ID :
39217
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 14:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39217
The shortlink copeid
(LEAD) Conservative lawmakers sound off against violence in parliament
(ATTN: ADDS remarks by minor opposition head at bottom)
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's conservative lawmakers blasted their
liberal counterparts Wednesday for staging violent protests at the National
Assembly, threatening to amend laws to oust legislators that paralyze the
parliament by force.
The National Assembly returned to normal on Wednesday after opposition parties
ended a 12-day sit-in protest to begin processing dozens of bills the ruling
party says are needed to steer the country through the economic slump.
Democratic Party (DP) members had barricaded themselves in parliament, claiming
the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) could use its numeric majority to railroad
the bills. The GNP holds 172 seats in the 299-member parliament, compared with
82 for the DP.
"We promise to fix the law to prevent the National Assembly from becoming a stage
of violence again," Hong Joon-pyo, GNP floor leader, said in a meeting of the
party's supreme council, describing the protests as "Hollywood actions."
He also vowed to refer future such incidents to prosecutors to punish lawmakers
who resort to violence.
Park Hee-tae, the GNP leader, also stressed that parliamentary violence must be
"put on trial" by the people.
Throughout South Korea's history, opposition lawmakers have frequently resorted
to sit-in protests to block legislation. Violent clashes involving sledgehammers
and fire extinguishers in parliament are not unusual.
Lee Hoi-chang, head of the ultra-conservative Liberty Forward Party, also labeled
the DP a "loser that trampled upon the spirit of parliamentary democracy."
He said that the Democratic Party tarnished the nation's reputation by resorting
to brute force and using sledgehammers and power saws in the National Assembly to
achieve its goal.
Kang Ki-kab, the head of the minor Democratic Labor Party, apologized in an radio
interview for his admittingly "extreme behavior" at the assembly.
"It is true that I engaged in actions unfit for a party leader," Kang said. He
had jumped on desks and slammed doors of the assembly's secretariat office.
On Tuesday, GNP's Hong vowed to present to the parliament a resolution to oust
the farmer-turned-legislator for his behavior during the voting standoff.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's conservative lawmakers blasted their
liberal counterparts Wednesday for staging violent protests at the National
Assembly, threatening to amend laws to oust legislators that paralyze the
parliament by force.
The National Assembly returned to normal on Wednesday after opposition parties
ended a 12-day sit-in protest to begin processing dozens of bills the ruling
party says are needed to steer the country through the economic slump.
Democratic Party (DP) members had barricaded themselves in parliament, claiming
the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) could use its numeric majority to railroad
the bills. The GNP holds 172 seats in the 299-member parliament, compared with
82 for the DP.
"We promise to fix the law to prevent the National Assembly from becoming a stage
of violence again," Hong Joon-pyo, GNP floor leader, said in a meeting of the
party's supreme council, describing the protests as "Hollywood actions."
He also vowed to refer future such incidents to prosecutors to punish lawmakers
who resort to violence.
Park Hee-tae, the GNP leader, also stressed that parliamentary violence must be
"put on trial" by the people.
Throughout South Korea's history, opposition lawmakers have frequently resorted
to sit-in protests to block legislation. Violent clashes involving sledgehammers
and fire extinguishers in parliament are not unusual.
Lee Hoi-chang, head of the ultra-conservative Liberty Forward Party, also labeled
the DP a "loser that trampled upon the spirit of parliamentary democracy."
He said that the Democratic Party tarnished the nation's reputation by resorting
to brute force and using sledgehammers and power saws in the National Assembly to
achieve its goal.
Kang Ki-kab, the head of the minor Democratic Labor Party, apologized in an radio
interview for his admittingly "extreme behavior" at the assembly.
"It is true that I engaged in actions unfit for a party leader," Kang said. He
had jumped on desks and slammed doors of the assembly's secretariat office.
On Tuesday, GNP's Hong vowed to present to the parliament a resolution to oust
the farmer-turned-legislator for his behavior during the voting standoff.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
