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| Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the minor opposition Justice Party lies on newspapers to demonstrate the average floor space given to a prison inmate, 1.06 square meters, during a parliamentary inspection into the Board of Audit and Inspection in Seoul, Thursday. Former President Park Geun-hye, who has been jailed while on trial over a corruption scandal, claimed her human rights have been violated at the detention center, although the cell she occupies by herself is 10.08 square meters in area. / Yonhap |
But her claims of ‘persecution' are out of touch with reality
By Kim Rahn
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| Park Geun-hye |
The change of strategy may have come because she is unlikely to get a favorable verdict in the trial, with her detention being extended recently for another six months.
But it seems unclear whether her playing the victim of political retaliation will work, because more and more evidence unfavorable to her is being found, and she has already faced strong criticism for denying all the allegations and attempting to cover them up.
Her new strategy was revealed Wednesday through a CNN report that the global consultancy MH Group, an international legal team representing Park, would soon submit a report about the Korean authorities' human rights violations of her to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The group claimed Park has been in a dirty and cold cell, which is also constantly lit so she cannot sleep. It said the 65-year-old suffers from various health problems including chronic low back pain, osteoarthritis in her knee and shoulder joints, and a rare adrenal gland disorder. She does not sleep in a proper bed, and this has worsened these problems, it claimed.
It did not specify who its client is ― whether Park herself or her supporters.
The OHCHR appeal plan came after a local court decided last week to extend Park's detention for another six months. Following the decision, Park said Monday she has lost faith in Korea's justice system, adding that she is a victim of political revenge. Her seven lawyers also resigned, and Park is virtually boycotting the trial.
It seems Park's side is trying to gain support and sympathy from international society by raising a human rights issue, instead of focusing on the trial here which she is unlikely to win.
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But such a move has brought much stronger criticism from critics here, who say Park has still not admitted her wrongdoing despite being indicted on 18 charges including bribery, abuse of power and extortion.
Correctional authorities also refuted the human rights violation claim, saying she is receiving the standard treatment of a Korean prison ― with some extra privileges.
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The Korea Correctional Service under the Ministry of Justice said in a press release Park is in a cell equipped with a floor heating system, a TV, a cupboard, a desk and a toilet. Corrections officers there gave Park two folding mattresses, while other inmates usually have one, because she complained of back pain, it said.
It said night lamps are lit so officers can monitor for possible dangerous activities of the inmates at night but the light is dim enough for them to sleep.
The size of her cell is larger than those of other inmates _ it is 10.08 square meters, which usually accommodates six to seven people. The detention center renovated it for her when she was jailed, and because of the renovations she spent her first two nights there in the correctional officers' night-duty room.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) strongly criticized Park for seeking public sympathy instead of taking responsibility for her actions.
"She called the trial political retaliation, and now she is seeking sympathy from international society," Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon of the DPK said.
Rep. Park Beom-kye also said she has four to six times as much space as other inmates, has enough furniture and received outside medical treatment at a hospital twice. "She can also receive treatment inside the prison any time she wants. The claim (of human rights violations) is unreasonable," he said.
"She committed very serious crimes but she and the MH Group are likely to package her as a victim of political retaliation."
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