The Free Citizens Alliance of Korea issued a statement Monday titled ¡®Does the Government Want to Fight Against the People,¡¯ which demanded the release of jailed newspaper owners. The group, led by Koryo University Professor Han Seung-jo, said the recently published book written by a Cheong Wa Dae correspondent revealed that the character of the government was ant-democratic and uncivilized. Professor Han noted the words of a senior secretary showed that the government believed it could get away with anything using its power.
FCAK also said that according to the book, the government forecast that the battle against the Chosun Ilbo and Donga Ilbo would be a fight for the survival of the government, which could be interpreted as the administration declaring war on the people as the majority of them subscribed to the critical newspapers. It noted that the harsh judgment of the public at recent by-elections was a direct result of the government¡¯s policy.
The organization said the fact that the government promoted the National Tax Service inspectors who led the investigation into the media, indicated that it was intent on ignoring the wishes of the people. Even if the administration¡¯s claim that the probe was to deliver ¡°justice in taxation,¡± was true FCAK said the arrest of newspaper owners, who would not destroy evidence or flee, revealed the government¡¯s true intentions.
It called the view of international society on press freedom was reflected by the fact the International Press Institute placed Korea on its Watch List.
(Choi Jae-hyok, jhchoi@chosun.com)
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