[Press Release] Statement on the Current Impeachment Crisis by the Korean civil society

– Dismiss the Impeachment, End the political corruption!

[Press Release]
Statement on the Current Impeachment Crisis by the Korean civil society
– Dismiss the Impeachment, End the political corruption!

March 12, 2004 will be remembered as a disgrace in the history of democratic transition in South Korea. The Korean civil society condemn the irresponsible act of politically motivated impeachment of the President by two main opposition parties, Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and Grand National Party (GNP). Following is our view on the impeachment crisis.

First, we condemn the corrupt lawmakers who have initiated the parliamentary coup de’ tat. Against the wishes of the Korean people, MDP and GNP averted the legislative process to attain greater advantages in the upcoming general election. This is an egregious political behaviour, and a clear abuse by the parliament majority without a justifiable cause. It is a brazen betrayal of citizens who elected them to be civil servants of Korean people and the nation.)

Instead of serving the nation, MDP and GNP pushed the country into a brink of chaos and turmoil. The Korean people question the action of the two opposition parties in violating the trust of the nation. Consequently, many people are raising their voice in unison for dissolution of the National Assembly since it no longer represents the people of Korea.

Korean democracy was hard won through people’s struggle against a series of dictatorships. Essence of Korean democracy includes direct presidential election by the people. The impeachment of the President by the parliament majority in the face of people’s opposition is a rollback in the democratic transition that begun with the 1987 citizen uprising. We will not accept the crisis in the democracy, instigated by the corrupt political power.

Second, we demand the Constitutional Court of Korea to dismiss the impeachment immediately.

Third, we call for a nationwide movement to defend democracy. We view the current crisis as a challenge to Korean democracy. Hence, people’s rejection of the impeachment should not be seen as the support for the Roh Administration. We put the blame squarely on the political establishment for turning their back on Korean people. We will move forward in our struggle to defend the democracy of the nation.

March 13, 2004
People’s Action against 312 Impeachment and Political Corruption in Korea