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Defense minister apologizes again for soldier's death

ROC Central News Agency

2013/07/18 16:16:22

Taipei, July 18 (CNA) Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu apologized again Thursday for the death early this month of an Army conscript who was being punished for bringing a camera phone onto his base.

Kao bowed in a gesture of remorse for the tragic incident at a news conference organized by the ruling Kuomintang's (KMT's) legislative caucus to demand a speedy probe of the case and compensation for the family of the dead man.

Corporal Hung Chung-chiu died July 4 from heatstroke after a stint in disciplinary confinement. He was sent to the brig June 28 after he was found to be carrying a camera phone in violation of a standing order. He was due to remain in the brig for a week but on July 3, collapsed after being forced to drill in high temperatures. He died later in a military hospital.

His death has sparked a public outcry and the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has since taken a series of steps, including an administrative investigation that has resulted in punishments being handed down to more than 30 officers and non-commissioned officers. A judicial investigation is still underway in which one senior officer and two non-commissioned officers have been taken into custody.

Kao had already apologized for Hung's death at the beginning of the week and offered to step down, but was asked to stay on by both President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Jiang Yi-huah.

The minister reiterated his deep regret about the incident in his latest statement, saying that the MND will get to the bottom of the case and publish its findings in a transparent manner.

'The investigation will be free of any restrictions or limits,' Kao assured.

Moreover, he went on, the MND is reviewing its disciplinary system to avoid abuse of power.

All branches of the armed forces have also been required to examine their facilities at brigs, detention houses and military prisons, he said, adding that no brigs will be reopened until their facilities have been refurbished or improved.

During the news conference, KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying said Hung's family had sought her assistance in getting to the truth about his death.

'Regrettably, it was found that surveillance camera footage of the critical 80 minutes prior to Hung's death has been lost, a fact that has drawn public concern and left Hung's parents concerned about a possible failure to unravel the truth about their son's death,' Yang said.

In response, Maj. Gen. Tsao Chin-sheng, chief prosecutor of the Prosecutors' Office of the Military Supreme Court, said his office was also anxious to know whether the wiping of the video images was caused by mechanical failure or human factors.

'We have sent the footage to the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau for assistance in finding the true cause. Once the bureau's examination report is finished, we will publish it,' Tsao said.

As to why there is no footage of Hung's actual collapse, Tsao said the location where Hung collapsed happened to be in a corner not covered by the surveillance cameras.

In the wake of the death, Kao said, he has directed military units to improve facilities at various brigs, including their ventilation and video recording equipment.

'There will not be any areas of any brigs unobservable by video in the future,' he said.

The MND is scheduled to come up with improving measures for management of brigs, detention houses and military prisons before the end of July, Kao said, adding that training and supervision of management staff will also be strengthened to avoid any recurrence of similar incidents.

Noting that the case has done grave damage to both the country and the military, Kao said the armed forces have learned a bitter lesson and are determined to carry out all-out reforms so as not to let down the public any more.

He also denied speculation that the case might be related to a power struggle among high-ranking military officers, dismissing the speculation as sheer rumor.

On the Hung family's demand that the case be turned over to the Special Investigation Division under the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, Tsao said the case falls within the purview of military prosecutors.

Speaking on the same occasion, Legislator Lin Hung-chih, a KMT legislative whip, said the party caucus will form a task force to supervise the military investigation until the truth is obtained.

(By Chen Shun-hsieh and Sofia Wu)
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