South Korea: Constitutional Court to hold first meeting of justices over President Yoon’s impeachment

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Seoul, Dec 16 (IANS) South Korean Constitutional Court is set to hold its first meeting of its justices Monday to review the parliamentary impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, kicking off preparations for his impeachment trial.

On Saturday, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against Yoon over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, suspending his presidential powers and handing the decision over his fate to the Constitutional Court, Yonhap news agency reported.

The court will convene a meeting of its justices for discussions on hearing dates, proceedings to review relevant evidence and others.

After the meeting, the court will announce its results but they will likely not include the deliberation schedule as it is kept confidential under the Constitutional Court Act.

On Monday, the court is also expected to deliver a copy of the request of adjudication for Yoon’s impeachment to him, and request his response to it. Yoon is not required to make a response.

Once the court has completed its preparations, the impeachment hearings will take place in a public manner. Yoon will be required to attend the hearings in principle.

The court has up to 180 days since receiving the case to decide whether to uphold the parliament’s decision or have Yoon reinstated. If the decision is upheld, Yoon will become the second President to be ousted after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days.

Earlier, prosecutors said that the President did not comply with their summons for Sunday and added they will soon issue another order.

The special prosecution team handling an investigation into Yoon’s botched martial law imposition said it had sent a summons to Yoon last Wednesday, asking him to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office for questioning at 10 a.m. Sunday. Yoon did not show up, Yonhap news agency reported.

The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed 204-85 on Saturday, with three abstentions and eight invalid ballots, after all 300 members of the Assembly cast their votes.

The motion’s passage came 11 days after Yoon declared martial law in an announcement that caught the nation by surprise and drew outrage, as troops encircled the National Assembly compound in an apparent attempt to stop lawmakers from repealing the decree.

The martial law order, which was lifted within six hours after the Assembly voted it down, has prompted investigations by the police, the prosecution and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials into whether Yoon staged an insurrection. He is currently banned from leaving the country.

–IANS

int/rs/as

Related Posts

16 soldiers killed in Pakistan’s restive South Waziristan

Islamabad, Dec 21 (IANS) As many as 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed and another eight critically injured after their security post came under attack, the heaviest in the last few months, in the Lita Sar area of upper district of South Waziristan in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, early Saturday.

In a separate incident, two loud explosions were heard in Balochistan’s Kharan on Friday, where the Frontier Corps South had found at least 30 kilogrammes of explosives at an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory.

The attacks on security forces come at a time when a major decision to de-weaponize KP’s Kurram district has been taken by Pakistan’s Apex Committee where deadly sectarian clashes have claimed over 150 lives.

The district has been suffering due to unavailability of basic necessities, including food, water, fuel and medicines for over 70 days, resulting in the death of at least 29 children who lost their lives due to lack of medicines.

While a grand jirga in KP’s Kohat city has been trying to bring all parties and local tribal elders to a mutually-agreed peace deal for weeks, Pakistan’s Apex Committee, the country’s highest body for decision-making, has decided to confiscate all the arms and ammunition from the Kurram district till February 1, 2025.

Both parties representing opposing sects have to submit their weapons and ammunition voluntarily within 15 days and sign an agreement, to which the government will be a guarantor.

It has been decided that all bunkers will be demolished by February 1 while Frontier Corps and the police will jointly provide security to the military convoys.

Experts believe that the apex committee decision might not be an easy proposal for the local tribes to agree on as the Kurram district is heavily armed with weapons, which sectarian groups claim is used to ensure the security of their tribes.

–IANS

int/hamza/as

Senior Turkish, Qatari officials in Damascus for talks with militant leaders: Syrian interim govt

Damascus, Dec 13 (IANS) Senior officials from Turkey and Qatar arrived in Damascus to engage in discussions with militant coalition leaders that overthrew the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s interim information ministry announced.

The Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, while Qatar was represented by Khalfan bin Ali bin Khalfan Al-Batty Al-Kaabi, head of the State Security Service, Xinhua news agency reported.

Both delegations were joined by “expanded advisory teams,” according to a statement by the ministry.

The officials are scheduled to meet Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which played a pivotal role in toppling al-Assad. They are also set to hold talks with Mohammed al-Bashir, a former regional militant leader now serving as the interim prime minister appointed by the militant coalition.

Discussions are expected to focus on advancing internal political dialogue among militant factions, the ministry said.

There has been no official confirmation of the visit from either the Turkish or Qatari governments. Fidan stated earlier that Ankara intends to reopen its embassy in Damascus “once conditions permit.”

Turkey closed its embassy in the Syrian capital on March 26, 2012, citing escalating violence and its call for Assad to step down amid Syria’s civil war that began in 2011.

The Syrian constitution and parliament have reportedly been suspended for three months, according to Sawt al-Asima, a news outlet supportive of militant groups that overthrew the Assad government.

The outlet reported the development on Thursday, citing unnamed sources, but did not provide details on how the suspension would be implemented.

Earlier on Wednesday, Syria’s Military Operations Administration announced that it has lifted the curfew previously imposed on Damascus and its surrounding areas, calling on residents to resume their daily activities and return to their workplaces.

–IANS

int/rs

Assam CM holds meeting with Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Guwahati, Dec 17 (IANS) At the invitation of the Royal Government of Bhutan, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is undertaking a four-day official visit to the kingdom, met Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Tuesday and discussed on strengthening the historical ties between Assam and Bhutan and advancing collaborative efforts between the two regions.

The discussion also focussed on fostering Bhutan’s development, enhancing the welfare of its people, and promoting broader regional economic development.

Sarma in another meeting held over lunch with Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Togbay also discussed issues addressing matters of mutual interest and exploring avenues to fortify trade partnerships between the two regions.

He noted that Assam and Bhutan have historically maintained connectivity through seven established trade routes, underscoring the enduring nature of their economic ties.

In the course of their discussions, the Chief Minister assured the Bhutanese leadership of the Assam Government’s steadfast commitment and cooperation to bolstering trade infrastructure along the Assam-Bhutan border.

He emphasised the creation of additional trade routes to facilitate trade and commerce in line with the needs of Bhutanese traders.

The Chief Minister also highlighted Assam’s efforts under the Asom Mala initiative to strengthen road connectivity, particularly between Kokrajhar and Gelephu.

In a moment of historical and cultural significance, the Chief Minister, accompanied by his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, attended the 117th National Day celebrations of Bhutan today.

The festivities, held at the picturesque and scenic Changlimithang Grounds in Thimphu, left an indelible impression on Sarma, who described the experience as uniquely moving.

The Chief Minister conveyed his appreciation and joy at being present at the splendid and enchanting setting of Bhutan’s National Day celebrations. As a part of the celebrations, the Royal Government of Bhutan extended a warm and heartfelt welcome to both Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.

Bhutan’s National Day commemorates the coronation of the country’s first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, in 1907. This historic event marked the beginning of the Wangchuck dynasty, which has ruled Bhutan ever since. The celebrations provide an opportunity to honour Bhutan’s cultural heritage, reflect on the sacrifices of its forefathers, and reaffirm the citizens’ devotion to the country’s enduring peace, prosperity, and happiness.

–IANS

tdr/dan