여야, 이석기 내란음모 사건 ‘철저한 수사’ 요구

Published : Aug 30, 2013 - 16:50 Updated : Aug 30, 2013 - 16:55

내란음모 등의 혐의로 사전구속영장이 청구된 이석기 통합진보당 의원이 30일 오후 국회 의원회관 자신의 방에서 나와 맞은편 오병윤 의원실로 들어가고 있다. (연합뉴스)

통합진보당 이석기 의원이 무장투쟁 계획이 포함된 내란음모 혐의로 국정원 수사를 받고 있는 가운데 정치적 논쟁이 계속 되고 있다.

사전구속영장이 청구된 이 의원에 대해 법원이 영장을 발부하려면 국회의 체포동의안 처리가 필요하다. 이 의원의 구속 여부는 수사 절차에 따라 다음 달 중에 결정될 예정이다.

이 의원의 체포동의 요구서는 수원지검, 대검, 법무부를 거쳐 대통령에게 보고된 뒤 박근혜 대통령이 이를 재가하면 국회가 본회의 보고 후 72시간 내 표결을 거쳐 처리된다.

새누리당 최경환 원내대표는 “이 의원에 대한 체포동의안이 넘어오면 당연히 처리해야 한다”고 밝혔다.

최 대표는 “이 문제는 여당과 야당의 문제가 아니다. 현재 알려진 게 사실이라면 이 의원을 포함해 수사 선상에 오른 인물들이 국가의 안보를 위태롭게 한 것”이라고 말했다.

민주당은 현재 논란이 되고 있는 국정원 개혁과 내란음모 수사 문제를 분리해서 처리할 것이라는 입장이다.

김한길 민주당 대표는 “민주당은 지난 대선 당시 국정원 불법 대선 개입 사건과 최근의 (국정원이 이석기 의원 등에 대해 수사중인) 내란음모 사건은 별개의 것으로 처리하겠다”고 전했다.

한편, 통합진보당은 국정원이 주장한 ‘녹취록 사건'에 대해 강하게 반발했다.

국정원은 녹취록을 증거로, 이 의원이 지난 5월 경기동부연합 내에 혁명조직을 조직하고 내란을 계획했다고 발표해 논란을 일으켰다.

이에 김재연 통합진보당 의원은 라디오 인터뷰에서 “전부 다 황당무계한 소설들”이라며 부인했다.

통합진보당은 30일 부산에서 열리는 ‘국가정보원 정치개입 규탄’ 촛불 집회에 참여해 국정원에 더욱 강력하게 저항 할 예정이다.

(영문: 이주희 코리아헤럴드 기자 / 한글: 임우정 인턴기자)

<관련영문기사>

Major parties call for thorough investigation

UPP continues to claim ‘fabricated probe,‘ ‘witch hunt’

Commotion among the political parties continued Friday as the National Intelligence Service continued its investigation into the leftist lawmaker Lee Seok-ki, on charges of conspiring to start an armed rebellion.

The parties are expected to vote on the arrest motion for Lee in their regular session sometime next month depending on the progress of the investigation.

To arrest an incumbent lawmaker, the court must ask the Ministry of Justice to submit a motion to the National Assembly for consent to the arrest, in accordance with the National Assembly Act, which grants lawmakers’ immunity from arrest during a session. Once the motion is submitted, it must be voted at the regular session after 24 hours and within 72 hours.

The Assembly, however, is currently gridlocked over the NIS reform, and prospects for a normal operation of the regular session remain dim.

The ruling Saenuri Party promised cooperation with the spy agency’s all-out crackdown on some Unified Progressive Party members’ alleged threat to national security.

“If the motion to arrest Rep. Lee is handed to the National Assembly, we must definitely approve it,” said Saenuri floor leader Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan.

“This is not a matter of ruling party versus opposition party,” he said, adding, “If the accusations so far are true, those including Lee that are under investigation have put the country’s safety in danger.”

The party also criticized the DP for having aligned with the UPP in last year’s general elections. The UPP earned 13 seats in the race becoming the third-largest parliamentary bloc.

“The DP joined hands with the anti-state organization for sake of power. ... The party should declare it will not align with the UPP in the upcoming local election (in October),” said Rep. Ha Tae-keung. The North Korea human rights activist-turned-lawmaker was once a member of the National Liberation group that forms the UPP’s mainstream faction.

The main opposition Democratic Party was seen further distancing itself from the radical liberals, vowing to separate its ongoing battle for NIS reform with the revolt conspiracy probe.

“The DP will separately deal with the NIS’ illegal election interference case and the recent revolt conspiracy case,” said DP chairman Kim Han-gil.

DP spokesman Rep. Park Yong-jin said in a radio interview, “If the arrest warrant issued by the court specified with the suspicions is delivered, it is rightful to conduct the process according to the regulations including the Assembly Act.”

The UPP, meanwhile, upped its protest against the ongoing probe, accusing the NIS of fabricating the leaked transcript of the conversation that took place in May during the “revolutionary organization” meeting within the controversial East Gyeonggi Coalition accused of being pursuant to North Korea.

The party said any request to arrest Lee must be voted down.

“We cannot but lament the fictitious claims,” said UPP Rep. Kim Jae-yeon in a radio interview. Kim, along with Lee, have been considered representative UPP members and were subject to widespread scrutiny for being pro-North last year upon their alleged vote rigging in the April general elections.

UPP spokesman Hong Sung-kyu said Lee has not made any comments conformed to rebellion conspiracy and vowed to take legal measures against the NIS and some of the media for publishing facts about a suspected crime.

The UPP planned to participate in the candlelight vigil for NIS reform being held in Busan to step up their protest.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)