Sewol investigative commission chair launches hunger strike

Posted on : 2016-07-28 19:09 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Lee Seok-tae is calling on the government to provide continued funding so the commission can keep up its activities
Sewol Special Investigative Commission chairperson Lee Seok-tae started a hunger strike on July 27 at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul
Sewol Special Investigative Commission chairperson Lee Seok-tae started a hunger strike on July 27 at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul

The chairperson of the special commission investigating the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking launched a hunger strike to demand guarantees on the commission‘s activities and passage of an amendment to the special Sewol Law.

Chairperson Lee Seok-tae announced the beginning of his strike on July 27 during a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

“The raising of the Sewol’s hull and recovery of the remaining bodies has not even begun yet. The investigation to uncover the facts is still going on, and we cannot accept the government’s illegal and unjust demand that the special commission be closed down when it still has things to investigate,” he said.

A source with the commission explained that Lee plans to hold his hunger strike for around one week.

“After that, standing and steering committee members and employees will participate in hunger strikes indefinitely in a relay format,” the source explained.

With the strike, commission members are opting to make a direct appeal after concluding that a budget shortfall in the wake of a June 30 government announcement unilaterally declaring the elapsing of the deadline for investigation activities makes further activities impossible.

With dispatched government officials returned to their posts following the forcible shutdown announcement, the commission’s staff has dwindled from 92 to 72 members. The government’s decision to restrict its duties to drafting a white paper and stop providing a budget has left it without the money to operate or carry out investigative activities. Indeed, special government service officials - a group that does not include the 17 dispatched employees - have not been paid for their July work.

It is under these conditions that the commission has been attempting to carry on its previous activities, including briefings from investigations into support for victims of the tragedy and defamation in media reports and on information network systems. A third hearing is also being prepared for early September.

Investigations of government organizations have been rough going since the forcible ending of investigative activities. In June, the commission sent notices demanding the appearance of two members of the Korea Coast Guard and its East Regional Headquarters. The individuals in question refused, saying they would comply with the investigation when the government says [the special commission] has the authority to investigate.

“We inquired with the Ministry of Oceans and fisheries on the raising of the Sewol’s bow, which was scheduled for July 27,” said a commission source. “We were told we could not go along because the [commission’s] investigative activity period was over.”

The commission said it planned to “use the hunger strike to call for passage of an amendment to the special law guaranteeing the commission’s activities, while continuing our investigation activities within the scope of what is possible.”

By Kim Mi-young, staff reporter

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