Emergency Press Conference on the Impeachment Crisis and Defense of Democracy – We will not stand idle with the crisis of democracy

In spite of citizens’ strong objection, the impeachment by lawmakers of Hannara and Minjoo has been passed. The two opposition parties, which have no concern about people’s opinion and nation’s security at all, committed a parliamentary coup betraying their lords in broad daylight. Their outrage, without any cause or justice, puts the country into turmoil and people’s anger is flaring up. We strongly impeach two opposition parties and the lawmakers belonging to them and declare that they are not eligible any more for representing the people of this nation.

The Constitution Court should end this chaos imminently by delivering a rapid and accurate verdict to this unconstitutional impeachment. This case is very simple in its legal nature and there is no reason to draw the examination for as long as 6 months. The Constitutional Court is to crush people’s unrest with its quick and clear determination.

We find the current crisis has been caused by the excessive power struggle of the dominant and opposition parties. We also judge this impeachment to be a serious challenge by the obsolete political powers to the democracy of the society. The current situation can be defined as old conservatives’ political coup aimed at subverting democracy as well as a fatal crisis of the democracy of the country. We now launch nationwide movement to hold back this parliamentary coup and defend the democracy acquired by our blood-shed struggles. We are also going to eradicate the old powers of vested interests which brought about the chaos.

At this moment, representatives of each social civic NGO are gathering to hold an emergency meeting at 11:00, March 13. They are to hold a representative conference in Mar 15 to discuss the concrete action plan of nationwide resistance to the impeachment crisis. We strongly encourage all the citizens to join this struggle to defend democracy and secure people’s victory.

March 12, 2004
People’s Action against 312 Impeachment In Korea
Participants: Total 246 Social Civic Organizations