[Editorial] Who`s to Blame for Drifting Independent Counsel Bill

A bill introduced by the Grand National Party (GNP), calling for the appointment of another independent counsel to prosecute the “summit-for-cash” bribery scandals and secret deals between Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il, passed the Congressional Justice Committee. Even the Blue House indicated it would endorse the bill if it made its way to President Roh`s desk. However, the bill was shot down yesterday. The Grand National Party introduced another bill under which the scope of the independent counsel investigation would be significantly widened. In the wake of these political maneuvers, a thick fog is beginning to hover over the entire political scene. Intra-party issues from both parties triggered the current dispute, and the South Korean electorate is displeased.

We have repeatedly stressed that our citizens are entitled to know each and every fact related to the secret deal between the two Kims. The bill killed this time was also unacceptable to us. Nonetheless, The Donga Ilbo urged the Millennium Democratic Party and Cheong Wa Dae to accept this, simply because we did not want to see any more of the political tug of war and war of attrition.

Our hope, however, ended as a pipe dream. The Grand National Party (GNP) attached one more item to the bill-North Korea`s bomb test. GNP leader Choi Byung-ryul explained that Kim Dae-jung continued giving economic aid to North Korea, even when he knew that the isolated regime was testing bombs. We believe, however, that he tried to calm down the resistance from within his party to his consent to the "downsized" scope of the bill.

Putting Choi`s case aside, it was the Grand National Party that passed the bill at the committee unilaterally. But, it was also the Grand National Party that killed that bill. The party, as the majority holder in Congress, should have known and behaved better. The party betrayed the trust and expectations of the people. Aware of this problem, Speaker of the House Park Kwan-yong pronounced that he would reject introduction of the new modified bill unless the two sides iron out the differences.

The Millennium Democratic Party, however, is not immune from criticism. It has refused appointment of another independent counsel for whatever reason there might be. It was the Millennium Democratic Party that caused this problem, to begin with. It seems that both parties are trying to toss the ball over to President Roh. We even suspect that there might have been some agreement between the two parties and, under the agreement they are trying to force the President to wield veto power. The two are co-conspirators who are completely ruining all bipartisan harmony.