Accusations of promotions for pay false: Chen

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday dismissed allegations that the military promotion system has been corrupted.

"The promotion process is transparent, open and fair. It cannot be decided by one single person or swayed by illegal lobbying," Chen said.

"Of course, it is not possible to please everyone, but such allegations are unfair to all members of the armed forces," he said.

"It is also a humiliation for all the generals, retired and still serving, if the promotion procedure is questioned or condemned by those who have not been promoted," he said.

He made the remarks at a military promotion ceremony in Taipei yesterday morning.

His comments appeared to be in response to an allegation made earlier this month by retired major general Tyson Fu (扶台興) that two friends were approached by government officials demanding payoffs in return for promotions.

Since honor is the "second life" of the men and women in the service, Chen said that nobody should destroy it on a whim.

"As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, I ask the public to support our armed forces because they are the pillar of social stability and national security," the president said.

Now that the country has transformed itself from an authoritarian regime to a democracy, the armed forces no longer serve one individual or party but serve the people and the country, he said.

Political organizations are banned in the military and service members cannot campaign for specific candidates or be mobilized for rallies.

Chen promised to dedicate the final two years of his presidency to improving the welfare of the armed forces.

He also called on the legislature to pass the special arms purchase budget as soon as possible.

"Strengthening defense capabilities is not aimed at provoking or starting a war, but at pursuing and ensuring peace," he said. "Only with sufficient defenses can a war be avoided and peace be guaranteed."

As national security is both the interest and responsibility of all political parties, Chen said he hoped that lawmakers could eliminate politics from their review of the budget proposed by the Ministry of National Defense.

Meanwhile, Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑) yesterday said that legislators were so obsessed with political infighting that they were ignoring national security.

The minister yesterday filed a lawsuit against KMT Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) for allegedly claiming that the reason Lee Jye had been promoted to Chief of General Staff in 2001 was because Lee Bi-chun (李碧君), a close friend of first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), had arranged for Lee Jye to meet Wu.

Lee Ching-hua said at a legislative meeting yesterday that although the president had always suspected Lee Jye of having ties with the KMT, he was promoted to one of the highest posts in the military after his meeting with Wu.

A ministry spokesman yesterday described Lee Chung-hua's remark as groundless and defamatory.

Additional reporting by Rich Chang