30,000 Taiwanese protest after 'abused' soldier dies
Ma Ying-jeou facing growing popular unrest after corporal dies under suspicious circumstances and economy fails to improve
More than 30,000 people yesterday protested in Taipei, demanding justice for a corporal who died after being allegedly abused in the military by his superiors.
The case has sparked public outrage over the military's controversial punishment system amid mounting criticism of the government of President Ma Ying-jeou for failing to protect human rights, which he had vowed to uphold.
Holding placards reading; "We want the truth" and "Punish the perpetrators", the protesters rallied outside the Defence Ministry building. They sang spoof military songs mocking the ministry for imposing improper punishments on military conscripts.
"With so many people coming here to demand truth, President Ma and Defence Minister Kao Hua-chu should heed their voices so that justice can be upheld," said the corporal's uncle in the protest. The protesters included parents whose sons had died, through alleged abuses or accidents, while they were serving in the military.
Hung Chung-chiu, 24, died on July 4 from what his brigade said was "heatstroke", which he suffered while he was in solitary confinement just three days before his discharge from the army.
He was sent to the brig on June 28 for violating military rules by carrying a camera-equipped cell phone.