President to promote an aboriginal colonel to rank of general
ROC Central News Agency
2007-12-03 22:46:59
Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian has approved the promotion of an army colonel of the Ami tribe to the rank of major general later his month, Legislator Chen Shui-hui of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party said Monday.
Chen Shui-hui said in a press release that the number of the aborigines serving in the military has reached nearly 10,000, but there are currently no active aboriginal generals in the military.
For this reason, Chen said that she has suggested to the president several times that he promote an aboriginal general.
President Chen recently approved to transfer Colonel Chang Wei-ya to serve as general chief of staff at Penghu Defense Command. Chang is expected to be promoted to the rank of major general at the end of the year, according to Legislator Chen.
The legislator said that Chang, 44, was born of an Ami mother, and that his father is a retired sergeant.
The legislator noted that since the government relocated to Taiwan in 1948 after losing the Chinese mainland in a civil war, only two aboriginal military personnel have served as generals -- former Air Force Maj. Gen. Kao Wei-ho of the Ami tribe and former Army Maj. Gen. Tsao Ming-sheng of the Paiwan tribe. Kao has passed away, while Tsao is long retired.
Legislator Chen said that during her meetings with President Chen and Vice President Annette Lu, she has suggested repeatedly that the government promote aboriginal military servicemen that have excellent service records.
(By Lilian Wu)
enditem/jnc
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