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Defense chief quits
over Hung’s death
NO SOLUTION: Hung Chung-chiu’s family said that
Kao Hua-chu was not directly responsible for the conscript’s death and that they
only wanted him to solve the case
By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff reporter
Deputy Minister of National
Defence Andrew Yang speaks during a news conference in Taipei on July 19. Yang
was yesterday name to replace Kao Hua-chu as defense minister after Kao
resigned.
Photo: Steven Chen, Reuters
Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu
(高華柱) resigned yesterday amid a snowballing controversy over an army conscript’s
death earlier this month. Vice Minister of National Defense Andrew Yang (楊念祖)
was appointed to take over the position, becoming the first civilian defense
minister since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in 2008.
Kao had offered to resign twice to take political responsibility over the death
of 24-year-old Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘) on July 4, according to a Central News
Agency (CNA) report.
Hung died of heatstroke in hospital following punishing drills when he was
confined in a military detention center. Circumstances leading to his death
remain unclear as investigation is ongoing.
Yang, who operated on the policy side at the ministry and speaks fluent English,
had been vice minister of defense since September 2009 and had been on Ma’s
shortlist of candidates for the post in line with his plan that the ministry
should be headed by a civilian.
Reacting to the news, Hung’s family said that Kao was not the person directly
responsible for Hung’s death and that his stepping down would not solve the
problem. Hung’s sister, Hung Tzu-yung (洪慈庸), said that when Kao visited her
family, she told Kao that her family did not want him to resign because of her
brother’s death, and that they only wanted him to solve the case and give her
family a responsible response.
Hung Tzu-yung said the family has only three demands: that they be told the
truth, that those responsible be seriously punished and that the military
undertake a thorough reform.
In related news, military prosecutors on Sunday held a simulation of the drills
that Hung was forced to perform and the emergency treatment he received when he
collapsed at the 569th Brigade’s detention center in Taoyuan County.
Military prosecutors invited Hung’s uncle and Hung Tzu-yung to witness the
simulation.
Hung Tzu-yung yesterday said soldiers being punished were told to do half
squats, with two steel cups being placed on each knee and while holding a big
book over their heads. Not long after, the soldiers’ bodies were all shaking,
she said.
Military prosecutors on Sunday night released former 542nd Brigade commander
Major General Shen Wei-chih (沈威志) on NT$300,000 bail over his role in the case.
Shen, who approved the disciplinary action for Hung, was charged with Offenses
Against Abandonment (妨害自由罪), prosecutors said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said the reshuffle was a
“meaningless move” and that the real problem was still President Ma Ying-jeou’s
(馬英九) weak leadership.
The personnel changes appear to be hasty, with Kao earlier this week denying he
had offered to resign, DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said.
Kao’s removal came more than 20 days after Hung’s controversial death, he said,
adding that the Ma administration added fuel to the fire at a time when people
are already worried about their livelihood and jobs because of the cross-strait
service trade agreement.”
“The administration has not been able to live up to the public’s expectations,”
Lin said.
Turning to Yang, Lin said that his biggest challenge would be reforming a
military plagued by bad habits, traditions and unspoken rules.
DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) urged Yang to deliver on his earlier pledge
to allow a third-party to join in the investigation of Hung’s death. Otherwise,
he would not be able to defuse the crisis because the public has little trust in
the government’s investigation, Tsai said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) said that Yang has
long been involved in defense affairs and was in charge of talks with the US,
making him a suitable minister.
In an interview with CNA, Yang said he would work to ensure that the complaint
system related to perceived mistreatment in the military operates smoothly and
that human rights are better protected.
When Yang was deputy defense minister, he was in charge of military
administration, promoting a voluntary military service system, adjusting the
national defense organization, facilitating cooperation among academia, industry
and government, and improving research and development for national defense
technology. He also visited foreign countries several times for military
exchanges.
Additional reporting by Chris Wang and CNA
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