Special Prosecutor Needed to Clear Up Slush Funds Case, Party Leader Says

In a New Year's address, the leader of the opposition, Lee Hoi-chang, said Tuesday that the appointment of an impartial special prosecutor was needed to clear up the case involving billions of won that flowed to political parties from the national intelligence agency before the1996 elections .

"A special prosecutor is the only way to the truth, " said
Mr. Lee, who is president of the opposition, the Grand National
Party. "The public does not trust the 'puppet' prosecution.''
He added he would apologize and take responsibility if a special prosecutor revealed that an misappropriation of the central
intelligence agency's funds did take place.

The opposition leader's speech followed sharp partisan fighting over an ongoing prosecution investigation into slush funds of the now-defunct New Korea Party. At the center of the investigation are allegations that an estimated 119.2 billion won ($92 million) of slush funds, passed by the spy agency to the New Korea Party under the administration of former President Kim Young-sam. The then-ruling party has evolved into the current opposition party.

Mr. Lee, however, signaled a tough stance against the ruling party even as he urged that it is time for the politicians to turn its attention to issues benefiting the public.

Pointing to President Kim Dae-jung's speech last week in which he vowed to create a "strong government," Mr. Lee said the president was creating instead a "politics of fear, targeting the press and the opposition."

The opposition took its fight against the ruling party to the
streets in earnest on Tuesday, starting with a outdoor rally in
Pusan which will be followed by outdoor rallies in Taejon on
Wednesday and Masan, South Kyongsang province on Thursday.

by Lee Soo-ho