The Grand National Party (GNP) considers Citizen Participation 0415 a response to a call made by Roh on Dec. 19 at a rally in Yeoido for the groups to spearhead political reform, and the party come out strongly in favor of prosecuting the president for violating campaign laws.

A gathering on December 19, 2003 titled ‘Remember 1219’ held by ‘Nosamo,’ a group of supporters of President Roh Moo-hyun, and the civic group ‘Power of the People’ to celebrate the first year of Roh’s presidency at Yeouido Park in Seoul.

GNP vice spokesperson Eun Jin-su said that “a country where the president agitates for an illegal election, a country where, in response to the president’s agitation, the Red Guard openly conducts an illegal election as they please, is not a country at all.” He also said that it’s clear that these groups are conducting a support movement for Uri Party candidates while engaging in a number of illegal activities, such as spreading “black propaganda” and manipulating public opinion.

Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) spokesperson Kim Yeong-hwan said that with the President “mustering his army,” he was not in keeping with the election law or the responsibility of public servants to remain neutral during an election. Saying that the president was agitating and personally entering the elections, Kim added, “In my mind, the only image that forms is that of the Red Guard. Was there ever such an instance even in Peron’s Argentina?”

On the other hand, Kim Seong-ho of the Uri Party said that all citizens’ groups have the right to participate in election movements, and to single out only “Citizen Participation 0415” for criticism was unfair. Supporting the group, he said that citizen participation should be actively encouraged.

Those connected with citizen groups, too, are leveling criticism at “0415.” Ko Gye-hyeon, policy director for the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, said that while the creation of citizens’ groups based on the idea of backing political candidates is in line with the times, he’s worried because in the course of their activities, such groups can become campaign movements affiliated with specific political parties. He called on election officials to apply election laws strictly to prevent illegal acts during the election.

Yet controversy is arising as to whether Citizen Participation 0415 is a “citizen group” that can legally participate in elections, or is an “external organization” attached to a political party, a sort of underground organization. Nosamo was designated an “underground organization” by the Central Election Committee during the 2002 presidential election and ordered to disband. Citizen Participation 0415 says that it is not a support movement for any particular party, but on the bulletin board of the group’s Internet homepage, there are already countless posts in support of one particular party, such as “130 seats for the Uri Party.”

Meanwhile, controversy is expected to arise when “2004 General Election Citizens’ Solidarity” holds its opening ceremony on Feb. 3 and announces the names on its election blacklist.

The group, “Participatory Solidarity,” which called for the formation of “2004 General Election Citizens’ Solidarity,” said Tuesday that the election group is composed of 247 citizens groups from all across the country, and it is currently holding talks with 114 other groups who may join. On Feb. 5, it plans to announce the names of those politicians blacklisted in accordance with the group’s standards, which include complicity in corruption and ethical considerations.

An official with the Central Election Committee said that it is possible under current election law, to hold citizen election movements. It is also possible under current laws to post favored-candidate lists on the Internet and to conduct election movements by word-of-mouth, telephone, and e-mail. It is not legal, however, to place entire lists of favored or non-favored candidates on hanging banners for use during gatherings or movements, the official said, nor is it permitted to tie sashes, erect sign boards, or carry lists around or from door-to-door. (Lee Myeong-jin, mjlee@chosun.com )