He was put under arrest Tuesday afternoon and has since been detained for further questioning in connection with his involvement in forgery, corruption and money laundry.

“President Chen has refused to take food,” his attorney Cheng Wen-lung said yesterday after a visit to the detention house some 20 miles south of Taipei.

Instead of taking any food, the ex-president drank mineral water, said the defense lawyer who alone was allowed to see the prisoner.

Cheng told reporters in front of the detention house at 11:25 a.m. the former president “appears fine, albeit he only drinks water.”

But the lawyer said his client asked him to issue a ten-point statement to explain why he wants to fast.

“First and foremost,” Cheng said, “President Chen stated he regrets the judiciary is dead.”

Another reason why he began the undeclared hunger strike is that he wants to “mourn for retrogress of democracy in Taiwan.”

Moreover, President Chen is more than “willing to go to ‘black’ prison on behalf of the people of Taiwan.” By “black prison” he meant he would be kept prisoner on trumped-up charges. Still another reason is that he wishes “to sacrifice his life for the state of Taiwan,” Cheng said at the front gate of the detention house.

Chen is refusing to eat also “to oppose the false authority, Communism, and dictatorship.”

On the other hand, the ex-president is fasting to champion the causes of Taiwan’s “sovereignty, liberty and democracy.”

His fasting is aimed also at showcasing his “defense of Taiwan and struggle against China.”

The ex-president reiterated his insistence on “one country on each side” of the Taiwan Strait as a reason why he continues to fast. It’s tantamount to the two-China principle, an anathema to Beijing.

He then called on the people “to rise and venture out.” He purported the fasting to rouse the people to oppose China and the Kuomintang administration, though he did not name them.

Finally, Chen urged the people “not to give up” their anti-China and anti-government movement. “We will succeed,” he promised.

The defense lawyer also complained that the arrest and detention of his client were “premeditated.”

Special Counsel prosecutors ordered the arrest at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Cheng said. “But their order in writing said the arrest was made at 3:50 a.m.,” he pointed out.

One more proof of premeditation, Cheng said, is that “it’s humanly impossible to write the order that totals more than 20 pages within one hour.”