FTA clash looms
The Hankyoreh | 31 Oct 2011
FTA clash looms
Although the final debate session was arranged by the ruling Grand National Party and opposition parties, Democratic Party Supreme Council member Chung Dong-young and Democratic Labor Party (DLP) Chairwoman Lee Jung-hee boycotted the debate to protest the GNP’s decision to pass the KORUS FTA ratification motion and cancel live broadcasting of the debate.
The parties were supposed to focus on the KORUS FTA investor-state dispute (ISD) settlement provision that grants investors the right to initiate dispute settlement proceedings against foreign governments.
Consequently, ruling and opposition parties have braced for physical clashes over KORUS FTA ratification. The Lee Myung-bak government made an official request to the GNP to ratify the KORUS FTA on Monday in order for it to take effect on Jan. 1, as promised with Washington.
The five opposition parties, however, will hold a joint general meeting of lawmakers to decide on whether to block the GNP’s railroading of the motion.
