Following detention stemming from corruption allegations, former Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-bian is reportedly on hunger strike. Cheng Wen-lung, stated that Chen has not eaten since since his admission to Taipei’s Tucheng jail on Wednesday. The ex-president’s lawyer went on to tell reporters the hunger strike is to continue, “to protest the death of justice and the regression of democracy.”
Chen’s presidency ended, along with eight years of the Democratic Progressive Party running the country, in March 2008. In stark contrast to Chen’s nationalist stance, the new premier Ma Ying-jeou favors closer ties with mainland China. This is stressed in the claims of political motivation for Chen’s detention.
Ma’s victory in the election was claimed to have been influenced by the corruption allegations against Chen, his family, and associates. Chen’s wife, Wu Shu-chen was indicted on embezzlement, forgery and perjury charges in 2006 over money sent to overseas bank accounts. The then-president in 2008 claimed these were surplus funds from election campaigns and he had no knowledge of his wife transferring the money to the Cayman Islands.
As yet, no formal charges have actually been laid against Chen. He may face up to four months confined to prevent him associated with his alleged co-conspirators.
An additional nine people are being held in relation to the same corruption allegations.
