Sewol families desperately seeking withdrawal of investigative law’s decree

Mothers of victims of the Sewol sinking have their heads shaved in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul calling on the government to scrap the special Sewol Law’s enforcement decree and to raise the sunken ferry, Apr. 2. The mothers also mentioned that they are not seeking financial compensation from the government. (by Lee Jong-geun, staff photographer)

On Apr. 2, the special committee that is investigating the sinking of the Sewol ferry adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the enforcement decree for the special Sewol Law. The South Korean government recently announced that it would be submitting the bill for the enforcement decree to the National Assembly.

Since the resolution comes four days before the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is supposed to introduce the enforcement decree on Apr. 6, the move is calculated to put pressure on the government.

In the event that the enforcement decree is passed, the committee is reportedly considering the option of carrying out its investigation with special public servants hired from the private sector and without the public servants assigned by the government.

On Mar. 2, 52 survivors of the Sewol accident and family members of the victims shaved their heads and called for the enforcement decree to be scrapped.

The full committee convened in an emergency session on Thursday at 9 am. A motion was brought before the committee to adopt a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the enforcement decree that the Ministry is planning to submit to the National Assembly, and the motion passed with 10 of the 14 committee members in attendance in favor and four opposed.

Sewol Investigative Committee Chair Lee Seok-tae (left) and committee members hold a moment of silence for victims of the Sewol sinking before their emergency meeting at the offices of the Public Procurement Service in Seoul’s Seocho district, Apr. 2. (Newsis)

In the resolution, the special committee listed several reasons why the Ministry ought to withdraw the enforcement decree: because it would narrow the scope of the committee’s work, which would contradict the intent of the special Sewol Law and the reason it was legislated; because it would interfere with the investigation; and because there are concerns that it could compromise the special committee’s autonomy.

With Lee Seok-tae, chair of the special committee, informing President Park Geun-hye and the government that the committee could take a “grave decision,” the committee is planning to focus on pushing for the withdrawal of the enforcement decree during the time that remains.

“While there is not much time before the bill is introduced, we believe that the government will respect the wishes of the special committee,” said Kwon Yeong-bin, a standing member of the committee.

During the process of adopting the resolution, there was sharp disagreement between the committee members nominated by the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) and those nominated by the ruling Saenuri Party (NFP).

“If the bill is withdrawn now, when are they going to introduce the bill to organize the investigation? The government bill reduces the staff from 120 to 90 people, but since the reduction mostly eliminates paper pushers, it may actually be a change for the better,” said Hwang Jeon-won, a committee member who was nominated by the Saenuri Party.

“90 people is by no means a small staff. Since it’s urgent that we get on with the work, let’s start with 90 and we can add more workers when the work demands it,” said Cho Dae-hwan, vice chair of the special committee.

“The state and the government are not omnipotent; they can‘t do everything. We have to work with a limited budget and a limited staff. Some people are complaining that the committee doesn’t have the powers to carry out an official investigation or to charge people with crimes, but for a temporary body we have a substantial authority. We should also be considering the viewpoint of the general public, who are one step behind,” said Seok Dong-hyeon, a committee member who voted against the resolution.

Another committee member opposed to the resolution was Kim Seon-hye, who was nominated by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. “I believe that the government will revise the enforcement decree as much as it can,” Kim said.

But Park Jong-un with the opposition party said, “We can’t trust the good will of the government. The special committee began its term on Jan. 1, but the fact is that we still haven’t even gotten off the ground,” Park said.

“If we carry out the investigation and present our findings according to the government plan, will the public really trust them?” said Jang Wan-ik, who voted in support of the resolution.

Family members of the Sewol victims who attended the meeting of the committee fiercely protested the committee members who voted against the resolution, warning them that their “names will go down in history.”

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Spokesperson Kim Yang-soo said that the committee‘s request for the withdrawal of the bill was “embarrassing.”

“During the period before the bill is introduced, we will solicit opinions and revise what needs to be revised,” Kim said in a noncommittal response.

　

By Seo Young-ji, Oh Seung-hoon and Kim Kyu-won, staff reporters

　

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