與台灣有長久情誼的美國前阿拉斯加州州長穆考斯基，投書華盛頓時報等美國媒體表示，無論台灣前總統陳水扁是否有罪，他非常關切陳水扁能否得到適當的醫療照護，以及監獄中的待遇是否人道。
穆考斯基說，要處理這個極具爭議的問題不容易，但台灣若要被視為一個完全民主、受到國際尊敬的國家，就要有一個公平和人道的解決辦法。
他並表示，今年元月曾率領一個由八國學者組成的公平選舉國際委員會到台灣觀選，他們發現台灣的選舉大多數公平，但只有部分是公正的，完整的報告幾週內將公佈。
曾經做過參議員和州長的穆考斯基，和台灣前總統李登輝及陳水扁都頗有交情，對台灣極為友好。他表示，台灣人民長久為了民主奮鬥，但需要再努力，以便保存和養護其自由，而自由必須在一個司法系統中被養護。台灣司法仍強烈受到政治和執政黨的影響，需要改革。
Treatment of Chen is a national disgrace
By Frank Murkowski
As a former governor of Alaska (2002 to 2006) and also having served for 22 years in the US Senate, I have a strong interest in US relations with East Asia. Within that context, Taiwan is a place close to my heart, because I personally got to know the two men who pushed Taiwan in the direction of democracy, former presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
Since that time, Taiwan has gone through some more cycles of change of government, which is an inherent part of a democratic system.
Indeed, in January, I headed the observer mission of the International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan (ICFET), an international group of 19 academics from eight countries.
Our report on our findings is scheduled to come out in the next few weeks and I can already say that our conclusion is that the elections were mostly free, but only partly fair. You can read more details when the report comes out.
However, my comments here are not about the elections, but about the overall direction of the country.
It is undoubtedly clear that Taiwan lives in the shadow of an aggressive neighbor, but it should not allow that to determine its future as a free and democratic nation.
Taiwanese have worked long and hard for their democracy, and they need to continue to work hard to preserve and nurture their freedom and liberty. This work needs to be done internally, when they assess the functioning of the system of checks and balances — the legislature needs to be a stronghold of democracy where people with vision look after the longer-term interests of their constituents.
Freedom and liberty also need to be nurtured in the judicial system.
Many observers say that the judiciary is still strongly influenced by the politics of the ruling party and that there is a strong need for judicial reform. The legal community needs to champion the democratic process in Taiwan.
This brings me to a very specific issue of injustice — the way Chen is being treated. I am not discussing whether he was or was not guilty — although a number of international observers, such as Jerome Cohen, question whether he received a fair trial.
I am specifically focusing on his need for adequate medical treatment and the conditions under which he is being detained.
Most recently, on May 23, Chen was allowed to go to Cheng Kung Memorial Hospital for only six hours. Doctors said that they would need much more time to treat him adequately and that the six-hour time span had been a “political condition” imposed by the authorities.
The right thing to do would be for the authorities to release him on medical parole.
The second aspect is the conditions under which he is being detained — a small cell, with no bed, chair or desk.
If he wants to write, he has to lie down on the floor. Such treatment is unconscionable and reminiscent of the Soviet Union more than 45 years ago, not Taiwan in 2012.
The least that needs to be done is to give him an adequate cell, with a chair, desk and regular bed. Like other prisoners, he should be allowed to work outside his cell in the daytime, engaging in some physical activity. Finally, he should have full access to his lawyer and comprehensive medical care.
Dealing with controversial issues like this is not easy, but a fair and humanitarian resolution is essential if Taiwan wants to be considered a full democracy, worthy of international respect.
Frank Murkowski is a former governor of Alaska and a US senator.
Taipei Times June 7th, 2012
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/06/07/2003534696/1
