SKorean lawmakers brawl over US free trade pactDari Yahoo, link-nya ini.
SEOUL, South Korea – Brawling South Korean lawmakers
tried to sledgehammer their way into a parliamentary meeting room barricaded by
the ruling party as the National Assembly descended into chaos Thursday over a
free trade agreement with the United States.
Opposition parties were incensed by the ruling Grand
National Party's
move to submit the agreement to a committee on trade, setting in motion
the process for the accord to win approval in the legislature.
Security
staff and aides from the ruling party stood guard outside the room to
keep opposition lawmakers away after the committee's GNP-affiliated
chairman invoked his right to use force to "keep order" in
parliamentary proceedings.
Scuffles
broke out as dozens of opposition members and their aides attempted to
push their way into the office. TV footage showed people from both
sides shoving, pushing and shouting in a crowded hall at the National Assembly
building amid a barrage of flashing cameras.
Opponents
later used a sledgehammer and other construction tools to tear open the
room's wooden doors, only to find barricades of furniture set up inside
as a second line of defense.
Cable
news channel YTN reported that an electric saw was used to open the
door. YTN footage showed security guards spraying fire extinguishers at
those trying to force their way inside and one man with blood trickling
down his face.
The opposition attempt failed, and 10 GNP legislators
introduced the bill to the committee.
"This is a clear violation of law," the main opposition
Democratic Party
said in a statement, accusing the GNP of illegally occupying the
parliamentary chamber and unilaterally introducing the bill. "This is a
declaration of war against the opposition and the people."
Clashes
between lawmakers are not unusual in the National Assembly. Such
violence has long been cited as one of the worst ills of South Korean
politics.
South Korea
and the United States signed the accord that calls for slashing tariffs
and other barriers to trade in April last year after 10 months of tough
negotiations, though neither side's legislature has yet ratified it —
the key step needed for it to take effect.
The pact is the largest for the U.S. since the North
American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico and the biggest ever for
South Korea. NAFTA, signed in 1993, took effect the following year.
Proponents in both countries say it would not only
expand trade but further cement ties between Washington and Seoul — key
security allies who have cooperated on issues such as North Korea for decades.
Opponents
counter that it will cause pain to key sectors in both nations —
agriculture in South Korea and automobiles in the United States.
GNP
legislators had locked themselves in the committee room earlier in the
day to head off any opposition attempts to occupy the chamber — the
only place where the bill can be introduced.
After a subcommittee review, the bill would be put to a
vote at the committee before reaching the full parliamentary session for a
final vote.
The
GNP says it aims to pass the bill by year's end. The party has a
majority in both the committee and in the entire parliament, with 172
seats in the 298-member unicameral National Assembly. But the process
is expected to be tough going because opposition parties say they will do
whatever possible to stop it.
The Democratic Party
says the trade deal should not be approved until the government comes
up with better measures to protect farmers and others expected to
suffer from increased U.S. imports.
The ruling GNP says the trade pact should be approved
as early as possible because South Korea — a major exporting nation — stands to
gain much from the deal.
Amid concern the administration of President-elect Barack Obama
might ask to renegotiate the agreement, supporters of the pact believe
early ratification by Seoul could also put pressure on the U.S.
Congress to do the same.
Salam hangat,
Ibnu Adam Aviciena
Serang, Banten
