By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has been urged to take “substantial action” to help imprisoned former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) leave prison and be put under house arrest due to his deteriorating health.
“Suffering from at least four major syndromes, Chen’s health condition is now in an alarming state, which is why Taichung Veterans General Hospital recommended he be put under home care,” Taipei Veterans General Hospital physician Kuo Cheng-deng (郭正典) said.
Chen is serving a 20-year sentence for corruption at a prison in Greater Taichung.
Kuo and dozens of Chen’s supporters yesterday protested in front of DPP headquarters as Tsai officially took over the party chair.
The protesters shouted the slogans: “Tsai Ing-wen, save A-bian” and “Let Chen go home,” and tried to meet Tsai, but they were blocked from entering the building.
The former president suffers from neurodegenerative disease, sleep apnea, severe depression and urinary incontinence, Kuo said, adding that Chen has to wear adult diapers and is suffering from a neurocognitive disorder.
“For now, Chen’s life and health would be more important than his integrity and innocence, which is why it will take more than lip service and a DPP party resolution to save the former president,” former Northern Taiwan Society director Janice Chen (陳昭姿) said.
Janice Chen said that Tsai “should not underestimate the power of Chen’s supporters.”