TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of protesters in Taipei, Taiwan took to the street on Saturday, 20 July 2013 to demand justice for the death of a corporal who died after allegedly being abused in the military.
Demonstrators, who gathered outside the Defense Ministry, held placards bearing the words "Murder" and "We want the truth". Several sang songs mocking the military while others made a theatrical show of drinking bottled water—a reference to the fact Hung's superiors reportedly refused to give him water despite his repeated requests.
The victim's uncle Hu Shih-ho hoped that President Ma Ying-jeou and Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu would open their eyes to see this and listen to their demand. "So many people come here today to demand the truth," said Hu Shih-ho, Hung's uncle.
Before the crowd, Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Yang apologized for Hung's death. "I apologize to you all," he told the crowd before bowing briefly to them. "Please give the Defense Ministry a chance to correct previous mistakes and clarify the truth."
Local media reported that before he died, Hung was punished for carrying a smartphone into the barrack. He died just three days before he was due to be discharged following completion of his military service. Following this incident, four military officials have been detained by authorities on abuse charges, while punitive measures have been placed on 26 other staff members.
L CHANNEL NEWSASIA | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI
