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&#91EDITORIALS&#93A critical Assembly hearing

Published: 21 Sep. 2003, 23:35

For the next couple of weeks, 392 government departments and agencies will be scrutinized at a National Assembly hearing, the first for the Roh Moo-hyun administration. The hearing comes against the backdrop of next year’s general election, and therefore has the potential to turn into a politically manipulated exercise.
Such anxiety is growing since the political situation has recently become more complicated with the split of the governing Millennium Democratic Party and the acute confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties.
The Millennium Democratic Party, which now has unpleasant feelings toward the president that emerged in the process of the party's separation, is not too favorably disposed towards the government.
We urge all parties at the National Assembly to restrain their political disputes and show a rational attitude in focusing on straightening out the existing policy confusion and state affairs. The critical situation we are currently in is too severe to allow an approach based on political expediency.
At the Assembly hearing, the policymakers must closely question the Roh administration on the time wasted in revising the previous government's policy and building a reform policy.
If the Assembly, with such essential state affairs at hand, were to focus only on the disputes among its parties, then it will most likely be criticized harshly by the public.
All parties must know that if they keep up with such bickering, it will only work against them in next year's general election because the public is aware enough to distinguish such situations.
The hearing should provide productive alternatives and criticize incorrect government policy.
It is also necessary for the government to cooperate in providing all the information the Assembly members request and answering questions honestly.
Only then will matters improve and relations between the government and National Assembly straighten out.