THE People's Liberation Army is trying to further tighten internal discipline.
The draft Regulations on Punishing Errant Military Personnel being deliberated by the National People's Congress include the death penalty for organisers of mutinies and rebellions.
Army experts pointed out yesterday the move reflected Beijing's anxiety to ensure troop loyalty in the transition to the post-Deng Xiaoping order.
They said it was indicative of residual problems of discipline, which manifested themselves in the PLA leadership's failure to impose a uniform line during the June 4, 1989, crisis.
In presenting the draft regulations to the National People's Congress yesterday, Chief Political Commissar Yu Yongbo pointed out that they covered four areas of crimes and dereliction of duty.
They included endangering national defence safety, obstructing order in the conduct of warfare, adversely affecting combat power, and obstructing troop management.