President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should face the public, explain his stance on waning military discipline and implement remedial measures, former national policy adviser Rex How (郝明義) said, pointing to a recent controversial visit by civilians to a restricted-access military base for US-made AH-64 Apache helicopters and a string of military scandals over the past few weeks that have sparked a public outcry.
How said on Facebook on Saturday that the nation’s armed forces have “enriched the public’s understanding” of corruption in the military through a series of scandals involving almost all branches of the armed forces.
“It began [last month] with the final conviction of former vice admiral Ko Cheng-sheng (柯政盛), who was sentenced to a 14-month jail term for organizing espionage activities in the navy for China through a Taiwanese businessman,” How said.
Photo: CNA
“That was followed by the 206th Army Infantry Brigade’s Third Battalion using a photograph of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in promotional materials for voluntary military service,” he said.
“Now comes the air force: A television personality gained access to an Apache attack helicopter [at a restricted military base], and an officer wore military equipment to a party,” he added.
“What message is our armed forces sending to the world?” he asked, and alluded to an incident in the run-up to the First Sino-Japanese War, in which the Imperial Japanese Navy took heart at seeing Chinese marines doing their laundry aboard warships.
How called for Ma to face up to the military’s disgraces and propose a solution.
Meanwhile, New Power Party legislative candidate Hung Tzu-yung (洪慈庸), the sister of deceased army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘), accused the military of double standards.
She said wealthy people receive preferential treatment over ordinary citizens, adding that her brother — a corporal whose controversial death sparked a series of protests against abuse in the military in 2013 — was punished severely for bringing a camera-equipped mobile phone onto his base, while television personality Janet Lee (李蒨蓉) was granted access to an AH-64 attack helicopter in an area that is off-limits to visitors.
“It is mind-boggling for the public to see people with money, fame or power flaunting their influence by taking pictures inside a restricted military base,” she said.
She also criticized the light punishment — three minor demerits — the army initially meted out to Lieutenant Colonel Lao Nai-cheng (勞乃成), a pilot with the army’s 601st Air Cavalry Brigade who is at the center of the latest controversy. Lao took a group of 20 relatives and friends, including Lee and members of her family, to the base in Taoyuan’s Longtan District (龍潭) on March 29.
“Plebeians like me have trouble understanding such an incredible [double] standard,” she said, comparing Lao’s initially light punishment with the punishment her brother was subjected to.
The rampant abuse of privilege in the military has led to undermined military discipline, which is in dire need of improvement, she added.
In related developments, prosecutors yesterday searched 15 locations, including buildings housing a helicopter squadron in Taoyuan and the houses of members of Lee’s entourage who visited the restricted military base in violation of regulations on visitors to such areas.
The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday also summoned 11 people for questioning regarding the case, including Lao, Lee and an unidentified Japanese man.
Lee told reporters before entering the prosecutors’ office that she would cooperate fully and tell prosecutors everything she knows about her visit.
Additional reporting by Chang Hsuan-che and CNA
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