Ruling party moves to ban masks at rallies

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- A group of ruling party lawmakers proposed an amendment bill Wednesday aimed at banning the use of masks during rallies or protests.

Earlier this month, some 130,000 demonstrators took to the streets in downtown Seoul to protest the government's decision to adopt state history textbooks and reform the labor market. The rally turned violent as some protesters brandished metal pipes and police fired water cannons at them.

President Park Geun-hye vowed Tuesday not to tolerate "illegal" demonstrations and instructed officials to come up with strong measures to root out violent protests.

She even drew a comparison with Islamic State terrorists, saying demonstrators should not be allowed to wear masks.

On Wednesday, a group of some 30 Saenuri Party lawmakers, led by National Assembly Vice Speaker Jeong Kab-yoon, proposed an amendment to the law on assembly and demonstration, banning participants in a violent rally or protest from wearing masks or other apparel that hides their identity.

Repeat offenders of the proposed amendment would face up to two years in prison or up to 3 million won (US$2,600) in fines.

"Freedom of assembly and demonstration must be actively defended as a constitutionally guaranteed basic right," the proposal said. "However, demonstrations are turning illegal and violent each year, shaking the foundations of the rule of law and disrupting public order."

The amendment is aimed at "establishing a culture of lawful demonstrations," it added.

The main opposition party protested the move.

"The anti-mask law does not aim to guarantee peaceful demonstrations but tries to gag the people by blocking the freedom of assembly and demonstration," Kim Sung-soo, spokesman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said during a press briefing. "Now is the time is listen to the desperate voices of the people, not think of ways to punish them."

hague@yna.co.kr
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