ID :
45572
Sat, 02/14/2009 - 12:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/45572
The shortlink copeid
Opposition demands special prosecution probe on deadly fire
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Opposition party lawmakers on Friday called for the launch of a special prosecution team to further investigate a deadly fire that took six lives during a police raid on protesters.
On Jan. 19, a police swat team raided a dilapidated four-story building in
Seoul's central Yongsan Ward to evict dozens of squatters opposing redevelopment
of the area. Six people, including a police officer, were killed in the blaze
that occurred during the pre-dawn raid.
Prosecutors concluded their investigation earlier this week, saying the fire was
caused by the protesters' mishandling of paint thinners used in makeshift bombs
and clearing the police of any wrongdoing.
The national police chief-nominee, Kim Seok-ki, resigned in the face of growing
public anger over the incident.
"A special prosecution team is needed, as it appears that prosecutors'
investigation of the police was conducted loosely in order to raise the
authoritative power (of the police)," Rep. Park Sang-chun of the main opposition
Democratic Party (DP) said during a government interpellation at the National
Assembly.
Opposition lawmaker Rep. Choi Jae-sung grilled Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on
whether the government would employ the same tactics as those used in the raid if
a similar incident occurs.
"Do you think that future raids should be conducted in the same way in the name
of maintaining law and order?" he asked.
Ruling party lawmakers defended the police decision to raid the building even as
they took note of the tragic deaths, blaming the previous liberal
administration's relatively soft attitude for encouraging protesters.
"The bad habits (among protesters) formed by the past governments' consistently
soft stance on violent demonstrations was the decisive factor in the crisis,"
Rep. Chang Kwag-keun of the Grand National Party said.
Rep. Chun Yu-ok echoed that view, saying the past governments under Kim Dae-jung
and Roh Moo-hyun were accountable in creating the tarnished image of the police
today.
"Swift measures should come out to uplift the honor of the police, which has
fallen (due to the fatal tragedy)," Chun said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
On Jan. 19, a police swat team raided a dilapidated four-story building in
Seoul's central Yongsan Ward to evict dozens of squatters opposing redevelopment
of the area. Six people, including a police officer, were killed in the blaze
that occurred during the pre-dawn raid.
Prosecutors concluded their investigation earlier this week, saying the fire was
caused by the protesters' mishandling of paint thinners used in makeshift bombs
and clearing the police of any wrongdoing.
The national police chief-nominee, Kim Seok-ki, resigned in the face of growing
public anger over the incident.
"A special prosecution team is needed, as it appears that prosecutors'
investigation of the police was conducted loosely in order to raise the
authoritative power (of the police)," Rep. Park Sang-chun of the main opposition
Democratic Party (DP) said during a government interpellation at the National
Assembly.
Opposition lawmaker Rep. Choi Jae-sung grilled Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on
whether the government would employ the same tactics as those used in the raid if
a similar incident occurs.
"Do you think that future raids should be conducted in the same way in the name
of maintaining law and order?" he asked.
Ruling party lawmakers defended the police decision to raid the building even as
they took note of the tragic deaths, blaming the previous liberal
administration's relatively soft attitude for encouraging protesters.
"The bad habits (among protesters) formed by the past governments' consistently
soft stance on violent demonstrations was the decisive factor in the crisis,"
Rep. Chang Kwag-keun of the Grand National Party said.
Rep. Chun Yu-ok echoed that view, saying the past governments under Kim Dae-jung
and Roh Moo-hyun were accountable in creating the tarnished image of the police
today.
"Swift measures should come out to uplift the honor of the police, which has
fallen (due to the fatal tragedy)," Chun said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
