``Release the Jailed Newspaper Owners``

The Grand National Party (GNP) Floor leader Lee Jae-Oh announced yesterday that the GNP and the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) would submit a petition to the Seoul District Court on Monday, requesting to release the jailed newspaper owners.

Lee Jae-Oh said at the press interview, ``151 lawmakers in total including 136 GNP lawmakers and 15 ULD lawmakers signed the petition. Since this is the first time in which more than half of the lawmakers signed the petition, the Court is likely to consider the purpose of the petition.``

The petition states ``If measures to suppress the media, such as ousting of critical media, continues, its impact on the nation is concerned. Especially, the newspaper owners, who have been detained, are those who have faithfully carried out their duties as members of the press working for the democratization of the country and the people`s right to know. Since they represent no risk of flight or the destruction of evidence, they should be tried without detention.``

issong@donga.com