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Use of dummy guard part of overall security: defense official

ROC Central News Agency

Taipei, July 22 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) defended Tuesday its use of a dummy guard at a military barrack in Taoyuan County, saying it was part of an overall security arrangement to protect the facility.

Hao Yi-chi, director of Joint Operations Division of the Office of MND's Deputy Chief of General Staff for Operations, made the remarks after reports said that a dummy dressed in military camouflage was found "manning" a post at a Army Sixth Corps military barrack in Pingjhen, Taoyuan County.

Hao clarified that the army was not using a dummy to guard a real sentry post, saying it was just one of a number of fake installations on the grounds, which included the dummy guard.

He explained that the dummy guard was part of an elaborate program of deception in which the military sets up fake installations "at indefinite times and at indefinite places" and "mainly at night."

The reason the matter has aroused publicity is because the barrack "has not acted properly, " and "needs to review the matter, " he said.

The military barrack, which originally was home to the mentally ill servicemen, was renovated and converted into an artillery command last year.

The side of the barrack where the dummy guard appeared is closed year-round and only opens in case of emergency, a military spokesman said.

As the military is streamlining its personnel, there is no "need to send guards to the post," he added.

Security monitoring systems can also make up for a shortage of military personnel and blind spots at night.

Amid criticism that army discipline is so lax that it has sent a dummy to stand guard, an MND spokeswoman said Tuesday that the dummy was aimed at deceiving and intimidating the enemy rather than standing in for a real guard.

She insisted the move had nothing to do with the streamlining of the army, noting that Taiwan's military has engaged in similar deception tactics since war erupted in the Balkans in the 1990. (By Lilian Wu) enditem/ls