Dear Your Holiness,
Thanks to God, truly the will of God, the whole world is celebrating because Your Holiness has become our new leader. We are overjoyed to hear Your Holiness stating in your inauguration speech that the Catholic Church shall be close to the poor and shall protect the poor and those suffering. When we witnessed Your Holiness getting off your car to kiss a disabled Catholics on the forehead and to pray for him after you saw him in the crowd on your way to inauguration, we, despite far away in a distant land of Taiwan (Formosa), all wept.
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am 68 years old and I am a Catholics in the far east. Our country, Taiwan, and the Catholic Church have a long lasting diplomatic relation. My late husband, Liau Chong-Shan, was a professor at National Taiwan Ocean University. My father was a nobleman and he was killed during the 228 Massacre launched by Chiang Kai-shek in 1947 to suppress an uprising to protest the corruption of the government which Chiang imposed in Taiwan. My mother committed suicide due to her deep grief over my father’s death. My sister and I were brought up separately in foster families. We were later baptized to become children of God. Over the years, I learned to forgive the murders of my parents, following the teaching of our Lord Jesus. However, right now, a similar tragedy as well as a significant "human rights" event is unfolding in Taiwan; therefore, I must plead to Your Holiness for your attention and help.
In 1947, Chiang Kai-shek, known as one of the world's top four mass murderers and dictators, seized Taiwan. To this date, his followers, known as Koumingtang (the Nationalist Party), still control Taiwan as the ruling party. In 2008, Ma Ying-jeou, representing Koumingtang, became the president of Taiwan and he immediately placed former President Chen Shui-bian in prison, despite President Chen transferred the power to him in a peaceful and democratic process. President Chen was the first native Taiwanese to win the presidency as a leader of a native political party, Democratic Progressive Party, in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004. Many people believe that the charges against President Chen are politically motivated. Even among judges, the opinions are mixed. For the same charge, one judge sentenced him to life in prison, while another acquitted him. Nonetheless, the pressing issue is that he is very sick due to the torturous imprisonment condition he has to endure in the last five years. His life is at risk. Therefore, we plead for the help from Your Holiness.
The judicial system in Taiwan is not impartial. President Chen Shui-bian is accused of embezzling his presidential discretion fund and accepting bribes. However, these accusations are controversial. Dr. Yuan T. Lee, a Taiwanese Nobel Laureate, openly questioned why funds donated to Koumingtang are considered as campaign contributions, while donations to Democratic Progressive Party, in particular to President Chen, are considered as bribes. Note that Koumingtang has accumulated enormous amount of wealth through abusing its governing power since World War II, which in turn helps it to win elections through vote buying.
President Chen suffers many serious conditions (see attachment). We are most concerned with his severe depression, sleep apnea, brain degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, and heart problems. His symptoms include stuttered speech, unsteady steps, trembling hands, and difficulties in cognitive processing. In case of his death, it could arise hatred among people with different political ideologies, leading to social unrest.
Many well respected medical doctors, including his primary doctor appointed by Ma’s administration, suggest that the best treatment venue for President Chen is to release him on medical parole. In other words, he can only recover if he is returned to the care of his family due to his severe depression. Last September, he was rushed to a hospital when he developed a life threatening condition after he was forcefully fed 2000 CC of water. He is currently in the psychiatric facility of a military hospital, confined in a single room and monitored by the prison authority 24 hours a day. However, the decision of medical parole rests in the hands of President Ma Ying-Jeou, who has steadfastly refused to grant the parole, disregarding the suffering and the basic human rights of President Chen. Because of the stature of Your Holiness, bestowed the highest regard by the World, if Your Holiness could express your concern over the medical human rights of President Chen, this message of yours shall resonate and command considerable attention and respect from the whole world and to inspire President Ma Ying-Jeou to do the right thing.
When we participate in Mass to receive Eucharist, we often hear that our souls will heal upon hearing a word from the Lord. I humbly borrow this phrase and believe that if Your Holiness can speak out for the human rights of President Chen, his case would be resolved and his life would be saved. Please forgive me for this unsolicited request.
Thanks to God, truly the will of God, the whole world is celebrating because Your Holiness has become our new leader. We are overjoyed to hear Your Holiness stating in your inauguration speech that the Catholic Church shall be close to the poor and shall protect the poor and those suffering. When we witnessed Your Holiness getting off your car to kiss a disabled Catholics on the forehead and to pray for him after you saw him in the crowd on your way to inauguration, we, despite far away in a distant land of Taiwan (Formosa), all wept.
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am 68 years old and I am a Catholics in the far east. Our country, Taiwan, and the Catholic Church have a long lasting diplomatic relation. My late husband, Liau Chong-Shan, was a professor at National Taiwan Ocean University. My father was a nobleman and he was killed during the 228 Massacre launched by Chiang Kai-shek in 1947 to suppress an uprising to protest the corruption of the government which Chiang imposed in Taiwan. My mother committed suicide due to her deep grief over my father’s death. My sister and I were brought up separately in foster families. We were later baptized to become children of God. Over the years, I learned to forgive the murders of my parents, following the teaching of our Lord Jesus. However, right now, a similar tragedy as well as a significant "human rights" event is unfolding in Taiwan; therefore, I must plead to Your Holiness for your attention and help.
In 1947, Chiang Kai-shek, known as one of the world's top four mass murderers and dictators, seized Taiwan. To this date, his followers, known as Koumingtang (the Nationalist Party), still control Taiwan as the ruling party. In 2008, Ma Ying-jeou, representing Koumingtang, became the president of Taiwan and he immediately placed former President Chen Shui-bian in prison, despite President Chen transferred the power to him in a peaceful and democratic process. President Chen was the first native Taiwanese to win the presidency as a leader of a native political party, Democratic Progressive Party, in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004. Many people believe that the charges against President Chen are politically motivated. Even among judges, the opinions are mixed. For the same charge, one judge sentenced him to life in prison, while another acquitted him. Nonetheless, the pressing issue is that he is very sick due to the torturous imprisonment condition he has to endure in the last five years. His life is at risk. Therefore, we plead for the help from Your Holiness.
The judicial system in Taiwan is not impartial. President Chen Shui-bian is accused of embezzling his presidential discretion fund and accepting bribes. However, these accusations are controversial. Dr. Yuan T. Lee, a Taiwanese Nobel Laureate, openly questioned why funds donated to Koumingtang are considered as campaign contributions, while donations to Democratic Progressive Party, in particular to President Chen, are considered as bribes. Note that Koumingtang has accumulated enormous amount of wealth through abusing its governing power since World War II, which in turn helps it to win elections through vote buying.
President Chen suffers many serious conditions (see attachment). We are most concerned with his severe depression, sleep apnea, brain degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, and heart problems. His symptoms include stuttered speech, unsteady steps, trembling hands, and difficulties in cognitive processing. In case of his death, it could arise hatred among people with different political ideologies, leading to social unrest.
Many well respected medical doctors, including his primary doctor appointed by Ma’s administration, suggest that the best treatment venue for President Chen is to release him on medical parole. In other words, he can only recover if he is returned to the care of his family due to his severe depression. Last September, he was rushed to a hospital when he developed a life threatening condition after he was forcefully fed 2000 CC of water. He is currently in the psychiatric facility of a military hospital, confined in a single room and monitored by the prison authority 24 hours a day. However, the decision of medical parole rests in the hands of President Ma Ying-Jeou, who has steadfastly refused to grant the parole, disregarding the suffering and the basic human rights of President Chen. Because of the stature of Your Holiness, bestowed the highest regard by the World, if Your Holiness could express your concern over the medical human rights of President Chen, this message of yours shall resonate and command considerable attention and respect from the whole world and to inspire President Ma Ying-Jeou to do the right thing.
When we participate in Mass to receive Eucharist, we often hear that our souls will heal upon hearing a word from the Lord. I humbly borrow this phrase and believe that if Your Holiness can speak out for the human rights of President Chen, his case would be resolved and his life would be saved. Please forgive me for this unsolicited request.
Humbly and Respectfully Yours,
Lin Li-Tsai 2013/03/23
P.S. This letter was kindly translated into English by Professor Jay F. Tu of North Carolina State University in USA.
Related references:
1. "Return to prison not good for Chen: doctor", Taipei Times (April 2, 2013).
2. "KMT legislator voices support for Chen", Taipei Times (April 6, 2013).
3. "Home care better for Chen: Veterans hospital chief", Taipei Times (Mar. 29, 2013).
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