News / Koreas

South Korea MPs continue filibustering anti-terror bill

Saturday, 27 February 2016 11:34 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 February 2016 11:33 AM ]

This picture, taken on February 24, 2016, shows South Korean opposition lawmaker You Seung-Hee (R) at the podium in an effort to filibuster a government-backed anti-terrorism bill. (By AFP)

A piece of government-sponsored anti-terrorism legislation in South Korea faces a serious hurdle as opposition MPs continue filibustering voting on the bill.

Opposition lawmakers persisted in filibustering the vote for the fifth day on Saturday.

Opposition legislator Jung Cheong Rae remained at the chamber’s podium for more than nine hours as the 17th parliament member to engage in very long speeches in an effort to delay voting on the controversial bill.

The opposition MPs reached the decision to stage a filibuster — the country’s first in over 45 years — on Tuesday. They say the legislation would infringe on privacy rights if passed into law.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her ruling Saenuri Party have endorsed the draft law, which would grant greater powers to the country’s top spy agency, NIS, to probe individuals and groups.

The government has tried to justify the legislation by pointing to perceived threats from North Korea as well as foreign terrorist organization. Opposition lawmakers, however, say the bill does not include sufficient measures to keep the agency from abusing its wide powers in conducting civilian surveillance.

The spy agency reportedly has a history of meddling in the country’s politics as well as spying on ordinary citizens and journalists.

Meanwhile, for the filibuster bid to succeed, the opposition lawmakers will have to continue their long speeches until the midnight of March 10, when the current parliamentary session is set to conclude.

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