The National Intelligence Service illegal eavesdropping case is being politicized. There is an abundance of all sorts of talk regarding political motives, goals and about what it will all mean.
The authoritarian governments of the past intervened in every major case that came along and perverted each one into something else. There were many times when the principle offenders were made out to be accomplices and accomplices were turned into principle offenders. That made it unavoidable that members of the National Assembly kept watch on what happened and that those cases brought political controversy. When the politicians collided over whether cases were being distorted or not the media called it "making it an issue of political contention" (jeongchi jaengjeomhwa), meaning that since public values were being dealt with the debates themselves should be respected. The term "politicization" (jeongchihwa), on the other hand, was used only when issues were pursued out of private interest instead of for the sake of the public.
If the Government of the People illegally engaged in electronic surveillance, the significance of that would be different from the eavesdropping committed by the intelligence agency when it was called the Agency for National Security Planning. Former president Kim Dae Jung was someone who faced illegal surveillance, torture, and even a death sentence, and that is why when he invoked the name of human rights and democracy as he led the Government of the People no one questioned him. It is not entirely impossible to understand when he is shocked and expresses disbelief at prosecution findings that suggest the NIS engaged in the same kind of activities that had take place under earlier governments.
The problem is that some in politics are trying to use his reaction for political ends. They are trying to use his feelings of being treated unjustly and distress to revive regional sentiments. The conservative media are taking advantage of the situation. All that has been reported so far is the results of the prosecution's investigation. The actual facts of the case will be determined by the courts. The right way for those who worked in the Government of the People to go about the situation would be to stop suggesting there is a conspiracy and instead actively cooperate with the investigation while waiting for the courts to issue judgment.
The Hankyoreh, 18 November 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Politicization of Eavesdropping Case Cause for Concern |
