Ex-President Chen returned to detention center

On the other hand, President Chen called on all the people to take part in a mass rally in protest against Ma scheduled for May 17 in Taipei.

“In order to express my support for May 17, I, even though in detention, will start refusing to take food (a hunger strike) from this day onward to May 17 until after I can see our countrymen and volunteers all across the nation come to Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei for the great rally and succeed in protesting against Ma and saving Taiwan,” President Chen announced.

Wu Shu-chen, the former first lady who was questioned at another hearing in the afternoon, said her husband should be given medical treatment.

The afternoon hearing was suspended after Wu showed signs of exhaustion.

Annette Lu, former vice president, said Chen has been placed under custody for “too long.” “He has been in detention for close to a half year,” she said, “and that's a violation of his human rights.”

Democratic Progressive Party leaders also called for Chen's immediate treatment at the request of a crowd of supporters who marched from the courthouse to the nearby DPP Central Office.

Lawmaker Lawrence Gao, a DPP legislative caucus deputy whip, said he would meet with Procurator-General Chen Tsung-ming today to request the former president's immediate release.

His colleague, Lee Chun-yi, told a press conference he suspected the prosecution was trying to put Chen Shui-bian in detention for life.

“President Chen is being inhumanely treated,” Lee pointed out. “President Chen's human rights have to be protected,” he added.

The ex-first lady was first indicted on November 3, 2006, charged with borrowing receipts from relatives and friends to claim a NT$14.8 million reimbursement from a public fund under her husband's control for the conduct of “affairs of state.”

Her husband was not indicted, but was regarded as a co-defendant, who would be formally charged on leaving office. A Special Counsel investigation after his retirement led to his indictment for forgery, corruption and graft, and money laundry on November 13 last year.

He was indicted for the first time on November 12 last year and placed under detention. He was released but was ordered back to the detention center on January 25. He tried in vain to win a release when his first two-month detention ended.

Three judges at the district court, with Tsai presiding, have been trying President Chen since March. His wife has been standing trial since the end of 2006.

They were charged with laundering at least NT$1.5 billion (US$45 million).

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