448 Prisoners To Be Listed For Liberation Day Amnesty

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party decided Monday to submit requests to the Blue House and the Ministry of Justice for special amnesty and restoration of rights for 448 prisoners, including both political prisoners and politicians.

The party will also suggest dropping 148 student activists from the police wanted lists.

The special amnesty is in conjunction with the Liberation Day holiday on August 15 that celebrates the end of Japanese rule in Korea.

Lee Jong-kul, chairman of the party's special committee on human rights, said Monday that the requests will be submitted before the end of this week.

Among the prisoners whose amnesty is sought, 48 have been imprisoned for violating the anti-communist National Security Law, 110 for violating the law on assembly and demonstration, 96 for violating campaign regulations and 194 for other criminal acts.

The party is also seeking to suspend the arrest warrants on 66 labor activists, including Dan Byung-ho, head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. It is unclear whether they will be included in the list, however, since granting them amnesty would go counter to the government's policy on illegal strikes.

Political observers were critical of the ruling party's decision. They said it was recklessly handing out pardons and thereby infringing on the power of the judiciary. They also noted that the pardons are taking place toward the end of President Kim Dae-jung's term.

"All of the campaign-rules violators on the list are local government heads and local legislators," Mr. Lee said, emphasizing that the pardons are not intended to provide favors to influential politicians.

"We will consult the opposition Grand National Party before submitting the list to ensure fairness," he added.

Those granted amnesty this time will be able run for office in next year's elections.

Notable among the prisoners whose amnesty is sought is Kwon Young-hae, former director of central intelligence who was imprisoned in 1998 for abusing his authority.

by Kim Jung-ha