The Control Yuan yesterday praised the Ministry of National Defense for “having a sense of shame” by acknowledging it made a mistake in omitting former presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) from a ministry--sponsored comic book depicting the armed forces.
Publishing the results of his investigation, Control Yuan member Frank Wu (吳豐山) said the numbers of times heads of state were mentioned in the comic book has affected the military’s image, which is supposed to be non-partisan.
Eternal Glory was published in April to mark the centennial of the Republic of China’s (ROC) military, but Lee and Chen were noticeably absent. Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers also said the ministry had tried to flatter President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) by portraying him as kind and loving to the military and to the public.
The report said ROC founding father Sun Yat-sen (孫中山) was mentioned 58 times in the comic, former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) was -mentioned 21 times, former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) three times and Ma three times. Also left out was former president Yen Chia-kan (嚴家淦).
“Criticism leveled at the book was not groundless,” Wu said.
However, Wu did not motion to censure the ministry for what he said was a violation of the Administrative Neutrality Act (公務人員行政中立法) because the ministry had agreed to address the mistake.
“Neutralization of the military is a fundamental value in a democracy,” Wu said. “Despite a transfer of power, the military should continue to practice its allegiance to the country.”
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