Conservative Group Files Injunction Lawsuit Against Police Ban on Assembly
Government and Ruling Party Respond to 'Gaecheonjeol Assembly' with Zero Tolerance Policy
On the afternoon of the 15th of last month, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church is speaking at a rally condemning the government and ruling party held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As the government and ruling party announced a tough stance on the October 3rd National Foundation Day rally, the 'August 15th Rally Participants National Emergency Response Committee' (NERC), which received a notice banning the rally, decided on the 25th to file a suspension of execution lawsuit with the court.
Choi In-sik, Secretary General of the August 15th NERC, said in a phone call with Yonhap News on the 24th, "We will file a suspension of execution lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court on the morning of the 25th to protect the Constitution," adding, "The Constitution does not allow assemblies to be banned."
He continued, "Even if rallies are restricted, guidance should be given to comply with the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act's rules, but an outright ban is a behavior heading toward a dictatorship," emphasizing, "We will persist with the rally even if it means going to the ends of the afterlife." The organization led the rally on Liberation Day last month.
In a statement, the NERC claimed, "The Moon Jae-in administration's quarantine is political quarantine," and "The notice banning the rally on October 3rd violates the Constitution and is absolutely unacceptable. Participation in rallies should be entrusted to citizens' common sense and conscience."
They added, "Public authority should support the rally so that it can proceed while observing quarantine rules," and "We will fight to the end against the Moon Jae-in administration's COVID dictatorship by all means guaranteed by the Constitution to protect liberal democracy."
Earlier, on the 16th, the NERC reported a rally of about 1,000 people to be held on the sidewalk in front of Sejongno Small Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and on three lanes of the road.
The government and ruling party stated they will respond firmly to some conservative groups' intention to proceed with the National Foundation Day rally.
President Moon Jae-in on the 22nd said at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House, "Illegal rallies that caused the COVID-19 resurgence crisis are planned again, and fake news that hinders quarantine is still rampant," emphasizing, "We will take strong measures against all acts that undermine the efforts of the people who are working hard on quarantine."
He also urged restraint on rallies, saying, "We must not defend antisocial crimes that threaten the community's well-being and destroy neighbors' lives under the name of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at a high-level ruling party-government-civil society meeting on the 24th morning at the National Assembly to review the detailed execution plan of the 4th supplementary budget, "There are people who want to hold rallies at Gwanghwamun around National Foundation Day," adding, "They are precious citizens, but the government has clearly stated that it will never tolerate rallies at Gwanghwamun on National Foundation Day." He further said, "We will not tolerate rallies at Gwanghwamun for any reason or by any modified method."
Prime Minister Chung reiterated, "We will take strong measures as required by law," and "Anyone who does not follow the law will be firmly held accountable."
Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also wrote on his Facebook on the same day that some groups' withdrawal of the National Foundation Day rally appears to reflect the opposition of the majority of the people and the government's firm response will, but he pointed out, "However, some among them say they will proceed with a 'drive-through' vehicle protest. Holding another downtown protest is tantamount to ignoring the people's concerns and resisting quarantine."
He added, "It seems like mocking the people who cooperate with quarantine and endure inconvenience and pain," and "The police have announced plans to ban vehicle protests, seeing them as a potential source of COVID-19 resurgence. This is a natural measure." He emphasized, "The police should completely block protests regardless of their form and strictly punish illegal acts with a zero-tolerance policy."
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