By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Five opposition lawmakers and their aides have been indicted for brandishing a hammer and other implements at the National Assembly and assaulting or insulting governing party lawmakers.
The indictment comes about six months after they clashed with lawmakers from the governing Grand National Party (GNP) over the attempted ratification of a free trade agreement with the United States on Dec. 18. To block GNP lawmakers from tabling the FTA deal at a subcommittee of the Assembly, opposition lawmakers used a hammer and other tools to destroy a door to the panel room, which had been occupied and barricaded by GNP lawmakers.
During the clash, there was scuffling, individuals were grabbed by the collar and insulting words were traded.
The indictment is unprecedented, even though there have been numerous cases of violence in the Assembly over the last 60 years. The opposition parties denounced the prosecution for what they call politically motivated legal action. The violent scenes were featured in major daily newspapers worldwide.
Among the indicted ― without physical detention ― are Rep. Moon Hak-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and Rep. Lee Jung-hee of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) on charges of damaging public property. DP lawmaker Kang Gi-jung was indicted for obstructing the execution of duty, and GNP lawmaker Cho Won-jin for violence.
DLP leader Kang Ki-kap was indicted in January for obstructing the execution of public duty. Ten DP and DLP aides were also indicted on similar charges.
Moon and Lee have been accused of having destroying the door of the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee room and other property on Dec. 18 when GNP lawmaker Park Jin, the committee chairman, banned them from entering over the FTA ratification.
Kang of the DP allegedly blocked the room of the chairman of the Public Administration and Security Committee, while Cho is said to have injured a DP member after pushing him down on March 1.
``We have refrained from taking legal action on lawmakers for illegalities taking place in the Assembly, as we tried to respect the legislature's independence. But recent violent cases went beyond a tolerable level,'' a Seoul prosecutor said.
However, the opposition parties are challenging the legal action, claiming the probe was politically biased and the prosecution was lenient to governing party lawmakers.
DP floor leader Lee Kang-rae said, ``It's ridiculous that the party that caused the clash by ramming through a bill is left unpunished and only those who attempted to enter the meeting room will be held accountable. How can we call that justice?''
He claimed a reform of the prosecution is a matter of urgency.
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
|
경찰, 이태원 등 외국인 밀집지역 특별관리
