22 Lawmakers Oppose Military Contingent for Iraq

Twenty-two lawmakers from both sides of the aisle decided at a breakfast meeting on June 4 to jointly propose an “advisory resolution” for the suspension of the dispatch of troops to Iraq and a thorough review of the approval of the Iraq contingent.

While the advisory resolution has no legislative cohesiveness, and while the opposition of the leaders of the ruling as well as opposition parties does not bode well for its passage, the proposal of the resolution itself will initiate another round of debate in the National Assembly about Korea’s sending additional troops to Iraq, possibly raising diplomatic controversy.

The proposal, the first-of-its kind effort jointly made by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, also will likely affect how debates will be initiated and concluded on many urgent issues such as the revision of the National Security Law.

“The war in Iraq is unjust,” speakers said at the breakfast meeting hosted by National Action Against the War, an NGO, in the National Assembly. “Given what’s going on there, peaceful support for the reparation of Iraq is out of the question.”

They said, “We will set in motion a resolution demanding the suspension of troop deployments to Iraq and a through review of the approval of the Iraq contingent.”

They agreed to a National Assembly hearing on the Iraq contingent. The lawmakers and activists agreed to hold a conference on June 10 for lawmakers and NGO members to launch a Solitary Conference for Lawmakers and NGOs

“We should rise above partisan interest and become united as far as urgent national issues are concerned,” said Rep Kim Won-wung of the Uri Party, “As 15-20 Uri lawmakers are likely join our effort, we can initiate discussions to change the party line [about the war].”

Uri Party floor leader Chun Jung-bae ended up saying, “We will address major issues such as Korea’s dispatch of troops to Iraq after collecting opinions from lawmakers.”

“The government has worked on sending troops to Iraq to support peaceful reconstruction efforts there after winning approval from the National Assembly and the people,” a Presidential aide said. “While we will open our ears to a variety of debates that are going on about the war among politicians, we hope they understand the difficulty and the predicament the government had to face in making a decision for the sake of the national interest.”

“Our promise to send troops to Iraq is well known in the international community,” a senior official at the defense department said. We are in the final stage of shipping out soldiers. It is too risky to reconsider the dispatch.” He added, “It is time to discuss about safe and effective ways to support Iraqi reconstruction efforts.”

Hoon Lee Jong-Koo Yoon dreamland@donga.com jkmas@donga.com