• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

President calls on special agents to maintain neutrality

ROC Central News Agency

2008-01-21 20:55:33

    Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Monday called on special service agents in charge of protecting the presidential and vice presidential candidates ahead of the March 22 election to maintain strict neutrality. "The special service agents should be strictly neutral and have a high sense of discipline, " Chen said while presiding over a ceremony confirming 90 agents after they completed an intensive training course. "They should not engage in any other work other than their security duties to uphold their professional image, " the president said.

    The 90 agents will be divided into two security details of 45 members each that will follow the candidates of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), the only parties fielding presidential tickets in the upcoming election.

    Presidential and vice presidential candidates will be entitled to special protection from the agents from the time they officially register their candidacies until March 23, one day after the election.

    The president also inspected equipment to be used in protecting the candidates, including a French-made shot detection system and bullet-proof vehicles, and saw a display of the unit's close-range combat and shooting skills.

    National Security Bureau Director Shi Hwei-yow, who also serves as the commander of the Special Service Center, said that individuals with political affiliations were excluded in selecting the teams.

    The importance of these agents was made clear, the president said, on the eve of the presidential election in 2004, when Chen and Vice President Annette Lu were grazed by bullets while stumping for votes in Tainan City.

    KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan accused Chen of staging the shooting to win sympathy votes in the hotly contested election. "Although the criminal investigation of the shooting has been completed and the reports have been published, its impact has still not subsided, " Chen said, urging the security details to maintain a tight watch to prevent any security gaps from arising.

    He said that as the presidential campaign moves into high gear, different kinds of inflammatory rhetoric could lead to social tensions, leading to concerns over the personal safety of the candidates.

    But he urged the special service agents "not to serve only one party or one individual, " saying that they should abide by the law and maintain neutrality in carrying out their duties.

    The job of the agents will be different from the average military serviceman, policeman or civil servant, said the president, who stressed that any lapse could lead to political confrontation and social turmoil and even compromise national security. "The nation has high expectations of the agents and will put them under a microscope, " Chen said, urging them to exercise great caution in both their words and actions.

    The NSB has already rented sites near the homes of the presidential and vice presidential candidates to enhance their protection.

    DPP candidate Frank Hsieh said Monday that he will not wear a bulletproof vest "unless necessary, " or if there is a clear-cut indication of a threat.

    Hsieh said the vest usually weights about six or seven kilograms, and would become a tremendous burden if he has a hectic campaign schedule.

    Reports have said that Hsieh has "an aversion" to the vest, especially because of his recent foot injury.

    KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou called on the NSB last Friday to learn about the protection provided by the special service details. The NSB told him that the agents have been sent overseas for driving and shooting training and their combat skills at close range have also been strengthened to allow candidates to flee the scene should any emergency arise.

    Amid rumors that Ma may become the target of an assassination bid, the KMT candidate has reportedly heightened his guard by donning a super-thin bulletproof vest recently on the campaign trail.

(By Lilian Wu)

enditem/ls