TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Military officials announced the
expansion of the wave of disciplinary actions coming from the recent Apache
helicopter scandal yesterday after revealing that another officer had arranged
an unauthorized tour of the sensitive military craft. Later, Army Commander (陸軍司令) Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) stated he has taken disciplinary action
upon himself following the scandal, without providing further details.
Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesperson Luo
Shou-he (羅紹和) revealed in a morning press conference that Army
Special Forces (航特部) 601 Brigade Commander Maj. Gen. Chien Tsung-yuan
(簡聰淵) had also led a group of family and friends numbering
four individuals in an unauthorized tour of the Apache helicopter on Feb. 20,
including the helicopter's cockpit. This brings the number of unauthorized
tours to three and involves 40 individuals, including the two tours organized
by Lt. Col. Lao Nai-cheng (勞乃成) on Feb. 22 and March 29. Including Chien and Lao,
prosecutors are now seeking charges against 14 individuals involved in the
scandal.
Lt. Col. Lao to be Discharged after New Charges Leveled
Detailing their ongoing investigation, military officials
divided the recent Apache scandal into two cases, one involving violations to
internal administration, and the second pertaining to the personal use of a
special aviator helmet connected to the helicopter, which involved six
officers.
In the MND's second wave targeting violations to internal
administration within the 601 Brigade, it handed out 12 additional disciplinary
actions toward individuals including Army Special Forces Director of Political
Warfare Maj. Gen. Wen Tien-you (文天佑), the highest ranking
officer to be disciplined. Maj. Gen. Chien, after accruing three demerits, will
be removed from his post as brigade commander of the unit.
Lt. Col. Lao, already disciplined with one serious
demerit and removed from his post due to the two unauthorized tours, was issued
another serious demerit for his role involving the private use of the special
aviator helmet. Officials confirmed that Lao will eventually be discharged
within the year.
Army Lists Major Shortcomings
In materials provided to the press, the R.O.C. Army
detailed eight major institutional shortcomings highlighted by Lao's
unauthorized tours. They included non-compliance with the provisions of
military grounds, room for further implementation of internal management,
oversight deficiencies in restricted areas, lack of security and safety
verification during entry of military grounds, lack of security awareness, the
need for information security management and control, false reporting of
military inventory, and concealing the truth to mislead investigations.
MND officials addressed these shortcomings by listing
several actions including the review of current management and inspection
procedures across all branches of the military to reform regulations and safeguards.
Defense Minister Apologizes, Vows Thorough Investigation
Minister of National Defense Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻) who made an unannounced visit near the end of the press
conference apologized to the nation and promised to spare no one involved in
the scandal in ongoing investigations. Kao further detailed the formation of a
committee to foresee the investigations, to be lead by Deputy Defense Minister
Liu Chen-wu (劉震武).
MND Cold on Janet Lee's Volunteer Offer
Responding to Janet Lee's (李蒨蓉) offer to become a
volunteer following her recent remarks regretting her actions in the scandal in
order to repair the damage done to the military's reputation, spokesman Luo
stated that he hoped Lee's feelings of regret were genuine, and that there are
many avenues of volunteering that do not involve national defense.
Structure of the lead:
WHO- Chiu Kuo-cheng
WHEN- yesterday
WHAT- Chiu has taken disciplinary action
upon himself following the scandal.
WHY- not given
WHERE- Taipei
HOW- The pilots brought some unauthorized
tours to visit a sensitive military craft.
Key words:
1.unauthorized 未經授權的
2.disciplinary actions 紀律處分
3.accrue demerit 累積計過
4.provision 規定
5.safety verification 安全驗證
6.inspection procedure 檢查程序
7.call on 呼籲
8.discharge 解雇
9.address 向...提出
10.cockpit 駕駛艙
2.disciplinary actions 紀律處分
3.accrue demerit 累積計過
4.provision 規定
5.safety verification 安全驗證
6.inspection procedure 檢查程序
7.call on 呼籲
8.discharge 解雇
9.address 向...提出
10.cockpit 駕駛艙
I think this event is too exaggerated that the military has had too many scandals so far, and the officials should re-examine the internal management and system and redrafting the relevant statute or regulation.The military should get guilty people duly punished, and explain clearly the truth of other events such as 洪仲丘 event and 簡志龍 event.
回覆刪除I couldn't believe that when it happened, because it was too exaggerated. I think the military should reflect their system to prevent others from making the same mistakes. And strengthen internal management.
回覆刪除Our government spent so much money on training these people, but they despise their right. They are soldiers whose responsibility is to protect our safety. Though this scandal, we can know that our country is not as safe as we have imagined.
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