[Column] The silence of the president

It is very curious. Who wrote the script to the "political folly" which occurred on Nov. 17 (Friday) at the National Assembly. The on-site director must have been the ruling Millenium Democratic Party`s floor leader. However, could there have not been a head director overseeing the whole picture from somewhere outside of the National Assembly Building?

There is another curious matter at hand. As the comedy was unfolding, where and what was the president of the ruling Millenium Democratic Party (MDP), the Korean President Kim Dae-Jung doing? On that afternoon, President Kim attended the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and returned home from Brunei. It makes one wonder whether the party president saw the "folly" by the ruling MDP representatives in the National Assembly Speaker`s office on TV. The ruling party representatives imprisoned the Speaker who belongs to their own party in order to prevent him from presiding over the National Assembly meeting. Perhaps in a melodramatic attempt, the ruling party had the women representatives take the front line, a truly bizarre political drama. Did President Kim see the spectacle?

President Kim has always been a believer of parliamentarism always supporting talks and compromises to achieve consensus. About two months ago, President Kim held a TV-interview carried live by the three broadcasters. He stated, "The National Assembly must be run according to the National Assembly Laws. The bills must be discussed thoroughly and an agreement reached by the members. Then, the bill must be voted on for adoption or cancellation." However, what must be going through the president`s mind as he watches the representatives from his own party acting anti-democratic and anti-parliamentary?

There is yet another even more curious matter. It is the question of whether President Kim had a prior knowledge of the plan by the ruling Millenium Democratic Party`s intention to use filibuster to stop the impeachment of the Prosecutor-General? Up to now, the Chong Wa Dae has stressed that it was the responsibility of the party to handle the contentions in the National Assembly. The current matter was not one for Chong Wa Dae to be involved.

However, could such statements be believed without any suspicion? Such impeachment proceedings are not some light matter but the greatest exercise of the power of check and balance. Such political ploys to cancel the bill, depending on the exact legality of the matter could have great repercussion throughout the nation and it would be a bit foolish to think that the veteran politicians were not aware of the fact. Then, could the party actually pull such a dangerous stunt without first reporting to the president of its own party?

Could it be possible that President Kim who has involved himself personally in matters not as important as the impeachment bill, relegated full responsibility of such matter to others while he turned the other way?

What is more suspicious is the response of President Kim upon being informed of the cancellation of the impeachment bill on Nov. 18th (Saturday) by his aide. It was revealed that President Kim listened in silence and did not make a comment. What does the silence mean? Does it mean approval for a job well done? Or, a reprimand for making it media circus? There is no way to tell.

Just as expected, the opposition party has refused to take part in the National Assembly, and Korea faces turmoil. Many have accused, the nation has been forfeited to save the Prosecutor-General.

Within the ranks of the ruling MDP, there are voices calling for the party reform. However, again, President Kim has kept silent. Last summer, following the railroading of the revision to the National Assembly Law by the ruling MDP and the crippling of the National Assembly, President Kim maintained his silence. If that is going to be an habit, many are calling for his resignation as the party president to allow him to focus more on his job as the Korean President. The party president is the top man of responsibility within a party. It is difficult to understand how the top man of the party could shikt responsibility and state, "That`s the responsibility of the party, (not mine)."

President Kim is scheduled to depart from Korea on Nov. 23. He will be attending the "Asia +Korea, China and Japan" summit. Even at such an advanced age, President Kim`s passion for diplomacy is unmatched. However, the public support for President Kim and the ruling MDP is at an all-time low.

According to the survey taken by Han-gil Research and the Na-il Newspaper published Nov. 11-13, the affirmative support for President Kim`s administrative affairs dropped to 34.5%. This was before the impeachment bill crisis. Last month`s survey found support by 46.5%. The more notable development was that for the first time since the inauguration of the current "people`s government," more people supported the opposition GNP over the ruling MDP, 33.1% and 30.5% respectively.

In early December, President Kim will once again go abroad to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Although the political environment may improve by that time, many predict the economy will worsen. By then the cold wind sweeping through the nation may not be as cold as the cold wind sweeping through the hearts of the people.