"The purpose of fasting is 'internal use'"
"If healthy, support arresting 50-60 opposition members"
Regarding the report that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been fasting for 13 days, ate sashimi at a restaurant in Mokpo the day before he started his fast, following a rally condemning the Fukushima contaminated water on the 30th of last month, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, said, "I think it was good that Leader Lee ate sashimi, and I hope it becomes an opportunity for Democratic Party lawmakers to join in together."
On the 12th, Ha said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "The fact that Leader Lee ate sashimi himself means that the sashimi is safe. What I want to say is that I hope Democratic Party lawmakers also eat it together and post certification photos on Facebook or similar platforms," expressing this view.
He said, "The Democratic Party has been saying that there is a problem with sashimi because it is contaminated, that there will be issues with seafood, and that the public will be anxious. Until now, no Democratic Party lawmaker has ever eaten sashimi and posted a certification photo. Not even once. So I hope this becomes an opportunity for the Democratic Party to participate, which can alleviate the concerns of our fishermen and seafood businesses.
He analyzed that the purpose of Leader Lee's fast is 'internal,' aimed at pressuring the non-mainstream faction not to support the arrest motion. Ha said, "If his own arrest motion comes up, the non-mainstream faction might support it and he could go to prison, so the pressure is to not support the non-mainstream faction's arrest motion," adding, "Even with the arrest motion, if he says 'Please pass it, let's make it the party line,' it would be over, but now he talks as if he is giving up his immunity, yet all the surrounding top committee members are saying to reject it, the arrest motion."
Regarding whether the arrest motion will be passed or rejected if it is brought up, he said, "It might vary depending on the timing. If it comes up before Chuseok, it will likely be rejected, and if it comes up after Chuseok, it will likely be passed," adding, "If the fast ends before Chuseok, his health will recover after Chuseok, so even if non-mainstream lawmakers support the arrest motion, sympathy for Leader Lee might not be as strong."
He continued, "However, if he is hospitalized during the fast and they send him to prison in that situation, the criticism from supporters will be much stronger," and said, "If Leader Lee is in good health, I expect about 50 to 60 lawmakers will support the arrest motion."
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