By Jun Ji-hye
A debate on whether to pass a number of long-dormant anti-terrorism bills was reignited between the rival parties, Monday, following the terrorist attacks on Paris that killed over 130 people.
First submitted to the National Assembly 14 years ago soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the bills have been pending due to wide differences on their content between the rival parties.
The ruling Saenuri Party said that the long-awaited anti-terrorism legislation, which would provide the National Intelligence Service (NIS) with a control tower role for the prevention of terrorism, should be passed this time, citing the events in Paris as the reason to do so.
But the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) expressed concern that such bills will only give the NIS superpowers outside the law that will enable the agency to carry out surveillance of civilians.
A total of five bills, all submitted by Saenuri Party lawmakers, are currently pending at the 19th National Assembly ― mostly calling for the establishment of a counter-terrorism center at the NIS which will be assigned the mission to collect information on individuals considered to be security risks.
Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung said at a party meeting that Korea is not safe from terrorist threats, so anti-terrorism laws are essential.
“The government and the ruling party will hold a joint consultation about the matter Wednesday,” he said. “I urge the NPAD to cooperate in passing the bills.”
Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Won Yoo-chul also blamed the largest opposition party, saying, “Saenuri Party lawmakers have already submitted the relevant bills but the proper debate hasn’t started yet due to the NPAD’s opposition.”
In response, the NPAD made it clear that it disagreed with the idea of putting the spy agency at the center of the anti-terrorism mission, apparently mindful of a previous case that the NIS meddled in the 2012 presidential election by launching a smear campaign against opposition candidate Rep. Moon Jae-in, now the NPAD chairman, in order to sway public sentiment in favor of the then ruling party candidate, Park Geun-hye who was elected President.
In July, the NIS also faced allegations that it conducted surveillance on citizens ahead of that presidential election by purchasing spying software from an Italian tech firm.
“The government and the governing party are moving to make the NIS a watchdog agency that acts above the law,” said NPAD floor leader Rep. Lee Jong-kul. “The bills are designed to give the NIS all authorities of checking communication history and financial transaction information, and abusing its power and violating human rights.”
Rep. Lee added that the NIS is believed to have no ability to carry out the anti-terrorism mission when previous incidents are considered.
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