ID :
38045
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 14:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/38045
The shortlink copeid
Partisan talks in stalemate over FTA, media cross-ownership
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- Partisan negotiations on resolving a month-long parliamentary deadlock and passing pending bills before the year's end hit a snag Tuesday as rival parties remained divided over a trade deal with Washington and media ownership deregulation.
Negotiators were to come back in the evening for another attempt at reaching a
compromise as threats of a unilateral railroading of the contentious bills and
use of force loomed.
Putting behind a violent brawl that made headlines in and out of the country last
week, party leaders met for the second consecutive day Tuesday to bridge their
divide and settle emergent bills aimed at propping up the slowing economy.
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o had issued an ultimatum Monday, vowing to
use his authority in clearing out opposition legislators from the parliament's
main chamber and putting emergent bills to vote unless parties voluntarily reach
an agreement.
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and its main opponent the Democratic Party
(DP) managed to agree on settling about 70 bills within the remaining two days of
this year.
The liberal DP, however, stuck to its demands to nullify an earlier vote by the
GNP which introduced the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) to the legislature
and to scrap a government-led revision to allow media cross-ownership.
"We want more than anything to end this deadlock and settle the bills that will
relieve the burden on the public," DP floor leader Won Hye-young told reporters
after afternoon negotiations between the two parties broke down. "But some things
cannot be overlooked for bigger causes."
GNP whip Hong Joon-pyo said his party has made "enough concessions."
"We will give up on negotiations and push ahead legislation if the opposition
party remains obstinate," he said.
The legislature has been in a coma since the conservative ruling party
unilaterally introduced the FTA bill to the parliament last week, with the
largest opposition staging all-night sit-ins at the main chamber and the Assembly
speaker's room.
Legislators physically clashed during the session, with the back door being
hammered down and fire extinguishers being blasted to break off the scuffles.
The DP claims all disputed bills including the FTA should be discussed and
deliberated again in February next year.
The DP's occupying of the chamber is a desperate attempt to stop its ruling
rival, which controlls 172 seats in the 299-member unicameral house, from passing
the bills unilaterally. The DP holds 83 seats.
Of more than 2,600 bills that have been introduced to the legislature since it
convened in May, less than 300 have been voted on so far. Some 300 will be
automatically discarded at the end of 2008.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
Negotiators were to come back in the evening for another attempt at reaching a
compromise as threats of a unilateral railroading of the contentious bills and
use of force loomed.
Putting behind a violent brawl that made headlines in and out of the country last
week, party leaders met for the second consecutive day Tuesday to bridge their
divide and settle emergent bills aimed at propping up the slowing economy.
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o had issued an ultimatum Monday, vowing to
use his authority in clearing out opposition legislators from the parliament's
main chamber and putting emergent bills to vote unless parties voluntarily reach
an agreement.
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and its main opponent the Democratic Party
(DP) managed to agree on settling about 70 bills within the remaining two days of
this year.
The liberal DP, however, stuck to its demands to nullify an earlier vote by the
GNP which introduced the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) to the legislature
and to scrap a government-led revision to allow media cross-ownership.
"We want more than anything to end this deadlock and settle the bills that will
relieve the burden on the public," DP floor leader Won Hye-young told reporters
after afternoon negotiations between the two parties broke down. "But some things
cannot be overlooked for bigger causes."
GNP whip Hong Joon-pyo said his party has made "enough concessions."
"We will give up on negotiations and push ahead legislation if the opposition
party remains obstinate," he said.
The legislature has been in a coma since the conservative ruling party
unilaterally introduced the FTA bill to the parliament last week, with the
largest opposition staging all-night sit-ins at the main chamber and the Assembly
speaker's room.
Legislators physically clashed during the session, with the back door being
hammered down and fire extinguishers being blasted to break off the scuffles.
The DP claims all disputed bills including the FTA should be discussed and
deliberated again in February next year.
The DP's occupying of the chamber is a desperate attempt to stop its ruling
rival, which controlls 172 seats in the 299-member unicameral house, from passing
the bills unilaterally. The DP holds 83 seats.
Of more than 2,600 bills that have been introduced to the legislature since it
convened in May, less than 300 have been voted on so far. Some 300 will be
automatically discarded at the end of 2008.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
