Civic Groups Intensify Watch To Guarantee Fair Elections

Campaigns for the upcoming national elections officially kicked off on March 28, and civic watchdog groups nationwide intensified their watch over clean campaigns and elections in general.
The "Fair Election Practice Citizens Movement" council has put into action a group of volunteers from various civic groups at each election candidate's campaign office. The first to literally unpack their bags was at the Grand National Party(GNP) candidate Chong In-pong's Chongno offices yesterday morning. About two or three volunteers will take shifts to see whether or not the candidate in question is following campaign laws, for example by watching a candidate's expenditures on a daily basis.
An alliance of civic groups working under the banner, the 'Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice'(CCEJ) plans to scrutinize pledges and promises made by candidates and parties and denounce impossible promises or hollow posturing. The CCEJ will also soon post incumbent members of congress and their past activities while at the National Assembly outlining such things as changes in party allegiance or the number of motions presented to Congress on its website found at www.cyberngo.or.kr.
Not to be outdone, the 'Citizens Coalition for 2000 General Election' plans to release their final update of their 'blacklist' of candidates suspected of corruption or illegal activity on April 3. Civic groups alliance plan to co-ordinate efforts against those listed from becoming elected. The number of politicians on the blacklist is expected to top 80 names of which 62 have been heavily implicated with their election eligibilty in question.
The Election Management Committee(EMC) nationwide has formed a watch-group which will make public any illegal campaign tactics commited by this election's candidates such as employing paid audiences, vote-buying and bribery as well as slander or defamation.

by City, Nation Desk