(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on July 13)

Making up for lost time

The Democratic Party, which has boycotted the National Assembly for more than one
and half a months, made a sudden decision to enter the National Assembly
yesterday.

The party expected that the public struggle against President Lee
Myung-bak will be further reignited by the burial of the former President Roh
Moo-hyun, after the ceremonial 49th-day of his passing.
However, the situation was different from what they expected.
Now, as criticisms are mounting about their long-term abandonment of the National
Assembly amid such miserable conditions as the economic crisis, non-regular
workers??? upheaval and cyber terrorism, the party???s popularity has fallen
again. The party seems to have considered that its persistence in refusing to
enter the Assembly may provide an excuse for the Grand National Party to enforce
the passing of some law drafts in dispute.
Their refusal was a sub-par strategy with no reasonable excuses. The party has
presented five preconditions for their attendance at the National Assembly: the
president???s apology for Roh???s death; censuring the prosecution???s chief
executives; a special probe into the Park Yeon-cha case; a legislative
investigation on the prosecution; and organization of the legislative special
committee on the reformation of the prosecution.
Their request for the president???s apology was inappropriate, and the
responsibility of the prosecution has nothing to do with the opening of the
Assembly. The rest should be resolved by deliberations. However, their
abandonment of the National Assembly for one and half a months will be recorded
in history as an irresponsible act by the main opposition party. Such dereliction
of duty will hereafter no longer be allowed.
The Democratic Party should respect the principles of parliamentary democracy and
cooperate in dealing with the agenda to compensate for the losses of the National
Assembly.
The party clarified that it will prevent the passing of the disputed media reform
law. If they mean to do this by an abnormal procedure - not debate, negotiation
and voting, but through a physical blockade - they are heading in the wrong
direction.
The party has presented an amendment overlooking the planned deregulation of the
media industry.
If the bill???s provisions and a subsequent struggle converge to prevent the
passing of the media laws, their attendance at the National Assembly should be
regarded as ???attendance in disguise.???
The amendment to the non-regular workers??? act, as well as the media law, should
be dealt with in a reasonable manner. This session of the National Assembly ends
on the 25th day of the month.
The regular session of the National Assembly in September should be focused on
deliberating over the budget and devising accompanying bills. If dealing with the
bills in dispute is postponed, the regular session will be influenced by
political struggles. In preparing for autumn, we should finalize our tasks in a
swift and mature manner during this Assembly session.
(END)