Jang Donghyuk: "Will Begin Hunger Strike to Urge Acceptance of Special Prosecutor"
On January 15, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, announced that he would begin a hunger strike to urge the acceptance of a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of nomination fund scandals and receipt of money from the Unification Church by the Democratic Party of Korea.
At a rally held by the People Power Party in the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall that day, Jang stated, "I hope that through this hunger strike, the Democratic Party’s lawlessness will be conveyed to the public with an even stronger voice."
The Democratic Party is planning to introduce a second comprehensive special prosecutor bill, following the three major special prosecutor bills (on insurrection, Kim Keonhee, and Private Chae), at the National Assembly plenary session that day. In response, the People Power Party maintains that resolving issues related to the Unification Church special prosecutor bill, which it jointly proposed with the Reform Party, should take priority. The Democratic Party has warned that if the Unification Church special prosecutor is not accepted, it will block livelihood-related bills through a filibuster (unlimited debate).
Jang emphasized, "The Unification Church special prosecutor must be introduced together with the second special prosecutor bill. If it is not, I will use any means necessary to expose the lawless nature of the special prosecutor bill and to inform the public that the special prosecutor bill advocated by the People Power Party has not been accepted." He added, "The moment Chun Haram, floor leader of the Reform Party, takes the floor as the first speaker for the filibuster, I will begin my hunger strike in the Rotunda Hall, where the voices of the people gather."
The People Power Party and the Reform Party have agreed to cooperate on a filibuster in the plenary session. At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Chun stated, "As part of the opposition alliance, we have agreed with the People Power Party that if the second comprehensive special prosecutor bill is unilaterally introduced by the ruling party today, I will step up as the first speaker for the filibuster." This is the first time the Reform Party has joined forces with the People Power Party to conduct a filibuster against a bill promoted by the ruling party.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
