Clerics demand Korean President’s Resignation

Clerics from Korea’s four major religions have demanded that the country’s president withdraw support for a controversial river project or resign.

They say the way the government has pushed through the scheme of dams on the country’s major rivers is a challenge to democracy and religious values, ucanews.com reports.

Around 100 clerics, including 30 Catholic priests, fasted in protest against the Four Rivers Project from Oct. 4 to 6 in front of the Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace in Seoul.

They also decided to stage a boycott for products of companies involved in the project and warned elected officials favoring the project that they will face people’s judgment at the next election.

Some 50 clerics from Korea’s four major religions — Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Won-Buddhism then held a press conference on Oct. 6 and demanded the President Lee Myung-bak’s resignation if he continues to support the project.

“The river project is devastating the rivers. It violates life, insults and challenges religions that raise and protect it,” they said in a press release.

“President Lee Myung-bak pushes the project, ignores people’s opinion and avoids regulations. His administration disregards people and overlooks democracy. If he insists on going against the people’s will, we will definitely demand for his resignation,” they added.

Augustine Maeng Joo-hyung, coordinator of the Catholic Solidarity for Deterrence on the Four Rivers Project told ucanews.com on Oct. 6 that the statement is the result of discussions and reflections held during an earlier joint prayer rally. “There is no doubt that the solidarity among the major religions against the Four Rivers Project will continue,” he said.