The mayor of Taipei, a political heavyweight within Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, called Tuesday for medical parole for jailed ex-president Chen Shui-bian.
Hau Lung-pin is the highest-level politician yet from the China-friendly KMT to call for the release of Chen, whose anti-Beijing stance caused considerable controversy during his time in office from 2000 to 2008.
"The question of granting former president Chen medical parole should be handled with a positive attitude," Hau said.
"Giving Chen medical parole will prevent our society from dividing even further, which is something Taiwan cannot afford at this moment."
George Tsai, a political science professor from the Chinese Culture University in Taipei, said he could not rule out that Hau's comments were a "trial balloon" released by the KMT to gauge the public's view on letting Chen go.
Hau's surprise statement was hailed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which Chen once led.
The DPP has been pushing for Chen's release, citing concerns voiced by several doctors who recently visited him in prison, though justice officials said he has been properly treated.
The 61-year-old is serving a prison term of more than 17 years on bribery charges, and also faces several additional graft charges stemming from his time as president.
Chen and family members have been accused in a complex network of laundering millions of US dollars by sending political donations and secret diplomatic funds abroad, and taking kickbacks on government contracts.
Chen insists the legal action against him is a vendetta carried out by Taiwan's current Beijing-friendly government in retaliation for his pro-independence stance while in power.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/top-taiwan-politician-calls-chens-parole-105216313.html
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