The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has asked the ruling Uri Party to stop its efforts to reform the intelligence agency. It wants Uri to give up on submitting its reform bill to the National Assembly, and have it work with the NIS on a "common response" to the opposition's demands. It is essentially pressing the ruling party to reject legislative improvements such as more oversight by the Assembly, which is strange because it is like watching a creditor demanding to be paid.
During the course of the most recent presidential and general elections many voters called for stronger reform of the NIS, and the political group that responded to those calls was voted into power. The country's demand for reform was a natural one, as the people believe they have been victims of its illegal activities. Politicians were victims too, so it would be safe to say NIS reform is something about which there is a national consensus. Furthermore, the indiscriminate illegal electronic eavesdropping that surfaced last year is evidence of the possibility of civil rights violations by the intelligence organization. Seeing how the abuses were committed even under the Government of the People, the NIS's behavior is not a problem of inertia or force of habit and it is now clear that the issue is a structural one.
Not a year since the NIS's illegal eavesdropping was revealed it is pressuring the ruling party to give up on reform, so you are left truly bewildered at the way it carries itself. Is it doing so because the current government is nearing the end of its time in office, or is it trying to capitalize on its political usefulness to maintain its vested position at a time of government transition, has it has done in this past?
The politicians are the problem. They have long promised voters they would abolish the NIS's right to engage in domestic investigations, collect domestic intelligence, and that they would enact stronger checks on its budget expenditures. Once they get in power, however, the politicians quietly backtrack on their pledges or slip under the agency's umbrella. That is what happened with the Civilian Government of Kim Young Sam and the Government of the People of Kim Dae Jung. It does not look like the Participatory Government of Roh Moo Hyun will be any different.
The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has produced its own bill to reorganize the organization. The ruling party, which had been so adamant about pursuing reform, has failed to even decide on an official party position. Is it forgetting how previous governments would fall for the sweet taste of having the NIS around only to find they were tricked as their time in power came to an end?
The Hankyoreh, 18 April 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] NIS Seems Confident About Gov't, Ruling Party |
