|
President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday said he will no longer sit idle when he is attacked. "I've been patient with the attacks on me many times, but from now on, I¡¯ll explain and respond each time such a thing happens,¡± Roh said in a Cabinet meeting. "I¡¯ll work very hard and speak my mind as well." In an ongoing spat with former prime minister Goh Kun, Roh said the presidential hopeful was trying to distance himself from him to serve his own political ends. Roh's remarks seem aimed at opponents within the ruling party and signal that Roh is reluctant to go quietly without making his voice heard in the run-up to the presidential election next year.
Despite widely quoted remarks last week that Goh¡¯s appointment as premier was a ¡°failure,¡± Roh said he had ¡°never spoken ill of him or criticized him. But today, I am sorry to say that he has never apologized even though I have given my explanations several times.¡± He likened personal relationships to strong drink. "Good liquor does not leave unpleasant aftereffects, and the same is true with relationships,¡± he said. The president continued his lament that he has become ¡°everyone's whipping boy.¡± ¡°I think this is my own fault and accept it, as I believe that is the price that we should pay to protect our democracy,¡± he said, but added, ¡°There are some people who are entitled to do this and others who are not. And when the latter attack me as if I¡¯m fair game, I feel sorry and angry sometimes.¡± The remarks indicate a sense of betrayal at former Cabinet ministers like Goh and former ministers-turned presidential hopefuls Kim Geun-tae and Chung Dong-young who turned against him. He told his Cabinet members, "If you have anything to say, you can do it freely when you¡¯re in your office. I hope that we can have a good relationship and pleasant memories when we don't work together anymore.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
