S. Korean parliament in disarray after FTA confrontation

(ATTN: UPDATES with parties' moves in paras 4-8; TRIMS)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- Bills sat idle and doors were shut at South Korea's
legislature Friday as rival parties refused to make peace a day after a violent
brawl erupted over a pending free trade pact with the United States.
Denouncing the ruling Grand National Party's (GNP) move Thursday to unilaterally
submit the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) to the National Assembly,
opposition legislators occupied the Assembly speaker's office and declared "war
against anti-democratic" forces.
Determined to ratify the bilateral deal before the end of this year, the GNP
physically barred opposition lawmakers from a committee room where the motion was
put before parliament.
The move caused a major ruckus, with some lawmakers using hammers to tear away at
the door and force their way into the committee room, only to be stopped by
security officials blasting fire extinguishers. Those who destroyed parliament
property will face charges, the Assembly secretariat said.
Opposition parties vowed legal action to block the ruling party from moving
forward with the controversial motion.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) filed criminal suits against three
ruling party lawmakers, including Rep. Park Jin, head of the parliamentary trade
committee, accusing them of abusing their authority and insulting the parliament.

The right-leaning minority Liberty Forward Party, which often sides with the
governing party during disputes, said it will file a complaint with the
Constitutional Court to nullify the GNP's "illegal action."
"We will fight against the ruling party's anti-democratic acts until the people
witness our victory," DP floor leader Won Hye-young said. "Dictatorship will have
no grounds in parliament."
Ratification of the FTA deal with Washington, struck in June of last year, has
been among the thorniest issues dividing South Korea's polarized political
climate, with Democrat Barack Obama's election victory last month intensifying
the debate.
Obama has repeatedly stated his views on the deal with South Korea, describing it
as being flawed, especially with regard to the auto trade sector.
While President Lee Myung-bak and his party are pushing for immediate
parliamentary approval to bolster the government's market-oriented economic
initiatives, opposition parties say South Korea should consider changes in the
Democratically-controlled U.S. Congress before making any hasty decisions.
The conservative GNP holds an absolute majority of 172 seats in the 299-member
parliament, enough to pass the bilateral deal without opposition party
legislators. The opposition DP holds 83 seats.
The ruling party vowed to put the FTA a full-house vote before the end of this
year, as well as settle pending bills dealing with housing and corporate tax cut
plans.
"We do not have much time. Starting next week, all subcommittees will get to work
with or without the opposition party," GNP whip Hong Joon-pyo told party members
Friday. He also urged them to "stay in the country so that we are on hand for
voting."
Parliamentary subcommittees have been unable to convene this week as the
opposition DP boycotted the sessions.
Meanwhile, Assembly speaker Kim Hyong-o, who was forced out of his office by
opposition legislators, said he will launch an inquiry into Thursday's incident.
"Be ashamed of yourselves, lawmakers," he said in a statement. "The Korea-U.S.
FTA will be an opportunity to revitalize our slowing economy, but that does not
justify the violence that erupted in parliament. Those who instigated violence
will be held accountable."
The Korea-U.S. FTA is the single biggest trade pact between the two longtime
allies. It is expected to boost two-way trade, which totaled US$79 billion in
2007, by as much as $20 billion in the coming years.
While business groups here want early ratification of the agreement, farmers are
demanding sufficient countermeasures for fear they will not be able to compete
with cheaper imported products once the deal is finalized.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)