[Editorial] Don't Give Convicted Politicians Pardons

Cheong Wa Dae and Uri Party are pursuing a massive pardon for 6.54 million people. That number includes politicians who were involved in collecting illegal campaign funds and other corrupt activities.

The amnesty program this time around reminds you of the special amnesty enacted by president Kim Young Sam in August of 1994, exactly ten years ago. What he did was render meaningless the accomplishments of his law and order efforts that he claimed were his greatest achievement during the first part of his term, doing so by excusing people involved in corrupt abuses of power. Then, too, the stated goal was encouraging national unity on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Liberation. The political situation is curiously similar. Just as Uri is staggering as a result of its defeat in the most recent round of by-elections, the ruling Democratic Liberal Party (DLP) was at a bad spot at the time for having been crushed in regional elections. This time as well there is no way there is no political motive, just like the motive ten years ago was to sooth the public opinion that had abandoned the ruling party at the time and seize control of the political mood with a "breakthrough move" to get beyond the difficulties.

So then, will there be national unity and will the country commence on a new beginning if this amnesty program that includes politicians convicted of corruption really happens? A brief look at past history makes the answer clear. After such pardons the country became even more divided and the corruption grew on a greater scale. How will the rule of law rule the day and the country stand upright when there is such a hurry to let people out of prison and forgive them?

It is even more absurd that some of president Roh Moo Hyun's aides are going to be included. Since Roh himself was the beneficiary of illegal campaign funds he is essentially forgiving his own wrong. It is sad to see him continuing the wrongful "common practice" of abusing the authority to grant pardons when his main slogan was to "depart from the bad common practices of the past."

The Hankyoreh, 16 July 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]