By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) will deter the governing party's plan to pass a bill to allow the nation's spy agency to gather domestic intelligence, party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday.
Chung said in a radio program that he considered revisions of the law governing the National Intelligence Service (NIS) as one of the ``three bad initiatives'' that are supported by the governing Grand National Party (GNP).
The other two he mentioned are measures to allow police officers and intelligence agents to intercept voice mail and to punish bloggers who maliciously defame people through the Internet.
``We will stand firm against the three bills and make all-out efforts to prevent them from gaining approval in the legislature,'' he said.
GNP lawmaker Lee Cheol-woo submitted the bill to the National Assembly in early December.
``The goal of the revision bill is to help the spy agency gather, compile and circulate intelligence that is expected to have a profound effect on national interests and security in a supportive manner,'' Lee said.
Under the bill, the spy agency would be permitted to gather ``domestic intelligence when necessary for policy formulation.''
Sixty-one lawmakers from the governing and some opposition parties signed up for the bill.
Under the current law, NIS agents are only permitted to gather intelligence that is directly related to counter-communism, plots to overthrow the government, counter-terrorism and international criminal activities.
Critics say if the proposal is approved, therefore, the spy agency staff will have considerable discretion when it comes to the interpretation of the definition of domestic intelligence.
The DP opposes the move, claiming the bill can be misused for political purposes.
``We cannot rule out the possibility of NIS agents trying to take advantage of the legislation to monitor the activities of opposition parties, lawmakers and civic group leaders,'' said Rep. Cho Jeong-sik earlier.
Cho said the revision, as a consequence, could undermine the human rights of opposition lawmakers and civic group activists.
Meanwhile, GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo stepped back and said his party would talk more with the DP regarding what he called ``ideology bills,'' including the NIS revision bill.
``We will seek the passage of the bills after having sufficient discussion and negotiations with opposition parties,'' Hong said.
Hong made it clear, however, that his party will certainly pass bills to help overcome the economic downturn this year under any circumstances. The GNP controls the unicameral legislature with 172 seats in the 299-member Assembly. The DP has 83 seats.