Several laws were facing their third and final readings on the last day of the current legislative session late last night with one expected to have a profound impact on Tai-wan's military structure.
The Defense Law -- the first of its kind in Taiwan -- has been hailed as a major breakthrough that could change the way the military is run.
"The law puts the military under civilian control," said Lin Cho-shui (
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"In the past the power of directing the military has been with the chief of the general staff. Now the power will belong to the Minister of National Defense who will have to be a civilian."
Until now, the chief of the general staff has been reporting directly to the president on matters of military operations, although strictly speaking he is under both the defense minister and the premier. The defense minister, by contrast, has only administrative duties.
"This is a huge system change," Lin said.
The most significant of the other laws expected to be passed include the Temporary Act for the 921 Earthquake Reconstruction.
After the devastating 921 earthquake which killed more than 2,000 people, president Lee Teng-hui (
The Temporary Act for the 921 Earthquake Reconstruction is to be implemented after the president signs it into law, and will be in effect for five years, at which time reconstruction is expected to be completed.
President Lee issued the decree on Sept. 25. It allows the government to bypass legal restrictions if necessary in its relief and reconstruction efforts.
The reconstruction law was designed to replace the emergency decree. In the meantime, when both the decree and law are in effect, the decree will take precedence should there be any difference between the two.
The law was applauded by lawmakers in disaster-stricken areas, but not without some disappointment.
"As a whole, the law will help people in disaster areas a lot," said Tsai Huang-lang (
"What is regrettable is that the law fails to take over the debts of those whose houses were leveled in the earthquake," he said. "That means those who are homeless are still obliged to pay their housing loans."
Four additional laws were expected to be passed last night. These included amendments to the law governing the principles of dealing with juvenile crime offenders, the law encouraging private sector inclusion in public construction, a witnesses protection law, and the Coast Guard Administration Law which should better coordinate police, military and customs agencies in safeguarding Taiwan's coastline.
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