For Immediate Release
Washington DC – October 24, 2012
Contact: (202) 547-3686
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown Urges AIT Director Marut To Visit Former President Chen Shui-bian
In a letter dated October 23rd 2012, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called upon the Taipei-based director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chris Marut to visit former President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan in jail or hospital.
The Senator writes: “As you know, former President Chen Shui-bian is suffering from severe depression and is under psychiatric treatment at a Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The recent report entitled ‘The Effects of Incarceration On the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-Bian of Taiwan’ was drafted by a medical team […] who visited the former President in their capacity as private citizens.”
The Senator concludes: “Recent media reports from Taiwan indicate that you have expressed a willingness to visit the former President. I ask that you review the report and visit the former president at the appropriate time.”
The cited report was drafted by a medical team led by former professor Joseph Lin, Ph.D., and professors Ken Yoneda, M.D. and Charles Whitcomb, M.D., of the University of California Davis Medical Center. It was presented on July 12 to Reps. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and James McGovern (D-MA), co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission by Reps. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and Dan Lungren (R-CA). The full report was also inserted in the Congressional Record.
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: “In addition to the medical problems president Chen has been facing, there are now severe psychiatric problems. Chen even has a speech impediment that is likely caused by major depression. In any democracy this would be sufficient cause for an immediate medical parole on humanitarian grounds.”
Dr. Kao concludes: “Senator Brown is a friend of President Chen, whom he has met on multiple occasions in Taiwan over the past decade. It is touching to see a U.S. Senator, despite the hectic election season, reach out across the globe to a friend in need.”
美參議員呼籲「美國在台協會」處長馬啟思探視陳水扁
俄亥俄州民主黨參議員布朗（Sherrod Brown）於十月二十三日致函設於台北的「美國在台協會」處長馬啟思，呼籲其前往台北監獄或榮總醫院探視陳前總統。
信中寫道：「前總統陳水扁先生罹患重度憂鬱症，目前在台北榮民總醫院接受心理治療。不久前，一個曾前往台北監獄探視陳前總統的私人醫療團，撰寫了一份標題為『長期囚禁對台灣前總統陳水扁身心狀況的影響』的報告。」
布朗議員總結道：「近日來，台灣媒體曾報導您有意願探視陳前總統。我請求您參閱該報告，並選擇適當時機探視陳前總統。」
該報告係由前加州大學戴維斯分校教授─林文約博士，及該校醫學中心的兩位教授─日裔的米田謙（Ken Yoneda，音譯）醫師及查爾斯•威康（Charles Whitcomb）醫師所組成的醫療團撰寫，並於七月十二日由紐澤西州民主黨眾議員安德魯斯（Robert Andrews）及加州共和黨眾議員朗格倫（Dan Lungren）聯手提交給「湯姆˙藍托斯人權委員會」共同主席─維州共和黨眾議員沃爾夫（Frank Wolf）及麻州民主黨眾議員麥高文（James McGovern）。報告全文也被納入國會紀錄。
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：「除了陳前總統的生理健康問題外，現在又多了心理問題。因為重度憂鬱症的因素，陳前總統甚至已經有了語言障礙。這些原因在任何民主國家中，基於人道立場，都足以促使當局准予保外就醫。」
高博士總結道：「布朗議員與陳前總統私交甚篤。過去十年間，他曾在台灣拜會過陳前總統多次。即便現在美國選舉處於白熱化的階段，看到布朗議員仍然願意對身處世界另一端的朋友伸出援手，著實令人感動。」
Sen. Brown’s Letter
Christopher Marut
Director
American Institute in Taiwan
No. 7, Lane 134
Hsin Yi Road Section 3 Taipei 106 TaiwanDear Mr. Marut:
Congratulations on becoming the Director of the American Institute of Taiwan. The Director is a vital link between the United States and Taiwan. As Taiwan continues to grow as a market-based, democratic society, America’s relationship with Taiwan is now more important than ever.
Earlier this year, the people of Taiwan held national elections, another sign of the nation’s successful transition to democratic self-governance. As advocates for human rights, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law around the world, it is critical that we continue to support Taiwan as it builds a society on the ideals of freedom we hold so dear.
As you know, former President Chen Shui-bian is suffering from severe depression and is under psychiatric treatment at a Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The recent report entitled The Effects of Incarceration On the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-Bian of Taiwan 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.
Recent media reports from Taiwan indicate that you have expressed a willingness to visit the former President.
I ask that you review the report and visit the former president at the appropriate time.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
