Executed Taiwan man's family 'comforted' by US, EU support

(BEIJING) - The grieving family of a medical scientist executed by China for allegedly spying for Taiwan said Saturday they had been "comforted" by the US and EU condemnation of the act.

Wo Weihan, 59, was put to death on Friday, prompting strong criticism from Brussels and Washington officials who had appealed to China to spare his life.

Wo's daughter Ran Chen said the family was grateful that "people all over the world have thought about him."

"The most important (thing) for us to see is the support we have received from the European Union and the US, because we got a lot of support which really gives us the feeling that my father was not alone in his death," she said.

"It's a very bad time for the family, but at least we feel, with all this support and sympathy from all over the world, there's some comfort for us."

Chen, an Austrian citizen, added that Chinese authorities had not formally told the family the execution had taken place.

"We haven't yet received any official information or confirmation from the court or whoever has carried out the execution," she told AFP.

"We got information (from the) Austrian embassy, but we haven't... any official information so far."

Wo, who lived in Austria between 1990 and 1997, was arrested in Beijing in January 2005. He was charged with giving military information to Taiwan, including plans for missiles.

The biochemist, who denied the charges, was sentenced to death in May 2007 after being convicted of passing state secrets.

His trial was criticised by non-governmental organisations, who said evidence was vague and the process lacked transparency.

The European Union and the United States both condemned his execution. The governments of Slovenia, Austria and the EU presidency, along with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, had all called on Beijing to spare Wo.

Chen said the family would remain in China until after her father's funeral.

"We will stay until we understand when we can do the funeral," she said.

"We cannot do the funeral (because) we don't know... about the body. Until we have received the official document, we cannot leave. We will only leave after the funeral. The funeral will take place in China."

Chen was allowed to visit her father in prison on Thursday for the first time in four years, not knowing that he would be put to death the following day.

In a statement released after news of her father's death, Chen said she and her sister Di Chen were "shocked, saddened, disappointed and outraged." frb-hg/th