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MND’s ‘shame’ noted
By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff Reporter
The Control Yuan yesterday praised the Ministry of National Defense for “having
a sense of shame” by acknowledging it made a mistake in omitting former
presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) from a
ministry--sponsored comic book depicting the armed forces.
Publishing the results of his investigation, Control Yuan member Frank Wu (吳豐山)
said the numbers of times heads of state were mentioned in the comic book has
affected the military’s image, which is supposed to be non-partisan.
Eternal Glory was published in April to mark the centennial of the Republic of
China’s (ROC) military, but Lee and Chen were noticeably absent. Democratic
Progressive Party lawmakers also said the ministry had tried to flatter
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) by portraying him as kind and loving to the
military and to the public.
The report said ROC founding father Sun Yat-sen (孫中山) was mentioned 58 times in
the comic, former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) was -mentioned 21 times,
former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) three times and Ma three times. Also
left out was former president Yen Chia-kan (嚴家淦).
“Criticism leveled at the book was not groundless,” Wu said.
However, Wu did not motion to censure the ministry for what he said was a
violation of the Administrative Neutrality Act (公務人員行政中立法) because the ministry
had agreed to address the mistake.
“Neutralization of the military is a fundamental value in a democracy,” Wu said.
“Despite a transfer of power, the military should continue to practice its
allegiance to the country.”
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