조계사에서 25일째 은신했던 한상균 민 주노총 위원장이 10일 경찰에 자진 출두한데 대해 여야는 공권력의 조계사 투입없이 평화적으로 해결된데 대해서는 다행이라는 입장을 보이면서도 강조점은 달리했다.
새누리당은 민노총의 법치 파괴 행위에 대해서는 엄중한 책임을 물어야 한다고 촉구했고, 새정치민주연합은 정부여당은 거리로 나온 국민들의 여론을 귀담아들어야 한다고 당부했다.
새누리당 이장우 대변인은 국회 브리핑을 통해 "무엇보다 충돌없이 평화롭게 해 결된 점을 무척 다행스럽게 생각한다"면서도 "하지만 한 위원장이 저지른 불법 행위 가 대한민국의 법치를 조롱하고 헌법질서를 파괴했다는 사실은 변하지 않는다"고 밝 혔다.
(Yonhap)
Labor union leader surrenders after nearly month of hiding out at temple
The head of South Korea's second-largest umbrella labor union who is suspected of leading violent rallies turned himself in to police Thursday, ending a 24-day standoff with police.
Han Sang-gyun stepped out of Jogye Temple where he had been holing up since Nov. 16, two days after he allegedly orchestrated a massive anti-government protest that led to a clash with police.
He was immediately whisked away by police at the main gate of the chief temple of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect in central Seoul. Police officers had surrounded the temple to prevent Han from fleeing ever since he took sanctuary there.
Han, the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is on the wanted list for allegedly organizing several illegal and violent rallies.
Police had originally issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Han on Tuesday to voluntarily turn himself in by 4 p.m. Wednesday, warning that otherwise they would force their way into the temple.
Tensions escalated as about 1,000 police officers surrounded the temple to arrest Han, while some Buddhists and civic groups voiced their opposition or support for the police action.
Still, police postponed the operation Wednesday evening when the executive chief of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order vowed to resolve the issue of Han's fate by noon on Thursday.
The KCTU said in a statement that Han will surrender to police "in an effort to continue the fight against labor reform" and vowed to go on a strike next Wednesday.
"Until when will (the opposition party) sit and continue weighing in the negotiating table when the president is pushing forward with the labor reform bills," Han said in a press conference and urged the party to declare the suspension of the passage of the bills.
The bills would allow companies, among other things, to dismiss workers who are either negligent or underperforming.
Han also thanked the Jogye Order, monks and Buddhists and said he could no longer stand the intrusion of law enforcement authorities on the holy ground, when asked why he decided to surrender. (Yonhap)
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