D., who visited the former President in their capacity as private citizens.
As you will recall, a letter requesting the Tom Lantos Human Right Commission investigate the facts surrounding the nature of former President Chen Shui-Bian’s treatment while incarcerated was sent to the Commission in April of 2012 by Mr. Lungren. This report should be added to the discussion as the Commission reviews that request.
ROBERT ANDREWS DANIEL LUNGREN
MEMBER OF CONGRESS MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Cover Note from Rep. Robert Andrews when Inserting Report into Congressional Record
Mr. Speaker, as a strong supporter of Taiwan and a founding member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I would like to bring to your attention an issue of concern to Taiwanese Americans and the people of Taiwan.
The former President of Taiwan, Mr. Chen Shui-Bian, is currently serving a 19-year prison sentence for corruption charges. He has been incarcerated for over 1,200 days thus far. Today, I am inserting into the Congressional Record a report drafted by a three-man medical team led by former professor, Joseph Lin, Ph.D., and professors of the University of California at Davis Medical Center, Ken Yoneda, M.D., and Charles Whitcomb, M.D., who visited Mr. Chen Shui-Bian in jail in Taiwan last month in their capacity as private citizens. The report is titled, “The Effects of Incarceration on the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-Bian of Taiwan.”
These medical professionals traveled to Taiwan in June 2012 to assess President Chen’s physical and mental condition, and to inquire into reports of inhumane living conditions and confinement. The physicians concluded that President Chen’s imprisonment conditions are contributing to President Chen’s health problems. In their recommendations the report concludes: “Former President Chen Shui-Bian [should] be released from confinement on medical parole based on the above assessments, conclusion and recommendations, and on compelling humanitarian grounds.”
I am entering this report into the Congressional Record and, in light of the conclusions, ask that the distinguished Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission investigate this important case at its earliest convenience.
