Rights watchdog urges gov't to scrap downsizing

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's human rights panel pressed the government Monday to abort a plan that would slash its staff by one-fifth and demanded a meeting with the prime minister.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security has ordered the National Human
Rights Commission to restructure and trim its 208-strong staff to 164. The
government said Friday it has notified the commission of its decision and expects
it to be approved at a Cabinet meeting on March 31.
"Restructuring of the commission should be decided by the organization itself,
given its independence," the watchdog said in a statement after an emergency
executive meeting. "The ministry refuses to disclose the assessment of the
organization. It should be open to the public, and the commission should be
allowed to review it."
The commission was established in 2001 to promote the protection of human rights
in the country. Although its recommendations are not legally binding, they serve
to induce self-correcting measures.
The commission has made a number of groundbreaking decisions. It called for
abolishing the anti-communist National Security Law that was abused in the past
to suppress anti-government protesters, repealing the death penalty and allowing
conscientious military service objectors to do alternative service.
Some of the rulings have run at odds with the conservative Lee Myung-bak
administration on politically sensitive issues. The watchdog concluded the police
violated human rights by using excessive force in cracking down on protesters
against U.S. beef last year.
"The downsizing plan will ruin the accomplishments that South Korea has achieved
in human rights on the international stage," the commission said. "It will
undermine the independence of the human rights commission, as well as South
Korea's international status."