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DEFENSE MINISTER SUPPORTS CIVILIAN CONTROL OF MILITARY

ROC Central News Agency

2007-02-06 14:13:01

    Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) Minister of National Defense Lee Jye expressed support Tuesday for the idea of civilian control of the military, saying he hopes the goal can be achieved as soon as possible.

    Lee said that he has been discussing the issue with President Chen Shui-bian and that he "can leave any time" if the president has found a suitable person to replace him.

    Lee was commenting on recent remarks by President Chen that he hopes the principle of civilian control of the military, which has not been realized in the past seven years, can be implemented in the final year of his term.

    On the Ministry of National Defense's recent decision to remove the statues of late President Chiang Kai-shek from military bases around the country, Lee urged the opposition parties not to make a big deal out of what he called a "simple question."

    Lee explained that the ministry is not going to destroy the statues but is only relocating the statues to appropriate places, such as a museum.

    Noting that different opinions always abound in a democratic society, Lee said there is no need for members of the opposition to squabble over the issue because they can reinstall the statues when they come to power in the future if they are unhappy with the decision.

    According to Lee, removing the statues has not undermined the military's respect for Chiang, as the military still educates soldiers about Chiang's contributions to Taiwan and follows Chiang's defense policy and his principles in dealing with China.

    Calling Chiang the key perpetrator responsible for the 228 Incident of 1947 in which thousands of people were massacred by Kuomintang (KMT) troops in the suppression of a rebellion against KMT rule in Taiwan, legislators of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have requested that the statues of the late KMT leader be removed by Feb. 28 this year in memory of the 60th anniversary of the incident.

    Legislators from the opposition KMT and People First Party have criticized Lee for approving the DPP's request, saying Lee was currying favor with the DPP to secure his position as defense minister.

    The opposition legislators claim the move is intended by the DPP to gain the support of pro-independence voters in elections.

(By Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM/Li