Unjustified Acts
By Kim Jong-chan
Political Editor
Lawmakers resorted to force again during the National Assembly session that ended Tuesday.
A couple of months ago, lawmakers of opposition parties and their aides staged sit-in protests in front of the Assembly's main chamber to block the contentious media industry-related bills, leading to skirmishes that injured dozens of people. A sledgehammer and fire extinguishers were used in the physical clashes.
After the incident, a man phoned a police station in Seoul and threatened to blow up the Assembly building.
But this time, the situation was different. Legislators of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), accompanied by their aides, took the same venue, calling for the swift passage of the bills.
A handful of people were injured in scuffles, including Rep. Cha Myeong-jin of the GNP, who was taken to a Seoul hospital for treatment.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and media industry workers have opposed the cross-media ownership bills, arguing that if the GNP railroads them, it will enable the ``big three" conservative newspaper companies and conglomerates to monopolize the media.
The two rounds of physical clashes over bills in the legislature may have been caused by ideological divides. President Lee Myung-bak won the 2007 election on the ticket of the conservative GNP after a decade of two liberal governments.
Another physical clash occurred at the Assembly last Friday. Rep. Chun Yu-ok of the GNP was hospitalized after sustaining scratches and bruises in an alleged tussle with female members of a Busan-based civic group. A woman in her 60s was arrested for the alleged attack.
Chun has called for the redefinition of 46 activists who staged a rally at a university in the southeastern port city of Busan in 1989 as pro-democracy activists. The group members were visiting the Assembly to protest Chun's plan to submit a bill to redefine them.
During the rally at Dongeui University, the activists, including students, reportedly hurled Molotov cocktails at riot police. Seven policemen died and 10 others were injured.
In response to the violent incidents that took place at the Assembly, the government came out with a stern warning Tuesday that anyone who interferes in or obstructs the legislative activities of lawmakers will face criminal prosecution.
For any reasons and under any circumstances, the use of violence should not be justified, as it ruins the nation.
Neither the GNP nor the DP had shown any signs of backing off from their stance on the media bills since they believed their success in the next presidential election in 2012 depends on the fate of the measures.
The GNP has sought to increase its clout over broadcasters since the impeachment of former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004, an incident that was said to have caused the GNP's defeat in the parliamentary elections months later.
Moreover, the candle-lit rallies last summer protesting the resumption of U.S. beef imports also embarrassed the ruling camp.
GNP leaders believed that unfair reporting by broadcasting networks, particularly MBC, created an unfavorable climate for them.
The administration has called for the privatization of two public TV networks, KBS2 and MBC, whereas opposition parties insist that the current media regulations remain intact.
In retrospect, the now-defunct TBC, predecessor of KBS2, was affiliated with the Samsung Group, which also ran the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper. The now-dissolved DBS radio was an affiliate of the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper. Both private broadcasters, TBC and DBS radio, were disbanded and absorbed into national broadcaster KBS in 1980 under legislation to merge news outlets during the authoritarian Chun Doo-hwan government.
The ruling camp says that KBS2 and MBC are public firms, but they are actually private companies, as both air commercials.
But opponents say the plan could undermine the independence of broadcasting.
Fortunately, the GNP is said to be considering disallowing conglomerates to own shares in broadcasters to meet the demands of opposition parties.