[Statement] We condemn the NIS’s election scandal as violation of democracy!

[Statement] We condemn the NIS’s election scandal as violation of democracy!

 

We as the female worker denounce the NIS’s meddling in presidential election! It is an infringement on democracy.

 

A growing number of people are condemning ‘the NIS’s intervention in the election’ and ‘the police’s attempt to downplay and conceal the investigation into the NIS scandal’ and are demanding a parliamentary probe into the NIS incident.

 

None of the government, politicians, and the media has not performed its role adequately after it was confirmed that the intelligence agency unprecedentedly meddled in the presidential election.

 

Prosecutors revealed that the intelligence agents posted about 70 comments online during the presidential election. In the past six months, the police tried to downplay and cover up the scandal, but some comments were found to describe left-leaning candidates as North Korea sympathizers below unfavorable online postings for the ruling party. The former NIS leader Won Sei-hoon, however, was merely indicted without detention. Earlier, a document was found to order to overpower Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

 

The incident of the NIS, an government agency directly responsible to the president, is astonishing because the agency’s meddling in the election, which is the foundation of democracy, and interfering in politics violates the Constitution and tramples on democracy. Students, citizens, and religious groups have stepped up to issue statements urging for a parliamentary probe and have held candlelight vigils, but the police has suppressed their movement with tear gas.

 

Meanwhile, the NIS has disclosed the transcript of a 2007 inter-Korean summit and has attempted to distort public opinion.

 

President Park has not responded to the violation of democracy which was defended by blood and death, but told that the South should never forget the importance of the border, the Northern Limit Line, which was defended by blood and death of young people, regarding the release of the transcript.

 

The big ruling Saenuri party has denied the result of the investigation saying the prosecutor’s investigation has a leap of logic, and has claimed that the prosecutor was once a political activist. The party has gone to the length of these non-sense behaviors because it understands that this allegation may put her legitimacy in question.

 

An election is rigged if a government agency intervenes to make the ruling party have the upper hand. Moreover, it is more than difficult to conduct state affairs in the right direction when some claim that the president should step down.

 

A parliamentary probe is the minimal action that should be taken. The probe should reveal the truth and the people involved should be punished accordingly.

 

The Park’s administration should not forget the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of Nixon after Nixon was found to surveil the opposition party’s candidates by media coverage. The Watergate scandal was covered by persistent report of the media, but unfortunately the media in Korea today keeps silent.

 

We will no longer keep silent. We learned from experience that women’s rights to labor and live will take a step backwards when democracy is violated. We will let all female workers know the scandal and will defend the democracy we achieved. To make a democratic and righteous society, Korean Women Workers Association and Korean Women’s Trade Union will band together with people at candlelight vigils all over the country.

 

- Our Demands -

Launch a parliamentary probe into the NIS’s meddling in the election!

Conduct custody investigation and punish the people involved in the election meddling and the scandal cover-up!

President Park must take responsibility for the NIS scandal!

Ensure democracy that was achieved by democratization movement!

 

June 26, 2013

Korean Women Workers Association, Seoul Women Workers Association, Incheon Women Workers Association, Suwon Women Workers Association, Ansan Women Workers Association, Bucheon Women Workers Association, Jeonbuk Women Workers Association, Gwangju Women Workers Association, Daegu Women Workers Association, Kyungju Women Workers Association, Machang Women Workers Association, Pusan Women’s Association

Korean Women’s Trade Union