Two Oppositions Push forward the Subpoena of Prosecutor General

The Grand National Party (GNP) and the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) voted at the National Assembly`s Justice Committee yesterday in the absence of the New Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers to subpoena Prosecutor General Shin Seung-Nam to testify over suspicions of covering-up power-related corruption scandals, including the `Three Gates`, at the National Assembly`s Justice Committee scheduled for Dec. 5.

But a stir is likely to be created, as Prosecutor General Shin is known to have planned to refuse the subpoena.

Prior to this the committee passed the revision bill of Government Officials of Education to raise the retirement age from 62 to 63 also in the absence of MDP lawmakers and sent it to the National Assembly`s plenary session.

After voting, the GNP Floor Leader Lee Jae-Oh said, "It is against the Law of Testimony-Examination at the National Assembly if one refuses the request to appear as a witness." thus insinuating that the impeachment proposal can be placed if the subpoena is refused.

However, Lee said regarding the settlement of the revision bill of Government Officials of Education at the plenary session, "Since we still have many days before the conclusion of the National Assembly`s plenary session, we will try to settle it harmoniously by collecting opinions of the people and the party, and by drawing a sufficient agreement with the ruling party." meaning that the bill would not be settled at the plenary session of Nov. 29.

The MDP lawmakers refused to vote, requesting exhaustive examinations of the two bills, and walked out all together when the committee chair Park Hun-Gee proclaimed a vote on the revision bill of Government Officials of Education. Subsequently, seven GNP lawmakers and one MDP lawmaker participated in the vote.

The MDP Floor Leader Lee Sang-Soo said, "I will stop the passing of the revision bill of Government Officials of Education through the National Assembly`s plenary session at the risk of my position as floor leader." and added, "The party is planning to propose President Kim Dae-Jung to exercise the veto right or to call for the plenary committee before the plenary session."

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com