PSPD in English Newsletter 2014-10-13   1443

PSPD English Newsletter : August 2014

PSPD English Newsletter : August 2014

This month at PSPD, Dreams we are making together.

 

It’s been more than 100 days since Sewol Ferry tragic accident but finding the truth still seems far away. Despite bereaved families are fasting demanding the enactment of Sewol Ferry Special Act, discussions are not making any progress.
The PSPD has focused on collecting signatures for Sewol Ferry Special Act enactment and poured all efforts to urge it in July. On the 15th, more than 70 PSPD activists, executives and members marched to the National Assembly and delivered signatures of 3.5 million citizens to the National Assembly president. Lee Tae-ho, a secretary-general of PSPD joined in a hunger strike on 18 July and continued till the 26th. During Noh Moo-hyun administration, a secretary-general and PSPD activists fasted one-day or one-meal to protest against dispatch to Iraq and demanded abolishment of the National Security Law. However, it is the first time having a nine-day hunger strike. In other words, an enactment of the Special Act is that much important and desperate.
On 23 July, one day before 100th day since the disaster, PSPD held a press conference urging a decision of the president for the Special Act enactment in front of the Cheongwadae and yellow umbrella performance at the Gwanghwamun Square. PSPD executives also fasted together with bereaved families on the same day. The PSPD also participated in 100 li (approx. 39 km)-March of bereaved families and citizens began from Ansan to the Seoul Station and Seoul square passing by the National Assembly on the 24th, and stayed with them surrounded by the police under the pouring rain till dawn. At present, four activists are sent to a situation room of the National Management Council for Sewol Disaster and fully working on probing the truth, candle rallies and monitoring the press at the civil level, and participating in discussions for the Special Act as a secretariat.
Along with Sewol Ferry Special Act related activities, each parts of PSPD have been busy during July as follow.

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● The Center for National Assembly Watch
▶ PSPD published an issue report showing most of National Assembly investigations carried out during the first half of the 19th National Assembly were failed or insufficient. (For details, see Tongin News)

● The Center for Judiciary Watch
▶ The Center issued a report on dispatched prosecutors to the Ministry of Justice from 2009 to April 2014 and the analysis shows that 90% of core positions of the Ministry have been monopolized by prosecutors. (For details, see Tongin News)
▶ The Prosecutors’ Office Act prohibits dispatch of incumbent prosecutors to the Chengwadae and it was also the promise of Park Geun-hye to keep that way. Therefore, an open inquiry in regard to this matter has been sent to the Justice Minister.
 
● The Center for Administration Watch
▶ The Center concentrated on monitoring appointment hearings for high ranking government posts. Kim Myung-soo, a candidate for an education minister gave up a position and PSPD expressed opposition stand against Lee Byung-gi, a candidate for National Intelligence Service president because of his previous political maneuvering. Besides, PSPD opposes an appointment of a candidate for deputy prime minister for economy Choi Gyeong-hwan who sticks to current basic economic policy of ‘Reduce and loose tax’ and Choi Yang-hee, a candidate for science, ICT and future planning minister because he evaded tax, and attempted to avoid violation of the Farmland Act by planting chili peppers in the garden. In addition, Jeong Seong-geun, a minister candidate for culture and tourism played with hearings with lies. Qualification of a candidate for security and public administration minister Jeong Jong-seop is questionable if he is appropriate for a head in charge of ethics of public officers.
▶ Jang Yoo-sik, a president of the Center for Administration Watch participated in a public hearing on <Injustice solicitation and confronted interests prevention Act> (so called, Kim Young-ran Act) hosted by the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly and he emphasized the necessity of strong punishments and extending the range of subjects for punishment.

● The Social Welfare Committee
▶ The Social Welfare Committee held a press conference and presented comments urging to withdraw advanced notice of revised enactment regulations of the Medical Service Act which allows establishment of profit-making affiliates of hospitals in despite of violating the Medical Service Act. Signatures opposing privatization of medical service reached more than 1.5 million and PSPD held a press conference demanding the government and the National Assembly to cease medical service privatization policy.

● The Committee for Fair Labor Society
▶ In relation to a court decision to rule Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union an illegal and a follow-up measure of the government, the Committee submitted an urgent appeal to a UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of association. 

● The Center for Peace & Disarmament
▶ The center presented a statement expressing concerns on arms race of Northeast Asia and held a national crisis discussion in regard to the situation that Abe cabinet of Japan has passed revised bill of interpreting the constitution as executing the right of collective self-defense possible. It also requested disclosure of information on current status of Korea-US-Japan joint military drill on 21 July. (For details, see Tongin News)
▶ The center held a press conference and demonstration in front of the Israel Embassy in Korea regarding Israel’s attack and genocide to Palestine which have shocked the international society. It also sent a written inquiry to the Korean Government asking its role as a UN Human Rights Council member state. 
 

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