Conflicts Mounting Within Uri Party

The Uri Party’s constitution requires that a regular party convention be held next February. Power struggles and party-line fights between pro-Roh and anti-Roh factions, and between factions that want to reform the party vs. those that want to unite with other parties will grow intense until the convention.

Those for a “new united party” want to make a resolution to break up or create a new party in the convention, while pro-Roh lawmakers are aiming at remodeling the party. The convention might become a platform for the two sides to part ways.

Pro-Roh Supporters: “Leave if You Don’t Like It”–

In a press conference at the party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo, 270 Uri Party pro-Roh members demanded the breakup of the Emergency Committee and urged the party to form a convention preparation committee.

They argued, “What the Emergency Committee led by Chairman Kim Geun-tae showed for the past six months was incompetence and dogmatism. It deepened conflicts within the party and the split between the party and Cheong Wa Dae, failing to reach an agreement on important national issues. No wonder our approval rating is so low.”

They emphasized, “Everything related to the future path of the party should be evaluated in the convention, and party members will decide on the party’s fate.”

Lawmaker Kim Hyung-joo said in a KBS radio program, “Those who don’t like home should leave home. I think those arguing the party has failed should leave.”

The pro-Roh protesters also announced their plan to have a “rally for the normalization of the party” in which about 1,000 party members will participate on December 10.

New Party Advocates Point to Survey –

The Emergency Committee made a final decision on how to conduct a survey of its members on the future path for three days from December 6. A member said, “We are planning to decide where to go after discussing and reporting the survey results to the lawmakers’ meetings scheduled in mid December.”

Uri floor leader Kim Han-gil said at a policy arbitration meeting held in the National Assembly this day, “When the President concentrates on handling national issues, he will be able to minimize his lame duck status and benefit the nation. The people seem to be irritated by the conflict between the party and Cheong Wa Dae.” Implied is Kim’s criticism of President Roh’s expression of his will to intervene in making decisions on the future path after reproaching the “new untied party” argument as a return to a regional party.

Kim asked for self-control on the part of Roh by adding, “December 4 should be the last day of Roh’s intervention with our legislative activities during the December session of the National Assembly.”

However, the Uri leadership and those for a new united party are pondering over few cards to counter-attack Roh and pro-Rohs’ aggressive moves using the convention as a cover.

Their plan for a new united party will come to nothing when the convention becomes a place to debate on the future path as President Roh declared a war against them while defining the new party as a “party of Honam.” Although the pro-Roh faction is a minority, it would not be so hard to govern the convention and drive it to a catastrophe. On the other hand, it is not certain for them to be re-elected in the next election when they yield to Roh and continue the current party system with him.

Another option is to break with the party. A problem with the option is that there is no good justification. Secretary-General Won Hye-yeong said, “The new party argument is basically creating a party of their own with a certain group excluded. That kind of party cannot be justified.” Lawmaker Kang Ki-jeong also said, “President Roh was right in pointing out that the new party is nothing else than an attempt to integrate with the Democratic Party.”

Another problem is that there is no center to lead them to break with the party. A freshman lawmaker said, “Who will follow if former chairman Jung Dong-yeong or Chairman Kim Geun-tae leads the way. I don’t want to be floating without knowing where to go.” It is very likely that those for a new united party will be hesitating to act upon their plan for a while although they are a majority in Uri Party.

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