{"id":19575,"date":"2013-11-05T12:26:30","date_gmt":"2013-11-05T17:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theredphoenixapl.org\/?p=19575"},"modified":"2013-11-05T12:26:30","modified_gmt":"2013-11-05T17:26:30","slug":"south-korea-moves-to-ban-pro-north-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redphoenix.news\/es\/2013\/11\/south-korea-moves-to-ban-pro-north-party\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea moves to ban pro-North party"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Lee<\/a>
Lee Jung-hee, chairwoman of the opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP). Photo: Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A far left-wing South Korean political party could be banned from contesting elections for its pro-North Korean stance in a move critics say smacks of President Park Geun-hye\u2019s father\u2019s suppression of democracy during his long stay in power.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Unified Progressive Party (UPP), which holds six seats in parliament and has contested presidential elections, is widely seen as supporting the reclusive North\u2019s political aims.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty. North Korea conducted its third nuclear test this year in defiance of UN resolutions and has threatened the South and its major ally, the United States, with nuclear destruction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said a request to disband the UPP would be submitted to the Constitutional Court.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have concluded that the principles and objectives of the United Progressive Party are in line with North Korean-style socialism, which goes against the basic rules of free democracy,\u201d Hwang told a news conference on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe cabinet meeting this morning approved of filing the request to disband the UPP.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He said prosecutors had alleged that senior UPP members had plotted to \u201cstage revolutions\u201d against the Seoul government.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was not clear whether Park, who is on a tour of Europe, had endorsed the move. But last year, she described the views of two of its lawmakers as \u201cdubious\u201d and said they should not be allowed to serve in parliament.<\/span><\/p>\n

The party secures about 1 per cent of the popular vote in nationwide elections and small demonstrations calling for rapid reunification with the North are a regular feature in Seoul.<\/span><\/p>\n

Parties deemed openly hostile to the South Korean political system are banned, unauthorised travel to North Korea is prohibited and possession of North Korean publications is strictly controlled.<\/span><\/p>\n

OPPOSITION BLASTS MOVE TO BAN PARTY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But the main opposition Democratic United Party party denounced the move to ban the UPP as a threat to the South\u2019s democracy, which has been developing since the late 1980s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very regrettable that this unfortunate incident is happening for the first time in the history of our constitution,\u201d a party spokesman told a briefing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ministry of Justice launched an investigation into the UPP following a petition filed last year by an alliance of around 30 right-wing groups calling for a ban on the party.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis party fundamentally opposes the Republic of (South) Korea, and should be separate from (the concept of) political freedom,\u201d said Park Jung-soo, an activist heading the alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Park\u2019s father, Park Chung-hee, led South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979, a tenure marked by human rights abuses and the imposition of martial law, but also by policies sowing the seeds for rapid economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

UPP leader Lee Jung-hee caused controversy for referring to Park Chung-hee by the name he used while serving as an officer in the Japanese Imperial Army when the Korean peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule.<\/span><\/p>\n

The party has likened the current president to her father, using terminology that often echoes North Korean rhetoric.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuente<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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