Defense ministry stands firm on Lin Yifu issue
ROC Central News Agency
2012/03/28 22:54:55
Taipei, March 28 (CNA) The defense ministry remains firm on the decision that Lin Yifu, a former Taiwanese army officer who fled to China years ago and is now a vice president of the World Bank, will be arrested and dealt with according to law if he returns to Taiwan, a ministry official said Wednesday.
Lin has been wanted on charges of desertion under the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces, defense ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said in response to remarks by China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Yang Yi.
Yang said earlier in the day that he hoped Taiwan would agree to let Lin and his wife return to worship their ancestors after being away from home for decades.
Yang's statement came days before Tomb Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese festival in which people worship their ancestors and clean up their tombs.
Lin's wife has also said her family hopes to return to Taiwan for a visit.
In response, Luo reiterated the defense ministry's stance that Lin would be brought to justice if he ever returned to Taiwan.
Lin swam to China while serving as an army officer on the island of Kinmen near China in 1979. He later trained as an economist and is now serving as the World Bank's chief economist and senior vice president.
Article 24 of the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces stipulates that "a person who surrenders to an enemy will be sentenced to death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for not less than 10 years."
(By Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/ pc
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