Gov't vows 'stern' punishment for officials joining anti-gov't campaign

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- The government warned Thursday it would take punitive
action against public workers participating in an anti-government campaign, as
unionized government employees prepare to issue a statement critical of the
incumbent administration.

The expected statement will be the latest in a series of declarations by various
social and religious groups that charge the Lee Myung-bak administration of
causing a political and democratic crisis.
"There was a request not only to take strong punitive measures against anyone
involved, but to take such measures swiftly without waiting for the outcome of an
investigation or a court decision," Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for presidential
office Cheong Wa Dae, said.
He said the measures were reported at a Cabinet meeting by the minister of public
administration and security, Lee Dal-gon.
The government step, however, is likely to stir up controversy for enforcing
punishment even before the court makes a ruling whether the move is against the
law.
Lee argued that the anti-government campaign is a political activity, which is
banned for government workers by law and is punishable by up to one-year prison
term.
Some 210,000 government workers, or 22 percent of the total workforce, are
members of various unions. They represent 74 percent of the 290,000 public
employees eligible for union membership.
The Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said their anti-government campaign "violate the
spirit of the Constitution because the Constitution prescribes them as servants
to all citizens.
Regional offices of the government workers' union have already issued statements,
in which they called for an immediate withdrawal of "anti-people, anti-democracy"
government bills pending at the National Assembly, as well as resolution of
tension between South and North Korea.
The union said earlier Tuesday that it will issue a joint statement before the
end of the week.
"The government has decided that strong and stern punishment for everyone
involved will be inevitable," the spokesman told reporters.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)