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Guard's suicide prompts calls for scrutiny

The government should immediately evaluate the mental health of all security guards serving in crucial posts where the president and vice president live and work, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator said, following the suspected suicide of a military guard at President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) residence early on Friday.

Captain Lu Tseng-hsiang (陸增祥) of the National Security Bureau was on duty at the presidential residence on Nanchang Road when he shot himself.

The officer was rushed to National Taiwan University Hospital at 8:35am, but despite several hours of emergency treatment, he was declared dead at 12:20pm.

Bureau officials said in a news release that Lu may have been suffering from depression as a result of a failed relationship.

DPP Legislator Sandy Yen (莊和子) said armed security guards who are mentally unstable and who obtained their jobs with the help of lobbyists, or who are not suited for the job, should be "retrained."

Yen said that the bureau, the Coast Guard Administration and other security agencies should establish criteria to prevent further suicide attempts or shootings.

Yen listed seven points that, she claimed, would help the agencies draw up guidelines to help monitor staff. They were: determining physical strength during drills; observing movements and sounds while guards sleep; inspecting the amount of food guards eat; listening to their tone of voice when they make phone calls; examine their luggage when they leave their barracks; and examining their expression upon their return.

DPP Legislator Lin Chin-hsing (林進興) said that presidential bodyguards are only human and are as susceptible to depression as anyone else.

He called for higher-ranking security authorities to pay closer attention to the personal lives of key personnel to reduce the likelihood of suicide by bodyguards who have access to weapons.

Hsu Li-meng (許立孟), deputy commander of the National Security Bureau's Special Service Center, said yesterday the bureau would not consider disciplinary measures until after military prosecutors have finalized their investigation and legal proceedings have been completed.

He also dismissed rumors that the scene of the suicide had been compromised before the arrival of investigators.

"Security personnel called the 119 emergency line immediately after the incident and the scene remained intact," he said.

Hsu further rebutted speculation that Lu committed suicide because of a heavy workload -- standing guard for four shifts during the day and two at night -- and that he might have been bullied by senior security guards.

While Lu was young, he was by no means a rookie, Hsu said.
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