The president claims the rival party has RUSSIAN, I mean North Korean, sympathies, so obviously all civil rights must be suspended and the military must conduct armed raids on the parliament.
Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg
NEW: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares emergency martial law, accusing the opposition party of "sympathizing with North Korea and of anti-state activities." (CNN)
"Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin."
"I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country."
He asked people to believe him and tolerate "some inconveniences."
Obviously I'm no fan of North Korean sympathies, but I've watched the thoroughly-rotten American Deep State take anti-constitutional act after anti-constitutional act while claiming they're only doing so to stop RUSSIAN INFILTRATION AND SUBVERSION.
The 190-0 parliamentary vote suggests that this just might be a lawless act taken to preserve the only thing that matters, political power.
floridanow1
@floridanow1
I don't see how you restore democracy under Martial Law?
I thought you did that at the ballot box?
Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg
This last election taught us that "democracy" doesn't actually mean anything to the people who scream it all the time.
Open Source Intel
@Osint613
What's going on in South Korea?
South Korea is in chaos after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, saying it;s necessary to stop "anti-state forces,: especially pro-North Korean leftist groups. The decree bans all political activities, controls the media, and prohibits strikes and protests. Stocks are in turmoil, and military forces are moving toward the National Assembly, with helicopters seen flying overhead.
More videos of the chaos here.
Again, my natural sympathies lie with anyone opposing communists and Marxists and North Korea, but I've never heard a whisper that the South Korean government was in danger of violent overthrow before now, and the 190-0 parliamentary vote to cancel the martial law declaration suggests this is pretextual.
Yoon's own conservative party denounced his imposition of martial law.
The president's surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon's own conservative party.
Under South Korea's constitution, the president can declare martial law during "wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states" that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state.
When martial law is declared, "special measures" can be employed to restrict the freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts.
The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote.
Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg
NEW: Protests are breaking out in South Korea with citizens calling for the arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
"Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol," protesters shouted in front of the National Assembly.
South Korean parliament voted to defy Yoon's declaration of martial law.
What comes next is uncertain.
"[The declaration] is not going to succeed," said South Korean political science professor Kang Won-taek.
"We will see people taking to the streets tomorrow. How can the military control them? By sh00ting them?" he said to the NYT.
Kang predicts that members of Yoon's party will join the opposition to impeach him.
CNN has the standard CNN take: It's Trump's fault or something.
Obviously.
Not a drop of rain nor a bird falls from the sky without the insane neoliberal corporate Regime rushing to claim it was the Devil Trump's evil scheming.