GNP holds protest rally in Inchon; demands special probes

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has kicked off its anti-government struggle with the staging of a massive outdoor rally in Bupyeong, Inchon, attended by party president Lee Hoi-Chang and more than 5,000 party members. The extra-parliamentary rally signals the beginning of a fierce campaign against the Kim Dae-Jung government`s alleged interference in the probes of ruling party lawmakers` illegal campaign financing during the April 13 general elections.

Lee contended in a speech that the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) rigged the election race, coached its lawmakers to falsify their financial reports to the election management committees and even conspired with the state prosecution so more than 10 MDP lawmakers could avoid indictments. Nevertheless, He added, President Kim has not only failed to rectify this threat to national order but is defending the offenders concerned.

The opposition leader asserted that if President Kim refuses to comply with the public`s demand to shed light on the truth, he will face unimaginable resistance from the people, adding that Kim should take full responsibility for the chaotic national situation that would result.

Rep. Choi Byung-Yul, the chief of the GNP`s special committee to investigate election misconduct, said that illegal campaigns had been perpetrated by the ruling party in many districts in the metropolitan areas of Seoul, Inchon and Gyeonggi Province, but the prosecution engaged only in biased and discriminative probes against opposition lawmakers. To correct this wrongdoing, parliamentary investigations must be conducted and a special prosecutor appointed, he claimed.

Following the protest rally, Lee and the party members, as well as other participants in the meeting, marched toward Bupyeong Railway Station from the rally site. The GNP is considering holding a similar anti-government rally in Seoul, instead of Suwon September 7 as planned, in order to turn up the pressure on the government.

Meanwhile, MDP secretary general Kim Ok-Doo criticized the opposition GNP for focusing on staging demonstrations and neglecting its duty to address issues that directly affect the people`s livelihood, urging GNP lawmakers to return to the National Assembly as soon as possible.