[Ip-health] Arrest of Korean FTA Opponents; protest letter

[Ellen Shaffer]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
This group is leading the opposition to the IP
provisions of the Korea-US free trade
agreement.  Please sign on to the protest below
of the arrest of these leaders.  - Ellen Shaffer


>>The Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA
>>
>>150-982 Daeyoung Building 3F, 139
>>Youngdeungpo-dong 2-ga, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
>>
>>Tel: 82-2-775-2501 www.nofta.or.kr
>>
>>
>>
>>Official Release, July 3, 2007
>>
>>
>>
>>To: The International Community Concerned about
>>Democratic Principles and Economic and Social Justice
>>
>>
>>
>>Re: International Protest Letter against the
>>Arrests of Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA
>>
>>
>>
>>Included: International Protest Letter
>>
>>
>>
>>The Situation
>>
>>
>>
>>On Tuesday, July 03, 2007, two Co-Chairs of the
>>Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA, Oh
>>Jong-ryul and Jung Gwang-hoon, were arrested on
>>charges of carrying out =E2=80=98illegal=E2=80=99 and
>>=E2=80=98non-permitted=E2=80=99 protests against the free
>>trade agreement between U.S. and Korea. Mr. Oh
>>and Mr. Jung are currently detained at a police
>>station in Seoul; in a few days, they will be
>>relocated to another jail where they will await
>>sentencing. Korea=E2=80=99s consitution does not
>>recognize a permit system for rallies; only a
>>notice needs to be given, which we have done so
>>without fail. We, the Korean Alliance, thus
>>feel that their arrests are a direct violation
>>of democratic and constitutional right to
>>assemble and express our opinion. Since its
>>formation in March 2006, the Korean Alliance
>>has organized peaceful and legal demonstrations
>>against what we think is a seriously unjust
>>agreement for the people of Korea, the U.S.,
>>and the world. However, since November 2006,
>>the Roh Moo-hyun Administration has declared
>>all Korean Alliance=E2=80=99s public rallies illegal.
>>Police suppression has been severe on all
>>activities of the Korean Alliance. We believe
>>that the Roh Moo-hyun Administration has
>>gravely violated fundamental rights of the
>>people to assemble and oppose any unjust government practices.
>>
>>
>>
>>Mr. Oh was born in 1938 in the city of Kwangju.
>>He helped establish the Korean Teachers and
>>Education Workers=E2=80=99 Union, for which he was
>>imprisoned. He has worked tirelessly for
>>democracy, unification, and the abolition of
>>Korea=E2=80=99s National Security Law, the latter for
>>which he was again imprisoned. Mr. Jung was
>>born in 1939 in the city of Haenam. He has been
>>active in the democratic movement to demand
>>government responsibility, for which he was
>>imprisoned for 4 years. He has served as
>>President of the Korean Peasants=E2=80=99 League, the
>>national federation of small farmers=E2=80=99
>>organizations. He has for years led the
>>farmers=E2=80=99 movement against the WTO and free trade.
>>
>>
>>
>>Call for International Protest Letter
>>
>>
>>
>>We ask the international community to carefully
>>consider the situation of Korea. What is
>>happening in Korea happens daily around the
>>world. We call upon individuals and
>>organziations to endorse this protest letter.
>>
>>
>>
>>Please send endoresements via email to
>><mailto:interstruggle@gmail.com>interstruggle@gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>>Indicate that you endorse this letter, then
>>give us your name, organization, city, and country.
>>
>>
>>
>>Timing is crucial, so please send us your endorsements by July 13, 2007
>>
>>
>>
>>International Protest Letter
>>
>>In Protest against the Arrests of Oh Jong-ryul and Jung Gwang-hoon
>>
>>
>>
>>We Demand their Immediate Release!
>>
>>We Demand an Immediate End to Police Suppression of the Korean Alliance!
>>
>>
>>
>>July 3, 2007
>>
>>
>>
>>From: International Community Concerned about
>>Democratic Principles and Economic and Social Justice
>>
>>
>>
>>To: South Korea=E2=80=99s President Roh Moo-hyun
>>
>>
>>
>>We are serisouly disappointed and troubled by
>>the police suppression of the Korean Alliance
>>against the Korea-U.S. FTA and the arrests of
>>its two officers. We write this urgent letter
>>to demand 1) the immediate release of Mr. Oh
>>Jong-ryul and Mr. Jung Gwang-hoon, two
>>Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance and 2) an
>>immediate end to police suppression of the Korean Alliance.
>>
>>
>>
>>First, the arrests of Mr. Oh and Mr. Jung are a
>>direct violation of basic democratic principles
>>and constitutional rights. We believe that
>>South Korea is a democratic nation that
>>guarantees, under the constitution, the right
>>to associate and oppose unjust practices of
>>ruling authority. These rights are fundamental
>>to any democratic nation, and we strongly feel
>>that today's arrests may represent a
>>retrogression of Korea's status as a democratic
>>nation. In addition, the police=E2=80=99s disregard
>>for their old age and health conditions shows a sign of inhumane treatmen=
t.
>>
>>
>>
>>Second, their arrests are an infringement of
>>international principles of political and civil
>>rights. As a member of the United Nations,
>>South Korea has signed on to connventions that
>>protect and promote the advancement of social
>>freedom and human rights. South Korea has made
>>important democratic strides since the 1970s.
>>We have witnessed this transformation. We urge
>>the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, elected by
>>democratic means, to not forget Korea=E2=80=99s
>>history and to foster international and
>>democratic principles. The rights of the people
>>to assemble and express their voices must be protected.
>>
>>
>>
>>And third, we demand an immediate end of police
>>suppression against the Korean Alliance. We are
>>aware that South Korea=E2=80=99s constitution
>>(Article 21) does not recognize a permit system
>>for rallies; only notices need to be given,
>>which the Korean Alliance has done without
>>fail. Therefore, we believe that the activities
>>of the Korean Alliance is by no means illegal.
>>The police suppression of FTA protests, which
>>we have seen in the media, is shocking. The
>>fact that the Korean Alliance=E2=80=99s activities
>>are singled out and determined as illegal
>>indicates a direct attack against a people=E2=80=99s
>>organization and an obvious violation of Korea=E2=80=99s constitution.
>>
>>
>>
>>We disapprove the decisions made by the Roh
>>Moo-hyun Administration on the officers and
>>activities of the Korean Alliance. Along with
>>the recent suppression of Korean auto workers,
>>we fear that the suppression of the Korean
>>Alliance signals a dangerous digressive trend
>>in Korea=E2=80=99s democracy. If this trend
>>continues, we can promise the Administration
>>that the international community will not sit
>>still. We urge the Administration to correct
>>its mistakes and return the rights that are
>>inherent to the people of Korea and the world.
>>
>>
>><http://www.naver.com>
>>[]
>><http://www.naver.com> <http://www.naver.com/>NAVER
>>[]
>> <http://www.naver.com/>Korea's No.1 search portal <http://www.naver.com/=
>
>>[]
>><http://www.naver.com/>
>
>
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Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD MPH, Co-Director
Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH)
98 Seal Rock Drive
San Francisco, CA 94121-1437

phone: 415-933-6204
email: ershaffer@cpath.org
mobile: 415-680-4603
www.cpath.org
fax: 415-831-4091
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