[EDITORIALS]GNP should present bill draft

A confrontation is ongoing between the ruling and opposition parties over deliberation of the National Security Law abolition bill at the Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Neither side is budging. The committee has been idle for several days, and has become a battle ground of abusive language and jostling.
Chun Jung-bae, the Uri Party floor leader, met with the press yesterday. He said the bill would only be presented before the committee during this session, but the actual debate will start at a special session soon. He also said his party will open a public debate on the issue in the meantime. At first glance, his position seems to have changed to a flexible one. But Grand National Party officials say they can’t believe Mr. Chun’s word. He broke his earlier promise to not present the security abolition law at the National Policy Committee when the committee passed the Fair Trade Law. The opposition suspects that the Uri Party will not stop at presenting the bill to the committee and try to ram it through. Therefore, the Grand Nationals say they will block its passage by force.
Mistrust is the main reason behind the confrontation. In that sense, both sides are responsible for the deadlock. Both sides provided the reason to distrust each other. First of all, the reason for the Uri Party’s insistence on presenting the bill at this session, despite its plan to debate it at a special session, is not clear. If it aims to pass the bill at a special session, there is no problem in presenting it later; that is more natural. However, the party insists on presenting it now, even changing the chair of the committee. The committee leader of the Uri Party even mentioned the possibility of using force, fanning the suspicion of the Grand Nationals.
The Grand Nationals also have problems. The controversy over the abolition of the law has been pending for some time. Nevertheless, the party has a consensus on it. It says its amendment will be ready early this week, but it is not clear if the promise will be fulfilled. Without an alternative, it doesn’t make sense to insist on blocking the bill. First, the opposition must present its own draft, then debates on abolition, revision or keeping the original can be made.
There is only one solution. The GNP must present an alternative as soon as possible and start practical talks with the Uri Party. Both sides can agree to deliberate over the bill at a special session and honor their words.