hankyoreh

By Park Seung-heon, reporter, Jung Dae-ha and Song In-geol, Gwangju and Daejeon correspondents

With the scheduled parliamentary investigation into allegations about election interference by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in danger of running aground, civic groups and religious organizations are expressing their frustration about the slow progress of the parliamentary investigation with greater intensity.

The Coalition of Civic Groups for Learning the Truth about the National Intelligence Service’s Political Scheming and Interference in the Election and about Allegations of a Cover Up held a press conference on August 1 at Zelkova Hall, operated by People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), in Seoul’s Jongno district.

“We denounce the Saenuri Party [NFP] for trying to block the parliamentary investigation from going forward. The period of the investigation must be extended,” the gathering said.

The gathering also said that President Park Geun-hye should make a statement taking responsibility, and that the government should consider assigning a special prosecutor to the case.

The gathering said that it was planning to hold a large candlelight vigil at 7 pm on August 3 at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul, explaining that “the task of getting to the bottom of the NIS scandal and reforming the NIS can no longer be left to politicians.”

On the afternoon of August 1, members of Korean Solidarity against Disability Discrimination (SADD) gathered at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul to read a political manifesto denouncing the NIS’s interference in the election, which it says violates democratic principles. SADD is composed of about 170 disabled people‘s human rights organizations from across Korea.

The manifesto, titled “We Want the Truth about the National Intelligence Service, Which Has Taken Democracy Hostage,” was signed by 418 disabled people and activists for disabled human rights.

“We ask for an apology from Park Geun-hye about this incident,” the statement said. “The people of Korea are enraged about this unprecedented example of democracy being torn down and constitutional order being trampled upon.”

In Gwangju, members of religious organizations called for the dissolution of the NIS. Representatives from the Protestant, Buddhist, Won Buddhist, and Catholic communities in Gwangju held a press conference on August 1 at Mujin Hall at the YMCA in Gwangju.

“The National Intelligence Service should be disbanded for violating the constitution and for destroying democracy, and Park Geun-hye should take responsibility for all of this by stepping down,” they said.

Jeong Se-wan, a senior Won Buddhist monk; Lee Yeong-seon, chair of the Justice and Peace Committee for the Archdiocese of Gwangju; Beopseon, chief monk at Munbinjeong Temple in Gwangju; and Kim Hui-yong, pastor of Gwangju Overflowing Church attended the press conference.

“While we may not pray the same way, we can speak out on the same issue,” the clergy members from four different religions said. “The National Intelligence Service forfeited its right to call itself a government organization when it deliberately violated the law in the 2012 presidential election. Anger about this is erupting in the candlelight protests.”

“Not only did the NIS fail to take responsibility for its shameful record of suppressing human rights, but it went so far as to try to manipulate public opinion. Since Park Geun-hye came to power with the assistance of the NIS, her government cannot be recognized as legitimate,” the clergy members added.

In Daejeon, the 9th Candlelight Cultural Festival for Uncovering the Truth about the National Intelligence Service’s Illegal Interference in the Election and for Protecting Democracy was held at 7 pm on July 1 in the Unhaeng neighborhood of the Jung district.

At the event, about 300 citizens carried candles and demanded that the NIS be disbanded. As they march to Daejeon Station, they repeatedly called for the dismissal of NIS director Nam Jae-joon and the dissolution of the NIS.

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