Chen remains on hunger strike

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-18  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

JAILED former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, now in hospital, has rejected all pleas from his family to end his hunger strike despite warnings from doctors of severe health repercussions.

After visiting Chen in the hospital, his lawyer said Chen remained committed to his fast, ignoring medical advice of the dangers of kidney failure and other serious illnesses.

Chen, 57, who claimed his arrest was "politically motivated," was given glucose and saline injections to stabilize his condition but was still suffering from a slow metabolism, said Tsai Kuang-chao, a doctor at Far East Memorial Hospital, where Chen was first taken on Sunday. He has since been moved to Taipei County Hospital, which has better facilities.

Chen started his hunger strike after judges ordered him arrested last Wednesday, while prosecutors investigate graft allegations against him.

A prison doctor detected an irregular heartbeat on Sunday and recommended Chen's hospitalization. Chen also complained of difficulty in breathing and pain in the left side of his chest, jail officials said.

Chen's lawyer, Cheng Wen-lung, said his client agreed yesterday to launch a court appeal against his detention order.

Chen had earlier said he would not appeal against his detention and rejected repeated pleas from prison authorities to eat.

Analysts say few Taiwanese have much sympathy for Chen. "Taiwan people understand that this is a case about corruption," said Alexander Huang, a political science professor at Taipei's Tamkang University.

Chen is being investigated on suspicion of looting a special government fund and taking millions of dollars in bribes in connection with a bank-consolidation program.

George Tsai, of Taipei's Chinese Culture University, said even Chen's former Democratic Progressive Party was keeping its distance from him after he left it in disgrace when the dimensions of the allegations became clear.