4th candlelight rally hopefully to be a peaceful one

The 4th weekend candlelight rally will take place today at around 100 locations nationwide. As President Park Geun-hye delayed her prosecutorial investigation to next week and stirred the public by silently returning to state administration, no one is for sure how many people will rally this weekend.

The burden weighs heavily on the opposition parties as well. The three major opposing parties gave up their responsibility of calming down the great flames of candles shouting "Park Out," and failed to translate the public anger into political solution. Democratic Party leader Chu Mi-ae set up the "campaign headquarters on demanding resignation of President Park Geun-hye and restoring popular sovereignty" with a civil rights group after the party leader's sudden meeting proposal with President Park was abruptly cancelled because of criticisms from her predecessor Moon Jae-in and progressive liberal civic groups. Initiated on Thursday, the campaign headquarters will encourage out-of-the-politics struggle by holding its “rally on retiring Park and recovering popular sovereignty” at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. As such, the opposition parties are astray and moving in the opposite direction, instead of coming up with political solutions.

During the supreme council meeting held on Thursday, Choo targeting President Park by saying, “Word has it that Parksamo (Community of Park Geun-hye supporters) was ordered to prepare for a physical clash and even martial law will be considered as an ultimate decision.” It is true that some conservative organizations are demanding the government to proclaim martial law. Still, her statement is inevitably irresponsible, as the opposing party holds the authority to cancel martial law at the National Assembly where they hold the majority of seats mention such worst case scenario.

The police responded flexibly to the past three candlelight rallies, but this time they have prohibited certain areas of the march route towards the presidential office. As conservative groups including Parksamo will also engage in a counter-rally under their mobilization order, many are concerned over a possible clash between crowds. On last Saturday, several protesters tore down the police line, which separated them from the presidential office, and engaged in a wrestle with police officials. Nonetheless, in no circumstances should there be an incident where the crowd rushes towards the presidential office. Today’s rally should end in a peaceful manner with no safety accidents or clashes, based on a more mature civic consciousness.