Dear editor,
In his June 30 article, ``Korea's Democracy Deficit," Andy Jackson raises important questions about Korea's political processes. It seems to me that the central issue here is that of the rule of law.
As Jackson notes regarding former President Roh Moo-hyun's altar, the police failed to reign in either group of illegal protesters. It is an essential, maybe the essential, tenet of liberal democracy that the rule of the majority and the protection of the minority are both guaranteed by an inviolable constitution.
Matters of policy directions can and should be vigorously debated. It is fine to voice displeasure with government policy and to advocate alternatives, but all of this should be done within the context of the law.
Using the state apparatus to suppress dissent (or attempting to operate outside the law to voice disapproval) is unacceptable behavior in a constitutional republic.
I would, however, distinguish the Lee Myung-bak administration's attempt to crack down on a blogger, ``Minerva," from criminal charges against MBC TV's PD Notebook over its reports on dangers of mad cow disease from U.S. beef.
While the Minerva incident seems to be a clear and disturbing case of misuse of state muscle to silence a popular critic, the case against PD Notebook looks more like a legitimate action against libel against the current administration.
The first was an abuse of power by the state, the second was an example of politically motivated activists trying to operate outside the law.
Not only does it now appear evident that PD Notebook deliberately misled the public by intentional mistranslations and distortions of fact. To make up for ``Korea's Democracy Deficit," the Minervas of Korea must be free to dissent, but such dissent must be limited to legal means.
Joshua Hastey
English teacher
Hwasun, South Jeolla Province.