2012年4月27日 星期五

《總統開門》-複習阿扁

(photo source: 《總統開門-打開民主世紀之門》)

2003年時
連台灣的總統是誰都不知道
還一度以為總統夫人吳淑珍本來就是身障者,後來才知道她所歷經的政治車禍

來不及參與過去的歷史,現在總是可以做一些事
以前的那個健康的阿扁總統好像變得遙遠與糊模
那麼,就從《總統開門》開始懷念、回憶他的影像與對台灣的好


上圖的封底這麼敘述著:
「有一次,一個小女孩和阿扁握手,興奮的說:「哇!好軟啊!」阿扁自我幽默,說他的手像麵糰,不斷的揉,有熱量進去,自然就會軟軟的。……他用自己的故事去激勵和他接觸的人,激勵他們敢夢、敢想、敢拼,而且相信會成功。…………阿扁用行動實現台灣的夢想,這不只是一段過程,更是台灣的動力與方向。……」

也要把這段回話給阿扁總統,抱持希望,堅持下去~~~



延伸閱讀:
「我只是來借個電話」 
挺阿扁,就是挺自己 


2012年4月26日 星期四

陳水扁獄中受不人道對待 美國會議員呼籲調查

轉載 source:台灣大地文教基金會陳水扁獄中受不人道對待 美國會議員呼籲調查

陳水扁獄中受不人道對待 美國會議員呼籲調查

陳水扁今年3月間戒護就醫檢查時,署立桃園醫院檢查發現扁的攝護腺有1顆腫瘤,當時署立醫院醫療小組先用藥物控制,並建議門診檢查,經過台北監獄和署立桃園醫院開會,今天清晨約6時餘,陳水扁三度至署桃戒護就醫檢查。

署立桃園醫院醫療小組指出,阿扁這次回診主要是進行心電圖、胸部x光、抽血、肺功能及泌尿道的檢查,檢查約2個小時左右結束。最後,陳水扁坐著輪椅,在獄警戒護下,上午8時餘結束回診,坐上北監的警備車,返回北監。

陳致中及江志銘轉述,陳水扁攝護腺腫瘤原本1顆,現變成2顆,不但沒消失,又變大,要安排切片檢查,現服用藥物,要停藥10天,才能進行手術,一切要等停藥情況,再進一步安排。

陳致中說,這次回診追蹤檢查,醫院認為父親的心肺功能仍有問題,一時還沒辦法找出確切原因,另陳水扁喘得很厲害,醫師也認為異常。

陳致中及陳幸妤一早就到醫院,要陪同阿扁檢查,不過,北監以這次檢查不是侵入性治療,未讓他們2人全程陪同。陳致中說,來陪父親就是為確保過程順利,不可能干擾檢查,實在沒理由不讓他們陪同;陳幸妤則沒有正面回應。

扁辦今日也發表新聞稿特別指出國際對扁案之重視,新聞稿提到,今年3月29日俄亥俄州共和黨夏波眾議員(Steve Chabot, R-OH)在美國國會公開呼籲馬政府儘速終結這一場悲劇,繼之加州共和黨朗格倫眾議員(Dan Lungren, R-CA)於4月18日致函美國眾議院「湯姆‧蘭托斯人權委員會」共同主席—維吉尼亞州共和黨沃爾夫議員(Frank Wolf)與麻薩諸塞州民主黨麥高文議員(Jim McGovern)— 強烈呼籲調查台灣前總統陳水扁的監禁案。朗格倫於信函中籲請共同主席再次關注「過去幾週,關於台灣前總統陳水扁先生逐漸惡化的健康情形,令人擔憂的發 展」。並要求委員會須「強力敦促台灣政府允准陳前總統保外就醫,以獲得適當醫療照護。」

對此,扁辦也表達感謝之意,感謝國際社會基於人權保障、人道關懷提出疾呼,並籲請馬英九政府應當嚴肅看待陳前總統健康惡化之事實,台灣自詡為世界上文明國家,則應儘速終結對於陳前總統之殘酷及不人道對待。

2012-04-23
敬請分享以下以下兩個連結,並協助大量轉寄。



U. S. Representative Dan Lungren (R-CA) has called for Congressional investigation of the treatment of former Republic of China in-exile President Chen Shui-bian who has been serving a lengthy sentence for alleged corruption since soon after he left office nearly four years ago.

Representative Lungren asked the Lantos Commission, a 79-member caucus of members of Congress, to investigate “disturbing reports” about Chen’s imprisonment that have appeared in the Taiwanese news media.

Dan Lungren’s written request cited the human rights clause of the Taiwan Relations Act as the jurisdictional basis for a Congressional inquiry: “The preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan are hereby reaffirmed as objectives of the United States.”

Mark Kao, head of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, hailed Lungren’s request in a formal statement: “The people and the government of Taiwan look to the United States as the standard bearer for democracy and human rights around the world, and it is encouraging to see that the recent alarming developments in president Chen’s situation have not gone unnoticed.”

Chen Shui-bian, convicted after a controversial trial, has been suffering from heart, respiratory, and prostate problems while in prison and been denied medical leave to receive treatment other than that offered by prison doctors. A recent emergency trip to a hospital for Chen’s heart condition led to the disclosure that the former ROC president had been secretly drugged for 14 months with lorazepan, a psychiatric medication, by prison doctors.

John Hsieh, of the Taiwan Civil Rights Litigation Organization, has called the drugging of Chen “evil” and suggested it was a prosecutable violation of the Torture Victims Protection Act.

The Formosan Association for Human Rights has called Chen’s treatment “inhuman” and has been critical of the cramped jail conditions of Chen, forced to remain long periods in a tiny cell with no bed, table, or chair.

Lungren’s appeal to the Lantos Commission noted that Chen’s “corruption charges are widely believed by international observers and legal scholars to be politically motivated.” The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s formal mission is to “promote, defend and advocate internationally recognized human rights.”

Chen Shui-bian’s treatment in prison recently emerged in the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in a hearing on China. Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) used a question and answer session to criticize Ma Ying-jeou’s Kuomintang administration: “I think for an administration to come in and essentially jail the previous administration is a tragedy.”

Sadly, the United States has a long history ignoring human rights abuses by the Republic of China in-exile. Under the San Francisco Peace Treaty that ended World War II with Japan, the United States is the principle occupying power of Taiwan, as the island of Formosa is commonly known. However, American presidents have turned a blind eye to decades of harsh treatment of the island people by the Chinese Nationalist regime imposed by U.S. military forces in October 1945.

Cold War politics have kept Taiwan locked in a time warp of “strategic ambiguity” and under continuing occupation by the ROC government that retreated to the island in 1949 after losing the Chinese civil war to the People’s Republic of China.

In 2009, the District of Columbia U.S. Court of Appeals called on President Barack Obama to determine the sovereignty of the island calling Taiwan’s plight “political purgatory.”

Chen Shui-bian is now experiencing his own purgatory in a ROC jail cell while growing criticism of America’s proxy government over the former Japanese territory is heard in Washington, D.C.

Taiwan’s unresolved status has kept the densely populated island of 23 million people out of the United Nations and barred from membership in the World Health Organization.

2012-04-24

http://www.examiner.com/article/congressman-calls-for-use-of-tra-human-rights-protection-chen-case

Chen, Hundred Names and the Rough Waters of Human Rights

Jack Healey, the Founder of the Human Rights Action Center

In the world of human rights, there is always a tension between those in power and the common folk. There needn't be. In Chinese, the term Lao Mingzi means Old Hundred Names. It is an idiom that denotes the mass of society, encompassing the traditional surnames of Chinese culture. Typically, those in power have the prerogative of respecting or denying the rights of the common people. Still, there are times when power reverses and the former holders of power find themselves down among the common people in terms of tenuous agency with regards to human rights.

Such is the case with former President Chen of Taiwan. Imprisoned, he is currently tossed by the rough waters of a calculated denial of medical treatment and subsequent human rights abuses. No wonder President Assad of Syria is fighting like there is no tomorrow. He might have read the details of President Chen Shui Bian's treatment by Taiwan's current government, even though Chen was president from 2000 to 2008.

Chen is in jail for corruption charges, some of which might are real and some are not, according to international observers and legal observers. Chen is serving a 19-year sentence for corruption charges (all charges are for nonviolent offenses). He has served over 1240 days in a cell of sixty square feet (5x12) and with a continual stream of other prisoners as fellow cellmates. Water is on for only ten minutes each day. There is no sunlight. There is no shower. There is no bed, table, or even permitted speaking with other cellmates. He is permitted 30 minutes of exercise each day. The only regular "amenity" is a squat toilet.

After complaining of not feeling well for months, he finally got a medical review on March 6, 2012, because of pressure from 13 members of his opposition party. The result of the medical review found out why he was not feeling well. It was the result of having prostate cancer and an acute coronary syndrome causing reduced blood flows. He discovered from the review that he'd been put on a benzodiazepine (a class of drugs that includes Valium and involves a high risk of dependence, as well as a host of other negative side effects). Chen rejected these drugs and, after undergoing a cardiac catheterization procedure, he was returned to the same conditions in prison within a days.

Why I am writing about President Chen is that he is at risk of dying in prison due to the Taiwanese government engaging in willful medical neglect. He is about to die imprisoned by a government he ran for years because that government will not grant him the basic human right or reasonable care. I hope the Tom Lantos Human Rights commission, which has done some fine human rights work, might be persuaded to intervene with public statements and to use their strength to help this abused prisoner, even if he is guilty of the corruption charges.

California Representative Dan Lungren has asked this committee to help. What is hard to understand is why our government as a whole is not upset about another democratic government mistreating and maybe killing its former president. Is this not a human right violation by an an enormously important trade partner and a leading light of contemporary change in the Chinese-speaking world? Why is this not covered in the press? The illness of the Ukrainian president was brought to our American attention when it was in the interest of our strategic plans for that region. Why no coverage for an important trade partner's former leader who is affiliated with a party currently in opposition? We should stand for no less than basic human rights for all people. Nobody suggests that former political officials in the United States be denied medical treatments due to their political defeat or ending up in custody. I can only hope that we would stand up for the treatment of anyone else for the same principle of equitable treatment in custody.

These are the latest facts. And I'd like to be clear in asking you to call your congressional representatives as soon as you read this. Chen has failed lung function tests three times since his March 6 health exam. A lesion was spotted in one lung. He coughs continually. He is short of breath with a constant feeling of chest pressure. These details were leaked, not publicly released. The family, contrary to Taiwanese law, has not been given his medical records. On April 23, 2012, Chen was diagnosed with a second tumor in his prostate. On this trip to the hospital, he was allowed only a two-hour visit with his family. Taiwan's laws require better treatment. Chen is not getting this treatment. Though all his assets are frozen, he nevertheless has to arrange for payment for his medical procedures.

All I am asking for is good medical treatment of this prisoner. That is it. Taiwan may not like this former president; they may even hate him. It does not matter. Taiwan's people and hearts don't need to be with this man simply because he ran the nation. People should know, and believe, that any prisoner will be treated like a human being with all the attendant human rights that entails, including access to medical care. Using a prison system to kill an opponent is savage and ruthless. The present government of Taiwan must not maim and kill using the slow and painful death by neglect.

What I am asking you for a letter to the Tom Lantos Committee for Human Rights, to the White House and to your congressional representatives. If human rights are to mean anything, if leaders of any government of any kind are to be encouraged to respect the basic rights of reasonable care, it is imperative to not have people subjected to imprisonment and the withholding of care as a tactic of political revenge or grudge-settling.

Taiwan has come a long way to tolerate and respect human rights from its uglier past of dictatorship. It has, until recently, shown itself to be a beacon of freedom and human rights in the generally retrograde political world of Chinese politics with regard to human rights. This does not give it, nor should it give anyone, the ability to simply opt-out in the treatment of a prisoner's basic human rights for reasonable medical care.

An email is good. A phone call is better. A follow-up with a physical letter is best. Please do what you can to safeguard the rights of prisoners of all walks of life. Nobody should die in prison for lack of access to a medical care system that can help them live. Human rights should be rights for all humans and not some humans.

You can find and contact your political representatives in the United States by looking here: www.contactingthecongress.org. You should NOT wait to do this. A human life hangs in the balance. The treatment of those who have been politically defeated must adhere to minimal standards to make it clear to despots around the world that loss of power will not lead to death by neglect. The treatment of humans should adhere to the standards of universal human rights.

Please. Take a moment to make the call and write the letters and emails. A life hangs in the balance.

2012-04-24

The Huffington Post / Jack Healey
http://search.huffingtonpost.com/search?q=jack+healey&s_it=header_form_v1
source: 台灣e新聞

阿扁醫療照顧 引國際人權團體關注

新頭殼newtalk 2012.04.25 林金玉/編譯報導

因貪瀆案入獄服刑的前總統陳水扁,週一(23日)清晨3度戒護就醫,讓阿扁在獄中是否受到合理醫療照顧的問題再度受國際人權團體注目。

曾擔任國際特赦組織董事13年的人權工作者傑克•希利(Jack Healey),星期二(24日)特地在美國《赫芬頓郵報》的部落格上撰文評論,指出由於台灣政府蓄意忽略阿扁的基本人權或提供合理的醫療照顧,讓阿扁面臨病死獄中的風險。

希利在文中開宗明義指出,在人權世界中,當權者和老百姓之間始終存在緊張。一般而言,當權者掌握著尊重還是剝奪老百姓人權的特權。儘管如此,當權力轉向時,原先位高權重的人將發現自己也落入平凡百姓的處境,沒有能力捍衛自己的人權,而前總統阿扁的狀況正是如此。

希利認為,台灣政府刻意拒絕提供阿扁醫療照顧,已引發繼之而來的人權虐待問題。

阿扁因被控貪瀆坐監服刑,不過根據國際與法律觀察員的看法,其中部分指控很可能是真實的,有些則不是。但希利撰文的目的在強調台灣政府蓄意忽略的結果,阿 扁可能落得死在獄中的下場。希利呼籲美眾議院的藍托斯人權委員會(Lantos Human Rights commission)予以干預,發表公開聲明並運用他們的力量協助這名被虐待的囚犯,即使他犯下貪瀆罪名。

希利說,他很難理解何以美國政府對另一個民主國家虐待並且可能殺害前總統的行徑不會感到生氣?他指出,台灣是美國非常重要的貿易夥伴,也是華語世界展開當代轉型的領先標竿,美國應該替全體人類的基本人權挺身站出。

他說,沒有人會同意拒絕提供美國前朝官員醫療照顧,只因為他們在政治上的失敗或淪為階下囚。希利希望美國能站在任何被羈押囚犯理當被公平對待的原則上,同樣處理阿扁個案。

希利呼籲提供阿扁良好的醫療照顧。他說,台灣可能不喜歡這位前總統,甚至恨他。但台灣人應該知道並且相信,任何囚犯都應獲得作為人類應有的對待,享有人權,包括取得接受醫療的管道。

他寫道,利用監獄系統殺死一個對手是野蠻而殘酷的。倘若人權有其重要性,應鼓勵任何形式政府的領導人尊重合理醫療的基本人權,特別是,勿以監禁異己和延遲提供醫療的手段遂行政治報復或解決恩怨的目的。

美國共和黨眾議員龍格倫(Dan Lungren)上週致函藍托斯人權委員會共同主席與其他國會議員,呼籲調查台灣前總統陳水扁的監禁案,並要求委員會須強力敦促台灣政府准許陳前總統保外就醫,以獲得適當的醫療照護。

希利自己創立的「人權行動中心」(Human Rights Action Center)組織,自1999年起即參與協助當時仍遭軟禁的緬甸民運領袖翁山蘇姬,記錄並對外發表翁山蘇姬的言論。
source: 新頭殼

2012年4月14日 星期六

斯文豪氏攀蜥

斯文豪氏攀蜥(Swinhoe's japalura),台灣特有種。
常在聖山出沒,可不要一不小心,就把牠踩扁了。

全長可達約31公分,尾長約佔全長2/3,是目前台灣攀蜥屬體型最大的。
牠最有趣的特徵,是做出伏地挺身的威嚇動作來宣示領域。

第35期的大地會刊中,就曾報導過斯文豪氏攀蜥在樹幹上做伏地挺身後,迅速彈開的照片(下圖最下排左2)。斯文豪氏攀蜥的身體以黃褐色為主,體色會因為所在環境的色彩,而有小幅度的變色,以達到隱密性與保護色的效果。
下圖突然彈跳後,往樹叢裡衝的瞬間,真是經典。眼力不好的人,很難再發現牠在保護色裡的身影。

之所以命名為「斯文豪氏攀蜥」,可由牠的英文名稱Swinhoe's japalura看出端倪。

19世紀英國駐台的首任領事兼博物學家羅勃.史溫侯Robert Swinhoe,在台灣田野調查蒐集整理美麗寶島豐富的物種時,發現台灣特有種其中之一的斯文豪氏攀蜥,並且命名。

這些台灣特有種,都有一個特色,就是姓「台灣」。

這塊土地上的物種,只要是認同這塊土地,都有共同的姓氏,台灣。
只要願意,就會認識台灣、喜愛她、保護她;不認同的,身在台灣,心向幻想中的祖國、掏空台灣、出賣台灣的,繁不及備載。


相關閱讀:
台大動物博物館/斯文豪氏攀蜥
阿欽仔的旅遊日記/斯文豪氏攀蜥
科博館/叫我史溫侯
我們姓台灣/台灣特有種生物專題

延伸閱讀:
台北樹蛙-台灣特稀有生物
阿扁總統給楊緒東醫師的回信(第10封)

2012年4月8日 星期日

聖山流蘇樹

聖山流蘇樹開花
「四月流蘇」是形容流蘇常在4月開花

本地自生種,生長速度不快
但成樹很大一棵,有傘形開闊性樹冠
果實會吸引鳥類

期待聖山的流蘇,會成長茁壯成這樣

大樹,從小苗開始培養起
台灣建國之路亦相同


延伸閱讀:
The footprint~台灣聖山仙蹤
228紀念碑巡禮:「台灣聖山-生態教育園區」落實信仰的動力

2012年4月5日 星期四

挺阿扁,就是挺自己

(photo source: 陳致中FB)

支持「特赦陳水扁 連署書」「加入一邊一國連線」,因為挺阿扁,就是挺自己。

在1990年代,蔣經國辭世,李登輝從備位元首變成總統,展開一連串的體制內改革,體制外的野百合學運等種種社會變動,這個台灣關鍵性的年代,讓台灣人對未來充滿希望。

2000年,陳水扁當選首位台灣人的總統,首次打敗國民黨執政的台灣人政權出現。即使現在回頭,看著「2000年陳水扁總統競選」廣告,聽著他略帶沙啞的聲音,那個熟悉的臉龐,以台灣為主體的一切,就像是隔壁親切的鄰居CF,眼眶還是會溼潤……。因為這位台灣之子陳水扁,現在被政治迫害,關在監牢裡。

相信所謂「扁案」的人,說阿扁貪污的人,請用同一個標準來檢視在台灣的政治人物與阿扁家族,當然這必需包括檢視馬英九、連戰以及國民黨從日產接收而來的黨產。不要忘了,歷史是會說話的,爭取100%言論自由的鄭南榕,在自焚消息傳出之際,媒體把鄭南榕抹黑成有精神病的人,完全忽略他自焚的動機。更早之前,鄒族人道主義者Uyongu.Yatauyungana(吾雍‧雅達烏猶卡那,日文名矢多一生,漢文名高一生)為,因主張「高山自治」而遭中國殖民政權構陷貪污而被誘捕、入獄犧牲,他對鄒族的貢獻從此被封印長達40年。

被政治迫害的阿扁家族,現在最基本的要求僅有阿扁的健康、不要再被馬政府抹黑的多判牢獄之災。否則阿扁總統在監牢裡被「預謀殺害」的長期餵食精神科藥物Ativan,怎麼可能不予追究?如果今天換成是你我的家人,從天上掉下來無妄之災,家裡的一份子持續在受苦,你我怎可能好好的過日子?也就是說,被壓迫最深重的人,反抗力量反而薄弱,而從歷史也不難發現,很多都不是該事件的受難者出來平反。家屬與平反者,是各有其扮演的角色。

特赦阿扁總統是台灣人的第一選項,站在制高點看政治迫害,才有和馬政府談保外就醫與移監的彈性空間。政治案件本來就該以政治協商處理,而非法律途徑。

德國政治神學家梅茲(Johann Baptist Metz)所提出的「危險記憶」(Dangerous Memory)理論,主張人們之所以會遺忘某些記憶,主要是統治者不希望人們記得,危險記憶有破除統治者魔咒的能量, 因為此記憶可能會危及統治者,並且轉換成促使被壓迫者起身抵抗迫害者的力量,因此對被壓迫者而言,是「提出召喚」的記憶,但對迫害者來說,則是具反抗力量的「危險記憶」。「耶穌基督的受難、死和復活」的記憶,包含了耶穌和人類受難史的「苦難記憶」(Memoria Passionis),是最危險的記憶,成為「人類對未來自由應許的基礎」。

也就是說,當人們的記憶被抹滅時,就是「被奴役」(Enslavement)的開始,統治者對被統治者的殖民,就是根據這個原則。而當一個人開始認識到自己被壓迫的事實時,才能得以自由並重建其認同。阿扁總統被政治迫害的受難記憶,會激發對歷史未來的期盼,也會鼓舞受壓迫者去形成具有連結感的抵抗團體。唯有面對阿扁,才能檢視阿九,如果台灣人或民進黨無法面對過去阿扁的功過,對綠色執政8年沒有自信, 只能一直處於挨打的狀態,如何能反擊阿九的一切?

Michel Foucault提醒,由於記憶是抗爭的重要因素,如果控制了人民的記憶,就控制了他們的動力。同時也控制了他們的經驗、他們對過去抗爭的理解。沒錯,如同Milan Kundera所言,一個民族毀滅於當他們的記憶喪失時,他們的書籍、學問和歷史被毀掉,接著有人另外寫出不同的書,給出不同樣式的學問和杜撰一種不同的歷史。所以人民對強權者的抗爭,就是記憶對遺忘的抗爭。今日忘掉阿扁總統,就等於放棄抵抗極權馬政府,放棄最基本的人權,也等同放棄堅持台灣的主權,那你我的未來在哪裡?

一位長者說,歷史沒有「假使」,但現在回頭看2000年阿扁當選總統,連帶的把原本總是乖乖牌的連戰逼出原形。2000年連戰是總統候選人,本該為敗選負責,但他卻要時任國民黨黨主席的李登輝下台,而且越快越好,接著連戰選擇另一條路,傾中、親中。假使2000年,勝選的人是連戰,李登輝繼續在國民黨內改革,把中國國民黨轉型為台灣國民黨,阿扁也不會因為是中國人頭號戰犯,而被政治迫害關進監牢。但,歷史沒有 if.

先知曾經預言過,如果馬英九當選的話,第1年:三通。第2年:開放中勞。第3年:承認學歷。第4年:統一時間表。而如今,知道如何應對中國人那一套的阿扁總統,被政治迫害關在監獄裡,創下全世界首例,卸任元首被政敵鬥爭關入獄。

所以,我挺扁,不只因為他是贊凡同修……