Military police commander praised

Entrusted with the mission of ensuring the security of the president and the capital, the military police have traditionally kept its distance from the public. But that stereotype is now changing, due to ideas introduced by a new leader.

The military police are now closer to the public than at any other time and have made changes to allow for a level of transparency never seen before.

Military police commander Lieutenant General Yu Lien-fa (余連發) is the man who has brought about the change.

Since taking command last February, Yu has introduced a lot of new ideas into the military police, which used to be the most mysterious branch of the military.

Improved relations with the press is just one of the changes that Yu has brought about.

For example, earlier this week Yu called a press conference to explain why the military police bought two new Lincoln sedans to be used by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) when he was reviewing troops.

Such a move by the military police, prompted by a "misinformed" news report, was unprecedented. None of Yu's predecessors had done anything of the kind.

At the press conference, Yu answered questions from the press like a first-line information officer and demonstrated his ability to communicate.

Last summer, Yu made a similar groundbreaking move. He invited the press to have a dinner at the headquarters of the military police command in Taipei.

Yu took advantage of the occasion to clarify misunderstandings by some newspapers regarding his invitation to President Chen to attend an earlier gathering of military police reserves.

Chen's presence at the gathering of military police reserves was interpreted by some pro-unification newspapers as an attempt to win their support in the 2004 presidential election.

Many of Yu's subordinates were quite impressed by their new commander's ability to think on his feet and handle problems quickly and efficiently.

Yu's crisis-management capability helps the military police win recognition from the public for greater transparency and flexibility.

Yu is generally known to have good relations with the president. Before serving as the chief of the military police, he first served as the chief of the presidential guard.

Yu is the first native Taiwanese to head the military police, which until now has always been led by generals with Chinese origins.

In the past, military police commanders were lieutenant generals in the army. Many of them, though not all, were promoted to three-star general after their terms in the military police.