Civic Groups Plan Massive Anti-Impeachment Rally on Saturday


By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
A Seoul court on Friday turned down a request by the prosecution for arrest warrants for four civic group leaders for organizing illegal candlelight vigils held to denounce the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun.

``We’ve come to reject the arrest warrant requests as the four publicly said that they will turn themselves in for interrogation early next week,’’ a judge said. However, he said that the rejection does not necessarily mean they are off the hook.

The four organizers are Choi Yul, Park Seok-un, Kim Myung-ryol and Chang Hyung-chul _ the leaders of two civic coalitions of progressive and pro-Roh groups launched after the opposition-controlled National Assembly railroaded the impeachment motion on March 12. Choi also currently serves as the secretary general of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, one of the nation’s largest civic groups.

The prosecution said it would seek arrest warrants again for them if they do not appear at Chongno Police Station on Tuesday as they promised.

But prosecutors vowed to get tougher with those staging unauthorized night rallies, starting April 2, just two weeks ahead of the April 15 general elections.

The prosecution move came one day after the government banned pro- and anti-impeachment rallies that are feared to influence the outcome of the elections.

``The so-called anti-impeachment rallies could incite voters into choosing certain politicians and political parties ahead of the elections,’’ Ahn Chang-ho, a prosecutor at the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office, told reporters.

``Day or night, inside or outside, any rallies held under the mask of anti-impeachment are illegal and we are remaining firm on that view.’’

The coalitions reacted angrily and vowed to continue the candlelight vigils.

Clashes are feared to occur between protesters and the police, as the coalitions are planning another massive rally in central Seoul and other areas on Saturday. Coalition members said they would hold a press conference following the rally in Seoul to announce their future plans.

Despite the government’s repeated warnings of stern measures in response to illegal gatherings, the groups have staged night rallies in downtown Seoul. Police have said the rallies are in violation of the laws governing assemblies and demonstrations.

But anti-impeachment protests show no signs of letting up.

The government and police have come under pressure to take control of the situation after groups of government workers issued statements calling for the annulment of the impeachment. The government said it will take disciplinary action against the leaders of the groups because the statements violated the laws requiring public workers to remain officially neutral in political affairs.

On Thursday, more than 200 university professors denounced the Assembly and demanded it withdraw from its impeachment decision.

Last Saturday, an estimated 200,000 people attended the evening rallies staged in major cities around the nation. Police have focused on maintaining order at the rallies, but said on Tuesday they won’t let similar rallies happen again.

No violence has been reported, but songs, slogans and leaflets shared by participants denounced the Assembly and opposition party lawmakers who passed the impeachment motion despite the prevailing public opinion against the decision.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr