OPPOSITION MPs ended their violent 12-day siege of South Korea's parliament yesterday after successfully delaying a key vote on a US free-trade deal.
Democratic Party members had occupied the National Assembly since Boxing Day, fending off security guards who tried to drag them out last week in scuffles that left nearly 100 people with minor injuries.
The main opposition party ended its sit-in
after the parliament's speaker assured it the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) had abandoned its bid to ram through the bills before the new US president, Barack Obama, takes office. Hours later, the parties announced a compromise: to postpone a vote until after Mr Obama's inauguration on 20 January.
With the GNP holding 172 of 299 seats in the National Assembly, the accord is virtually assured of ratification if it reaches the floor for a vote. But the South Korea president, Lee Myung-bak, had wanted a quick vote because Mr Obama has hinted he would seek to renegotiate the pact.
South Korea and the US agreed to the landmark accord in 2007 to slash tariffs and other barriers to trade.
The countries' legislatures, however, failed to ratify the deal as their farmers and labour groups opposed it.
South Korean opponents says the pact does not protect farmers, labourers and others who will be affected by a surge of imports from the US. Delaying the vote gives the rival parties time to come up with a compromise.
But Kim Jong-hyun, of the Democratic Party, said the two sides agreed that the pact will eventually be put to a vote even if there was no compromise.
The deal to buy time ends weeks of deadlock that flared when the GNP unilaterally introduced the trade pact at a parliamentary committee meeting last month and tried to keep opposition out of the room by blocking the doors.
Enraged opposition members used sledgehammers and other construction tools to break in, while GNP members fought back with fire extinguishers. Security staff and officials from the GNP stood guard to try to keep opposition MPs away.
Scuffles broke out as dozens of opposition MPs and their aides attempted to push their way in. TV footage showed people from both sides shoving, pushing and shouting in a crowded hall at the National Assembly building, amid a barrage of flashing cameras.
Protesters tore open the room's wooden doors, only to find barricades of furniture set up inside as a second line of defence. They then used a fire hose to try to soak those inside.
The cable news channel YTN showed footage of security guards spraying fire extinguishers at those trying to force their way in, and one man with blood trickling down his face.
The opposition attempt to block the free-trade deal failed, and ten GNP MPs introduced the bill to the committee.
"This is a clear violation of law," the main opposition Democratic Party said, accusing the GNP of illegally occupying the chamber and unilaterally introducing the bill. "This is a declaration of war against the opposition and the people."
BACKGROUNDSOUTH Korea and the United States signed the accord that calls for slashing tariffs and other barriers to trade in April last year after ten months of tough negotiations.
Supporters in both countries say it would not only expand trade but also cement ties between Washington and Seoul, key security allies who have co-operated on issues such as North Korea for decades.
Opponents claim it would cause pain to key sectors in both nations: agriculture in South Korea and the motor industry in the US.
Democrats say the deal should not be approved until the government comes up with measures to protect those set to suffer from higher US imports. The Grand National Party says the pact should be approved as early as possible, because South Korea stands to gain much from the deal.
The full article contains 658 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
