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一封致民進黨的公開信
Feb28,2013 Jack Healey
Posted by Huff Posted on 02/25/2013 Founder,Human Rights Action Center
大家收信平安，這是我第一次要求政黨的幫忙。我要先言明，我沒有任何政黨立場，而只是站在對一位做過台北市長和兩任台灣總統的人權，表達關心。但是，最重要的是，我必須要求你們，請支持你們的前總統。他現在須要你們的幫助。他曾經幫助過你們，他曾經幫助過台灣，他是你們國家的象徵，而象徵是永遠存在的。
台灣的人權成就，已經令人印象深刻，而且正邁向真正的民主，也能包容和尊敬不同的文化。但那些進展的里程碑，現在正處於危險的邊緣，正沈入於冷酷的政黨策略，而喪失了對人權和寬容的維護。
陳水扁總統因貪汙而被囚禁在監獄超過四年了。很多台灣內部及國際間都懷疑審判的公正。那些指控和定罪，將來會由歷史種種來定論，但是陳總統的時間卻跑得比那些還快。我們曾遣送二位受人尊敬的人權人士
Hans Wahl和 Harreld Dinkins代表人權行動中心
(HRAC)去調查陳總統的監禁情況。他們最主要的發現是，陳總統由於監獄對他的健康照顧疏忽，使他的情況變惡劣，而且造成永久性的影響。這份報告並不是有關犯人的權利，也不是有關台灣須要從一個政黨，不帶任何嚴厲的歧見，或報復的和平轉移的問題。這二件事都無關於民主的穩定和發展。
民進黨內每一位，都應該注意你們的前領袖和總統。要注意他做為一個人應該有的權利。我們可以忘掉那些，他像緊急事件一樣被迅速地送到醫院，匆忙地做檢查。我們也可以不要提監獄的大小或他的床，但最重要的是:任何人的健康是國家的責任。只要看看監禁的結果，任何人只要和陳總統在一房內，就能看出狀況。由於台灣的監獄系統，他的健康並沒有被合宜地照顧。這個疏忽造成的損害是永久的，不管心理方面或生理方面，那是一個拙劣的國際標準。受刑人的醫療是國家的責任，而這個案件，台灣政府並未達到國際標準。所以釋放總統是減輕失職的維一方法。
民主須要正義，更要在政黨輪替時，採取寬容的態度。這就是為何福特總統原諒尼克森總統，而讓他有尊嚴地回家。雖然有這樣的決定，美國照樣進得很好。尼克森違反美國憲法，他也沒有在監獄關過一天。福特總統為他的國家，做了一個偉大的決定。馬總統也應該如此做。秘魯總統Fujimori獨裁，殺人無數是傷別人的身體，又綁架擄人。在此同時，陳總統從未對台灣有任何暴力，卻被定罪且受到永久的身體傷害，這絕不是一個文明政府該有的行為。
任何人贏了兩次國家選舉都是台灣永久的記號，由於監獄系統帶來的傷害絕不會被人遺忘。記號是永不死的，他們只會慢慢退色，但永遠不會被忘記。你們的黨支持他。你們中有很多贏了選舉，也許是由於他的鼓勵，進入政壇。民進黨中，沒有人的政治能力能和這個人相比。你們對人權原則缺乏立即關鍵性的決定，更會讓民進黨的聲譽、光榮，被人質疑民進黨是無情和無前途的。
現在輪到你們了，可以從一個大的集體行動開始，要求馬總統送陳總統回家。不必有政黨色彩，不要挑戰國民黨，尋求超黨派的幫忙，因為這樣，政黨政治才會更文明，基本原則才能被維護。郝龍斌是個例子，要尋求人權的原則，和政府的和平轉移。遊說政治人物、立法院、總統府辦公室釋放此人。煽動國際媒體，投訴說一位總統的醫療如被疏忽而死亡，是因他被監禁而造成的。組織人權團體，以爭取他的自由為目的。有關陳總統的法律、醫療案件，都需要一系列的重審。提出要求，對一位莊嚴的病人要感同身受。再接再厲地提出各種報告。
台灣進展成一個民主國家，已是令人印象深刻。國民黨和民進黨必須了解，假如陳總統終於獄中，政治一定被撕裂，這國家的精神將埋葬於曾經為人權進展的努力中。世界將會奇怪，台灣到底怎麼了。台灣內部將充滿仇恨，國際上也不敢相信。民進黨有一個機會來証明他是國家的價值，就是讓陳總統回家。去努力吧 !
翻譯source: Roy Chien
Jack Healey / An Open Letter to the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan
Posted: 02/25/2013 7:53 am
I hope this missive finds all of you well and healthy. This is the first time I have ever gone to a political party for help. I want to make it clear that I am coming to you from a space outside of party politics and am standing instead on the ground of human rights concerns for the former mayor of Taipei and the two-time President of Taiwan. But most of all, I ask you to support your former President. He needs your help now. He helped you. He helped Taiwan. He is a symbol of your nation and symbols do not die.
Taiwan's human rights achievements have been impressive, and the move towards real democracy and respect for pluralism have been considerable. Those milestones are at risk right now, with a sinking into the grimmest of party politics and a failure to defend principles of human rights and decency.
Mr. Chen Shui-bian has spent over four years in jail for corruption. Many human rights people inside and outside of Taiwan doubt the fairness of the trial. These accusation and convictions will be judged by history one way or another. But the time for Chen is running out faster than that. We sent two respected human rights researchers and advocates, Hans Wahl and Harreld Dinkins as part of an HRAC team to investigate the conditions of Chen's detention and their main finding was concern about Chen's healthcare (and lack) in prison to make conditions worse and permanent. The reports were not a ringing endorsement of prisoner rights in Taiwan nor the ability of Taiwan to transition from one party to another without sentiments of acrimony and revenge, two characteristics one doesn't associate with a stable and flourishing democracy.
Each of you in the DPP needs to look at your former leader and President and see how he is doing as a human being. Forget the flash visits to the hospital where tests were run like there was an emergency to move quickly. Forget the cell and its size or the question of his bedding. The fundamental premise is this: the health conditions of any person held by the state are the responsibility of the state. Just look at the result of this imprisonment and that conclusion can be seen by just getting into the room with Chen. His health issues were not dealt with properly in the prison system. The damage done by this neglect is permanent, physically and psychologically. This is a travesty of international norms. The medical well-being of inmates is the responsibility of the State, and in this case Taiwan has failed to live up to international standards and release is the only way to mitigate this responsibility.
Democracy demands justice, but also orderly transitions between parties and should foster compassion. That is why President Ford forgave President Richard Nixon and let him go home with a bit of dignity. The USA was served well by that decision. No jail time for Nixon who made a run against the US Constitution. President Ford made a great decision for his nation. President Ma should do the same. Peru convicted Fujimori of murder, bodily harm, and kidnapping. In the meantime, it is Chen, never accused of violence against Taiwan, who is convicted and suffers permanent physical damage. This is not the behavior of a civilized government.
Any one who twice won a national election is an enduring symbol of Taiwan. The harm brought on by the prison system will not be forgotten by them. Symbols do not die; they fade, but are not forgotten. Your party supported him. Many of you were elected and probably inspired to go into politics by him. No figure has come along in the DPP to rival the political ability of this man and the lack of decisive action on a human rights basis calls the honor of the DPP itself into question with tepid and lackluster efforts.
Now it is your turn. Begin with a massive rally to call for President Ma to send Mr. Chen home. Do not seek party politics. Do not seek to challenge everything about the KMT. Seek to forge alliances across party lines, for this is how politics get more civil and this is how principles are protected. Hau Lung-bin is an example of this strategy. Seek the principles of human rights and peaceful governmental transitions. Lobby politicians from across the spectrum to get the Yuan and the President Ma's office to do what it takes to release this man. Agitate the global media to tell the story of disregarding a former head of state's medical demise as a result of his imprisonment. Organize human rights organizations to make the case for his freedom. Mr. Chen's legal and medical case needs a serious review and a call for compassion of a gravely ill man. A follow-up report may be useful.
Taiwan's advances to a democratic nation have been impressive. Both KMT and DPP must realize that if Chen dies in prison, there will be ruptures in the body politic. The nation will inter the spirit that has struggled for human rights improvements. The world will wonder why, with anger inside the nation and disbelief internationally. The DPP has a chance to prove itself worthy of the nation by getting Mr Chen home. Just do it.
Jack Healey
Director and Founder, Human Rights Action Center, Washington DC, USA
source: Jack Healey Founder, Human Rights Action Center
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