Taipei, Wednesday (CNA file photo)

Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) Former Vice President Annette Lu, who was on a hunger strike to press for medical parole for ex-President Chen Shui-bian, was hospitalized Thursday and was fed rice soup, according to her office.

In a statement, the office said Lu was taken to hospital early in the day by her aides, who became worried about her health after she had been without food for 81 hours.

Lu, 70, started the hunger strike in Taipei Dec. 28 and moved her protest to in front of Taichung Prison Wednesday, amid reports that the Ministry of Justice was about to release Chen on medical parole that day.

The ministry, however, decided not to process Chen's request for parole until Jan. 5, the first workday after the New Year holiday, saying that the relevant documents had not reached its Agency of Corrections in time.

Disappointed with the development, Lu had planned to return to Taipei late Wednesday to continue her hunger strike, but was taken to hospital, where she was fed rice soup.

She would return to Taichung Prison Jan. 5 to greet Chen as he leaves the prison, the office said.

Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang said Wednesday that the Agency of Corrections' decision on Chen's request for medical parole will be announced before noon Monday. It is widely expected that the agency will grant Chen's request.

Chen, who was president from 2000-2008, is serving a 20-year prison term for corruption.

(By Wen Kui-hsiang and Maubo Chang)
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