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Corporal Hung’s
family condemns military tribunes
Staff reporter
Army corporal Hung Chung-chiu’s
mother, right, and his sister, left, attend an event condemning military
tribunals for seeking a constitutional interpretation of the recently amended
Court Martial Procedure Act, saying that it might serve as the first step toward
the “restoration” of the former version of the law.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
The family of army corporal Hung Chung-chiu
(洪仲丘) and rights activists yesterday condemned military tribunals for seeking a
constitutional interpretation of the recently amended Court Martial Procedure
Act (軍事審判法), saying that it might serve as the first step toward the
“restoration” of the former version of the law.
The legislature passed an amendment to the law following Hung’s death because of
concerns that military tribunals might not fairly review cases involving
high-ranking officers. The amendment transferred most of the powers of military
tribunals to civilian courts during peacetime.
However, the Supreme Military Tribunal and the Northern District Military
Tribunal have questioned the legitimacy and constitutionality of the revision
and applied to the Council of Grand Justices for an interpretation.
“They [the military judges] believe that the amendment fails to protect their
employment, and the reason listed in the application focused on how they would
be able to keep their jobs,” Wellington Koo (顧立雄), a lawyer who is working pro
bono for the Hungs, told a news conference at the legislature.
Koo added that it does not make sense, since, according to the Constitution,
military judges do not enjoy the same degree of protection as civilian judges.
Lee Hsuan-yi (李宣毅), another lawyer for the family, said the military tribunal
was irresponsible since it failed to transfer all documents about the case to
the Taoyuan District Court as directed under the revised law.
“Now they are seeking constitutional interpretation, hoping to get their power
back,” Lee said.
Hung Tzu-yung (洪慈庸), sister of Hung Chung-chiu, agreed.
“If the military tribunal had been more active, the case could have proceeded
more smoothly, and fewer social resources would have been wasted,” she said.
“I hope the military tribunal can be open and honest, and assist the civilian
court, so that the review can move more efficiently and the verdict can be
handed down faster,” she added.
Hung’s mother and uncle, Hu Su-chen (胡素真) and Hu Shih-ho (胡適和), both agreed,
calling on the military tribunal to help the civilian court, adding that the
family would not accept its attempt to restore its power.
A spokesman for Citizen 1985 surnamed Wang (王) warned that the military
tribunal’s latest move would only trigger more anger from the public.
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