臺灣前總統陳水扁獲釋出獄

Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian waves to supporters as he is escorted by his son Chen Chih-chung after being freed from prison in Taichung on January 5, 2015 (AFP Photo/)

2015年1月5日，臺灣前總統陳水扁在兒子陳致中的陪伴下，從臺中監獄門外向支持者揮手。（法新社照片）

Taiwan's ailing ex-president Chen Shui-bian was freed from prison on medical parole Monday after serving six years of a 20-year sentence for graft, as political leaders called for reconciliation on the deeply divided island.

週一下午，病情惡化的臺灣前總統陳水扁獲得保外就醫的核準，從監獄返家。因爲貪污獲判20年的陳水扁，入監已有6年。有政治領袖呼籲說，釋放陳水扁可使“藍綠和解”。

The 64-year-old, who led Taiwan from 2000 to 2008, waved to crowds of supporters as he left Taichung prison on Monday afternoon after being granted a month's parole due to ill-health.

64歲的陳水扁，在2000年至2008年間擔任臺灣總統。自一個月的保外就醫申請批准之後，週一下午從臺中監獄獲釋的陳水扁向前來表示支持的羣衆揮手致意。

His freedom will be contingent on his medical condition, said deputy justice minister Chen Ming-tang, and he will be subject to monthly health check-ups.

法務部政務副部長陳明堂表示，陳水扁的病況惡化，監獄將在保釋期間派員查看。

The former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader, who ended 50 years of Kuomintang party rule when he came to power, was sentenced to life in prison in 2009 for money-laundering and bribery during his term in office -- reduced to 20 years after appeals.

民進黨（DPP）前主席陳水扁在成爲總統後，結束了臺灣50年的國民黨統治。2009年，陳水扁因爲任期內洗錢和受賄的罪名被捕入獄 – 上訴後減刑至20年。

Chen was transferred to a prison hospital in April last year after being diagnosed with severe depression, suspected Parkinson's disease and other conditions.

去年四月，陳水扁被診斷爲重度憂鬱症、疑似帕金森綜合症和其他病況，從監獄轉移至監獄醫院。

He attempted suicide in June, trying to hang himself with a towel in a bathroom of the prison hospital.

去年六月，他在監獄醫院的浴室中試圖使用毛巾上吊自盡。

"The (independent) medical team think Chen needs to leave his present location where his medical treatment is not helpful to his condition," said deputy minister Chen after a parole board meeting Monday morning.

週一上午的保釋審查會議過後，副部長陳明堂表示：“（獨立）醫療鑑定小組認爲目前的環境無法改善陳水扁的病況”。

Police block off the crowds as a car transporting former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian leaves after Chen was freed from prison in Taichung on January 5, 2015 (AFP Photo/)

2015年1月5日陳水扁從臺中監獄獲釋，警員阻止羣衆接近陳水扁乘坐的轎車。（法新社圖片）

"So a decision has now been made to parole him for a month."

“所以準陳水扁法外就醫一個月。”

- Cheering crowds -

- 歡呼的羣衆 -

Wearing a cap and trainers, Chen was brought to the jail entrance in a wheelchair on Monday afternoon before being helped to his feet by medical personnel and his son.

週一下午，帶着帽子，穿着跑鞋的陳水扁坐在輪椅上被領進監獄入口。他在那裏等待醫護人員和他的兒子幫他站起來。

He walked with a stick to a black sedan and waved to more than 200 cheering supporters at the prison gates before being driven to his home in the south of Taiwan.

他拄着柺杖走向一輛黑色的小轎車，向聚集在監獄門口的兩百多位支持者揮手致意，然後回到他臺南的家中。

His release comes as political leaders from both the ruling Kuomintang and the main opposition DPP make moves towards reconciliation in the face of an increasingly frustrated electorate.

陳水扁的獲釋被認爲是面對愈加失望的選民，國民黨和民進黨兩黨領袖爲藍綠和解所作出的努力。

Taiwan has long been split between supporters of the China-friendly Kuomintang and the DPP, which is traditionally sceptical of closer ties with Beijing.

臺灣政壇長期以來被親共的國民黨勢力，和一直被懷疑和北京有着更密切關係的民進黨勢力分裂。

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan even though the island has ruled itself since their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. Taiwan has never formally proclaimed independence.

儘管早在1949年內戰結束後，國民黨政府就開始獨立統治臺灣。但臺灣從未正式宣佈獨立，而中國宣佈對臺灣擁有主權。

The Kuomintang suffered a dramatic defeat at local polls in November as fears grow over warming ties with China under current president Ma Ying-jeou.

去年十一月，出於對總統馬英九與中國關係升溫的恐懼，國民黨在臺灣大選中遭受了前所未有的戲劇性失敗。

But there is widespread public dissatisfaction with the entire political spectrum, with the rival camps seen as failing to unite to tackle major issues including a stuttering economy.

但公衆對於臺灣政治大環境的失望之情正快速蔓延，民進黨被視爲無法肩負起振興經濟等重任的在野黨。

President Ma called for "cooperation" to deal with "domestic and external" challenges in his New Year address.

馬英九總統在新年演說中呼籲以‘合作'應對‘國內外'的挑戰。

DPP leaders have also acknowledged the gulf between the camps is not beneficial for Taiwan in the long-term.

民進黨領袖也承認長期而言，兩黨間的分歧對於臺灣並無益處。

"While there may be no way to know the exact reason behind the decision to parole him, a number of political heavyweights from the Kuomintang have felt it is time to release Chen," said Lee Shiao-feng, a professor at National Taipei University of Education.

國立臺北教育大學的李筱峯教授表示：“雖然不知道假釋陳水扁的確切原因，但國民黨的幾位大佬都覺得釋放陳水扁的時機已經成熟了”。

Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian gesturing during a campaign stop in Taipei on March 18, 2004 (AFP Photo/Saeed Khan)

2004年3月18日，原臺灣總統陳水扁在臺北競選場做手勢（法新社/薩伊德.卡恩）

"The move will help ease the tense mood that has divided the country and been overshadowing domestic politics for years."

“釋放陳水扁這一舉動將會緩和兩黨之間緊張的氣氛，而這種氣氛已經使臺灣社會逐漸分裂，也在很長的時間裏使民主政治蒙上了一層陰影。”

- Return home -

- 回家 -

Chen's son Chen Chih-chung told AFP he hoped to get his father home "as soon as possible for further medical treatment".

陳水扁的兒子陳致中告訴法新社記者他希望接父親回家，‘越快越好，他需要進一步的治療'。

His parole also required a Tw$2 million ($63,300) bail payment, he said.

陳致中說，陳水扁的保釋金爲200萬臺幣（63,300美元）

Some supporters outside the prison had been there since Friday.

一些陳水扁的支持者從週五就開始在監獄外等待了。

One held a placard which read: "God Bless Taiwan -- Go A-bian!" referring to Chen's nickname.

一位支持者舉着一塊標語牌：“天佑臺灣 – 阿扁回來！”，阿扁是陳水扁的暱稱。

The medical report on Chen was completed Friday but its delivery to the justice ministry was held up in traffic, leading some supporters to criticise the government for delaying his release.

陳水扁的醫療鑑定報告在週五完成，但因爲交通的原因未能及時送達法務部。一些陳水扁的支持者批評政府沒有及時釋放陳水扁。

But deputy minister Chen said: "No politics was involved in this matter."

但副部長陳明堂表示：“陳水扁保外就醫無政治力介入”

Chen Shui-bian insists that the charges against him are part of a politically motivated vendetta by the current Kuomintang government, in retaliation for his eight years in power when he promoted the idea of Taiwan declaring independence from China.

陳水扁堅持針對他的指控是國民黨政府對他的政治迫害，對他在八年掌權期間宣揚臺獨思想的報復。

His supporters had recently stepped up their campaign for his early release, particularly after the Kuomintang's heavy election defeat.

他的支持者們已經發起運動，督促政府提前開釋陳水扁，特別是在國民黨大選失敗之後。

But deputy minister Chen said the parole release was "nothing to do with the result of the election".

但副部長陳明堂表示保外就醫“與大選結果無關”。