GNP urges legal action on NGO sending letter to UN

By Lee Tae-hoon

Staff reporter

Lawmakers of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) Thursday urged law-enforcement authorities to seek legal punishment on a civic group that sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC).

In the letter, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) claimed that it is unclear whether a torpedo attack caused the South Korean frigate Cheonan to sink in late March in the West Sea, given that no severe injuries from such an explosion were found on the bodies of the survivors or the deceased sailors.

During an interpellation session at the National Assembly, the GNP legislators labeled the PSPD's move as an act to benefit the enemy at a time when security concerns are high and tension is escalating on the Korean Peninsula.

They slapped the PSPD, saying legal action is necessary against the NGO for sending the letter to UNSC members via e-mail prior to South Korea's briefing on the result.

"Some dissidents are destroying law and order," Rep. Chang Yoon-seok said. "The PSPD's sending of the letter, which belittles the result of the investigation on Cheonan, was an infringement of law"

Another GNP lawmaker Lee Han-sung also criticized the PSPD, saying that the civic group is turning a blind eye to irrefutable evidence that supports a North Korean submarine's torpedoing the Cheonan.

"What was the purpose of launching the NGO?" Lee asked. "Why does it have to side with North Korea for sentimental reasons, trying to deny the fact that its torpedo attack killed our young soldiers."

Some other lawmakers urged the government to stop providing financial subsidies to civic groups that act against national interest.

However, lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said the government should not brand civic groups that are critical of the government.

"Civic groups provide checks and balances to government authorities," Rep. Suh Gab-won said. "It is wrong to assume that no one else but the government can express concerns on matters related to national security overseas."

Though conservative groups, including Right Korea, have been demanding the PDSP be prosecuted for sending a letter to the UNSC, experts say it will be very hard to legally sanction the progressive civic group.

The prosecution is looking into whether the group broke the National Security Law or if their action constituted defamation of the investigation team members.

Some observers say the group could be charged with defamation or obstruction of public business, if the letter turns out to be false and the group distributed it with the purpose of hurting the public interest.