1.3坪的總統套房

 

〈星期專論〉1.3坪的總統套房
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/jul/22/today-p1.htm

◎王美琇
這是台灣卸任總統陳水扁先生的牢房。
四面都是牆，只有一扇窗戶可以透進一些陽光。窗戶對面牆上有個柵欄小窗，看守的警衛隨時會透過小窗察看室內動靜。牆的右下角有一個老鼠洞般的小缺口，是遞送牢飯的入口。
沒有人性的總統牢房
獄方說，這個牢房有一．八六坪。但阿扁總統說只有一．三坪，因為扣掉如廁的茅坑和茅坑旁的水桶雜物置放區。這就是卸任總統在台北監獄的「總統套房」，而且是雙人房。
他上廁所的地方不是蹲式或坐式馬桶，而是中間挖一個洞的茅坑。起床時，他必須蹲在茅坑上刷牙洗臉；洗澡時，他雙腳站立在茅坑兩邊，伸手舀起水桶的水往身上淋浴。茅坑的左上角有個監視器，廿四小時監看，如廁洗澡全都錄，無所遁形。

在扣掉茅坑和置物區後，僅存的空間必須兩人對分，所以每個人實際可以使用的面積是○．六坪。阿扁總統就是在○．六坪的空間裡，睡地板、蹲著吃飯、坐著讀書、趴在地上寫文章。水泥地上雖隔了一層薄薄的木板，但冬天的寒意依舊穿透木板直逼脊骨，他必須鋪上棉被才得以驅寒入眠。

扁訴說著牢獄生活，臉上掛著有點苦澀又無奈的笑容。他的額頭暗沉、臉色黑黑的，少了以前常見的容光煥發。我問他為什麼臉這麼黑？他說是太陽曬的。以前一天只有放封半小時，一個月前因為很多立委和醫生關心，所以獄方增加到每天一小時，因此就盡量曬太陽。

也因為有太多立委和國內外醫生的關切，終於在一個月前，獄方在他的牢房對面的空牢房放了一張桌椅，讓扁在坐了近四年的牢獄後，第一次可以「坐著」吃飯和寫字。但這張桌椅只有幾小時的使用時限，時間到就必須回到他的「總統套房」。

很多探監者問獄方為何不讓扁「下工」（到工廠工作）？因為一般犯人每天可以下工八小時。獄方說，安全問題他們無法負責。安全問題？是擔心扁在工廠搞組織、搞工運嗎？因為不能下工，所以扁除了每天一小時的放封時間外，其餘二十三小時都必須蹲在一．三坪的總統套房。

扁的身心都出問題
寫到這裡，心裡有點酸楚。我試著閉上眼睛（也請你試著閉上眼睛）想像一下：如果把自己關在一個一．三坪、有馬桶作伴的浴室裡，我能夠忍受多久？……恐怕一小時我都無法忍受。可是你知道嗎？扁已經在這樣的空間生活近四年了。他沒有被關到發瘋，實在是奇蹟。

台大創傷外科柯文哲醫師說起探扁的故事。扁問柯醫師：「我能不能到長庚醫院檢查身體？」柯問他為什麼想去長庚？扁說：「我只有上次去桃園醫院就醫時有睡過床。我很想睡在床上。」聽了真是鼻酸。

因為長期監禁在幽閉狹小的空間，而且長時間趴在地上寫字，他在長庚醫院徹底檢查後，醫院的醫生和扁總統醫師團的醫師們，都異口同聲指出扁已經罹患多種疾病，包括：心臟冠狀動脈問題、高血脂症、攝護腺血塊、胃食道逆流、十二指腸前壁炎、直腸糜爛、左下肺葉塌陷、輸精管出血、關節炎、自主神經錯亂、創傷後壓力症候群、重鬱症等。

美國人權醫師團來探監後，其中一位醫師Ken
Yoneda說：「我完全無法想像一個前總統會被關在生活狀況這麼差的牢裡。這種事情在美國絕不會發生。就算前總統尼克森犯法，也沒有坐過牢。」另一位醫師Joeseph
Lin說：「扁的獄中環境非常不人道，除了診斷出的心臟和胃食道逆流等問題外，他有時會感到窒息，無法呼吸，感覺快要死掉。」
美國醫師團做出診斷結論：扁因為長期密閉監禁和壓力，有嚴重身心問題，必須立刻接受全面性治療和改善監獄環境，否則健康會持續惡化下去。
七月十二日，美國眾議員安德魯斯和龍格聯名提交一份名為「長期囚禁對台灣前總統陳水扁身心狀況的影響」報告書，給美國國會「湯姆．藍托斯人權委員會」。這份二十四頁的調查報告，敦促台灣總統馬英九基於人道考量，儘速讓陳水扁保外就醫。

全世界沒有任何民主國家，敢如此明目張膽惡整一個卸任總統，即使他有罪。不過也有很多人認為，扁案的審理過程，充滿太多違反正當法律程序的司法瑕疵。
總統職位，是國家尊嚴和榮譽的最高象徵。馬政府對待陳前總統的做法，不但是在踐踏總統名位、踐踏國家尊榮和民主價值，更是法西斯的惡質權力鬥爭︱︱利用國家機器把政敵鬥到你死我活為止。

文明的最低檢驗標準
結束探訪，和扁握手道別。走兩步，回頭看他，只見他揮揮手又摸摸膝蓋。想起他因為長期趴在地上寫字而出問題的手指和膝蓋關節。
心頭百感交集。大步走出台北監獄，耳邊輕輕響起柯文哲醫師的話：「讓阿扁病死在監獄裡，符合台灣社會的最大利益嗎？」
到底是什麼樣的政權，可以把一個卸任總統折磨到瀕臨瘋狂和垂死邊緣？到底是什麼樣的文明素養，可以讓一個民主國家的現任總統如此對待一個卸任總統？是這個現任總統馬英九先生太殘忍？還是台灣社會太冷酷無情？

台灣，是一個文明社會嗎？還是一個弱肉強食的原始森林？究竟什麼是文明？
有人說，文明的最低檢驗標準，是看你對待弱者的態度。更何況，他是被關出一身病的卸任總統。不是嗎？
心裡的疑惑、憤怒和苦悶揪成一團，融化在炎炎夏日的台北街頭。
（作者王美琇為專欄作家）
（備註：筆者擬將本文譯成英文，並與社團合作擴大社會連署，然後將連署文本和醫界連署一併寄給全世界重要媒體與人權組織，請其嚴重關切此案。）

      http://www.taiwanenews.com/doc/20120802105.php

Crying out for humanitarianism

By Michelle Wang 王美琇

Four square meters. That is the size of former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) prison cell.

There are walls on each side and only one little window to let in sunlight. On the wall across from the window, there is a small opening with bars where at any time the guards can see what is going on in the cell. In the lower right corner of the wall there is a small hole, like a little rat hole; that’s where the prison food is delivered.

Prison representatives say the cell is 6m2, but Chen only has 4.3m2 because you have to deduct the space for the toilet, the water bucket and various other items. This is the home of the former president in Taipei Prison, and it is a double.

The toilet is not a squat toilet, nor is it a water closet, it is just a hole in the floor.

When Chen gets out of bed, he must squat over the hole to wash his face and brush his teeth.

To take a shower, he has to stand over the hole, one foot on either side, reach for the ladle in the bucket and pour the water over himself. To the left above the hole, there is a 24-hour security camera that records everything he does, even when he takes a shower or uses the toilet. There is no escape.

After deducting the space that is occupied by the latrine and miscellaneous items, the remaining space is shared by two people, which means they only get about 2m2 each.

In a space of just 2m2, Chen has to sleep on the floor, eat squatting on the floor, read sitting on the floor and write his articles lying on the floor. Although there is a thin wooden tiling, the winter cold seeps into the bones and Chen needs a thick quilt to keep warm and get to sleep.

When Chen talks about life in prison, his smile is marked by frustration and bitterness. His forehead and face are dark, lacking the radiance that was so often there in the past. When I ask him why his face is so dark, he says it’s sunburn.

In the past, he was only allowed out for half an hour a day, but after legislators and doctors started to express concern, that was increased to one hour a day, and he now gets as much sun as he can.

As a result of the concern shown by many legislators and physicians both in Taiwan and abroad, one month ago the prison administration finally placed a desk and a chair in the empty cell across from Chen’s cell. For the first time in four years of prison life, he can now sit down to eat his food and to write, although he is only allowed to use the desk for a few hours at a time.

When the time is up, he must return to his “presidential suite.”

Many visitors ask why the prison administration does not let Chen work in the prison factory, as “normal” criminals work there eight hours a day.

However, prison officials say it is because they cannot guarantee it will be safe. Safe for who? Are they afraid that he will organize the other prisoners and start a labor union?

Since Chen cannot work in the factory, with the exception of the one hour he gets to spend outside every day, he spends most of the time squatting on the floor in his 4m2 presidential suite.

At this point, I am filled with sorrow. I am closing my eyes (you should, too) and trying to imagine what it would be like to be locked up in a tiny bathroom with nothing but a toilet and trying to imagine how long I would be able to stand it. Probably not even an hour.

Chen has lived in this space for four years now. It is almost unbelievable that he hasn’t lost his mind yet.

Ko Wen-che (柯文哲), a doctor of thoracic surgery and trauma at National Taiwan University Hospital, talked about his examination of the former president.

Chen asked if he could get a physical examination at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. When Ko asked why he wanted to go to that hospital, Chen said: “The last time I have slept in a bed was when I went to Taoyuan General Hospital for a check-up. I really want to sleep in a bed.”

As a result of having been locked up in a small dark space and lying on the floor for so long, the doctors at Taoyuan General Hospital and the doctors on Chen’s medical team followed up on the thorough medical check received at the hospital by saying that Chen had contracted several illnesses, including coronary artery problems, hyperlipidemia, prostate blood clots, gastroesophageal reflux disease, duodenal wall inflammation, rectal erosion, a collapsed left lower lung lobe, bleeding vas deferens, arthritis, autonomic nerve disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and major depression.

One of the members of the US team of human rights doctors that visited Chen, Ken Yoneda, said after the visit that he found it unimaginable that a former president would be locked up in a prison with such low living standards. Joseph Lin, another member of the team, said the environment in Chen’s cell was inhumane and that in addition to having been diagnosed with heart and gastroesophageal problems, Chen also said that he sometimes felt like he was choking and that he was about to die.

The US medical team concluded that Chen was suffering from serious physical and mental problems caused by long-term isolation, monitoring and stress and that he needed immediate and comprehensive medical treatment and an improved prison environment otherwise his health would continue to deteriorate.

On July 12, US senators Robert Andrews and Dan Lungren presented a report titled The Effects of Incarceration on the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. The 24-page report strongly urged President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to grant medical parole to Chen on humanitarian grounds.

No democracy around the world would dare treat a former president in such a brazenly evil manner, even one guilty of committing a crime, and there are also many people who believe the trials that found Chen guilty were marked by judicial flaws and violations of the due course of law.

The presidency is a symbol of national dignity and honor. The Ma administration’s treatment of Chen not only tramples all over the presidency, national dignity, honor and democratic values, it is also a sign of fascist-style power struggle — using the state apparatus to suppress a political enemy.

After I finished the interview and said goodbye to Chen, I took two steps, and then turned around to look at him. I saw how he waved and touched his knee. It reminded me that he has developed joint problems in his fingers and his knees after spending such a long time writing lying on the floor. My head spun with emotions.

Walking out of the prison, something Ko had said rang in my ears: “Is it really in Taiwan’s best interest to let Chen die in prison?”

What kind of regime would let a former president suffer so much that he is on the verge of losing his mind and close to dying? What would make the incumbent president of a democracy treat a predecessor in this way? Is Ma a cruel person or is it that Taiwanese society itself is cruel and heartless?

Is Taiwan a civilized country or is it a country ruled by the law of the jungle? What does civilization even mean?

Some say the most fundamental standard for judging a civilization is how it treats its weak and disadvantaged. Aren’t we now mistreating a sick and weak former president?

Confused, angry and dejected, I continued down the streets of Taipei, scorching in the summer heat.

Michelle Wang is a political commentator.

Translated by Perry Svensson

Taipei Times 2012-08-02
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/08/02/2003539220/1