Prof. Kim In-geol, flanked by other professors of Seoul National University (SNU), speaks during a news conference at the school, Wednesday. They urged the administration to apologize for a ‘politically-oriented’ investigation of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun.
/ Korea Times Photo by Bae Woo-han |
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
More than 120 professors at the state-run Seoul National University (SNU) issued a joint statement Wednesday, calling for the Lee Myung-bak administration to make an apology for what they called the politically-oriented investigation of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun.
They said the bribery scandal was ``a political vendetta'' against the Roh administration. The 2003 to 2008 head of state leapt to his death on May 23 while he and his family were embroiled in allegations of bribe taking during his term of office.
Separately, the National Human Rights Commission also issued a statement, expressing concern over the police's cordoning off of Seoul Plaza for weeks without legal grounds. ``We express concern that freedom of assembly has been greatly impaired,'' it said.
This is the first collective action by SNU professors in five years since March 2004 when 88 professors publicly objected to the National Assembly's move to impeach the late former President.
Another 68 professors of Chung-Ang University also issued a statement condemning the Lee administration ― professors at other universities are expected to follow suit.
The SNU group said the Lee administration abused police power, and oppressed freedom of expression.
``We demand President Lee Myung-bak embrace all citizens regardless of their political tastes to have a dialogue with them,'' said professor Choi Gap-soo at the school's department of Western history. ``The government and ruling Grand National Party should take opposition parties and civic groups as their partners not as foes.''
They called on the government to guarantee the rights of expression, assembly and association.
``Since the inception of the current administration, freedom of the press and its independence have been significantly undermined,'' Choi said. ``Pending bills designed to restructure the media industry have worsened the situation.''
He also urged the authorities to acknowledge the prosecution's fault in investigating Roh, and to make a public apology.
``All Korean people have suffered terrible grief in the wake of the tragic death of the former President,'' he said. ``Tears from numerous mourners mirror their concern over the country's democracy backpedaling.''
The professors at Chung-Ang University demanded that President Lee apologize for Roh's death and reshuffle his Cabinet.
Hundreds of Yonsei University professors are expected to issue a similar statement next week.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
|
아반떼 버리고 BMW 중고차 찾는 이유
.jpg)
