The legislature yesterday made a sweeping overhaul of the military criminal code. The amended code greatly narrows the scope of the death penalty for violators.
Effective Tuesday, military servicemen found guilty of a crime will not have to undergo stiffer punishment than their civilian counterparts in times of peace.
"I'm glad the legislature made into law the reform package," said New Party lawmaker Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大), who spearheaded the change.
Under the new rules, the death penalty can only be meted out to those who resist the command to fight enemies and those who fake military orders or information, to thwart the country's military efforts.
Though many of its articles were obsolete and unreasonably harsh, the military criminal code, introduced in 1929, hadn't undergone any change since then, Hsieh noted.
It was not until 1991 that the Ministry of Defense started giving serious thought to reform, spurred by a desire to improve human rights for servicemen.
"Though not perfect, the revised military criminal code provides much more humane treatment for offenders," Hsieh said. "For instance, it allows military deserters six days to turn themselves in, apart from the provision of clemency."
The past years have witnessed an increasing number of military desertions, she noted, adding that many of them stemmed from emotional problems, rather than disobedience.
"Hopefully, the legal revision can reduce such incidences in the future," the lawmaker said.
It took the legislature more than an hour to pass the amendment, which has the backing of all caucuses and which must be enacted before Tuesday, as required by law. But independent legislator Liao Hseuh-kuang (廖學廣) interrupted the process by launching a boycott to protest the suspension of a bill aimed at flood prevention for his constituency of Hsichih.
The bill he sponsored is considered a pork-barrel project because of the huge sum required to put it into effect.
"I don't mind playing the villain for the sake of my constituents," Liao said.
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