People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

Three human rights defenders are arrested as instigators of illegal protest

(beth) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:07:00 +0900

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

10 July 2008
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOUTH KOREA: Three human rights defenders are arrested as instigators of illegal protest

ISSUES: Human rights defenders; freedom of opinion and expression; misuse of power
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained information that two activists appealing the illegal arrest of others, and one activist monitoring police violence during recent protests, were arrested on 25 June and 30 June 2008 respectively and later charged with instigating an illegal protest in South Korea.

CASE DETAILS:

On 25 June 2008, Mr. Ahn Jin-geol and Ms. Yoon Hee-sook attended as staff the People's Conference Against Mad Cow Disease and were in charge of the candle light rallies from 11 April to 3 May 2008. The conference provided the opportunity for anyone to express their political opinion regarding the agreement between the Korean government and United States of America. It was also arranged for professional singers and performers from colleges and associations to perform at the festival.

After the results of the second meeting were announced on June 25 about 1,000 people, including Ahn Jin-geol and Yoon Hee-sook, held a press conference in front of Kyong-bok Palace. At 3pm on the same day, police started arbitrarily arresting people on the spot, including Ms. Yoon and Ms. Lee Jeong-hee a Member of Parliament and a 12-year-old girl. Seeing the arrest of the minor, Mr. Ahn appealed this arrest. While appealing about seven riot police suddenly attacked him from behind and held him down on his neck (See photo 1) and limbs, causing a bruise needing two weeks medical treatment and recovery. His actions against the arrest of the minor caused him to be charged for the obstruction of execution of public duties. When the minor was released following several appeals from people nearby, around 30 people were arrested and taken to Jong-ro police Station.

At 5.50pm on 30 June 2008, about 40 police officers came to the office of Korea Solidarity of Progressive Movement with a seizure and search warrant and arrested Mr. Hwang Soon-won, the director of democracy and human rights at the organisation. The reasons given for his arrest were: planning an illegal assembly and demonstrations and for ensuring its execution. After his arrest he was interrogated at the Jong-ro Police Station.

According to the information received, he worked as a volunteer at the Committee and was in charge of monitoring arrestees and recording injuries obtained in the process of marching on the street, as well as victims of police crackdowns against protesters. He also played a role in contacting lawyers to assist the arrestees and reporting any injuries to medical staff on the spot so that the injured could receive appropriate medical treatment.

Arrest warrants have been issued to six persons: Mr. Han Yong-Jin and Mr. Park Won-Seok, co-heads of current affairs at the Committee; Mr. Kim Gwang-Il, team leader of marching at the Committee; Mr. Kim Dong-gyu, team leader of organising at the Committee; Mr. Paik Eun-Jong, vice president of the internet caf?'Anti Lee Myung-Bak'; and Mr. Baik Seong-Gyun, president of the internet community 'michincow'. All of them are currently staying in Jogyesa (Jogye temple) in Seoul, the Korean Buddhist Jogye order, and police are waiting outside the temple to arrest them.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

When the agreement by the Korean government to re-begin importing beef, or beef products, from the United States of America without public knowledge became known to the public on April 18, a committee called the 'People's Conference Against Mad Cow Disease' was formed, consisting of about 1,800 civic groups from the country. Some members from the group volunteered to work for the Committee and organised candle light vigils for participants, as people began holding candles in their hands. The main role of the arrestees mentioned above is to monitor human rights violations when riot police start forcibly dispersing of marchers and to communicate with lawyers’ groups, medical groups and the press based on the situation.

School students first began holding candles after the agreement to show their fear at having beef that may contain mad cow disease due to the lack of a domestic quarantine system. These fears became widespread over the internet. Police announced that they would investigate those students who were spreading these 'rumours'. After it was found that the Korean government could not guarantee safety from the disease, people from all professional sectors have held candle light vigils. As the protest has continued, police are not allowing people to hold demonstrations and are making arbitrary arrests .

In order to prevent people from gathering and marching towards the Presidential residence, police have blocked all routes to the place where candle light vigils were scheduled to be held and used police buses to completely block all ways to the residence. Whenever some individuals threw plastic water bottles, other participants made them calm down by shouting 'non-violence!'. On June 2, in the process of forcible dispersal of protesters, police beat protesters with batons and police shields, which caused several injuries.

From the beginning of the protest, the government has alleged that they were masterminded by people behind the students holding candle lights. However, due to the continuation of the people's protest, the government sent representatives to the United States for additional meetings but the results of these meetings have not satisfied the demands of the people. In addition, the outcomes of these meetings do not guarantee safety from the disease.

Although frustrated and disappointed, people did not turn off the lights and continued the march. After a public announcement by the Minister of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, without a public hearing on June 25, the police arbitrarily arrested people. This included those people standing or watching the protest from the pavement, stating that people gathered on the pavement violated the Act on Assembly and Demonstration. On June 28 and 29, at least 300 protesters were injured by the police's unnecessary force while forcibly dispersing the protesters.

Police have reported that 958 persons have been taken to the police station, that 9 persons were investigated with detention, 694 of them released within 48 hours, 56 of them sent to court for summary justice, 25 of them freed after writing a statement regretting their behaviour and expressing that they would not take part in the candle light vigil again in the future, and 184 of them are continuing to be investigated by police. Apart from the police report, at least five persons who narrated what they had seen during the forcible dispersal of demonstrators, or expressed fear concerning mad cow disease on the internet were also arrested and detained.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the authorities listed below urging them to release these human rights defenders without condition and to withdraw the cases against them.

Please be informed that the AHRC has written separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression and on the situation of human rights defenders calling for intervention in this matter.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________,

SOUTH KOREA: Three human rights defenders are arrested as instigators of illegal protest

Details of victims:
1. Mr. Ahn Jin-Geol, lecturer of Seongkonghoe University, a staff member of People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy; volunteer of Committee named 'People's Conference Against Mad Cow Disease'; accused of violating Act on assembly and demonstration, Road Traffic Act and obstruction of execution of public duties; arrested on June 25 2008
2. Ms. Yoon Hee-sook, vice chairperson of Korean Association of youth organisation; volunteer of Committee named 'People's Conference Against Mad Cow Disease'; accused of violating Act on assembly and demonstration and Road Traffic Act; arrested on 25 June 2008
3. Mr. Hwang Soon-won, a director of democracy and human rights from Korean Solidarity of Progressive Movement, volunteer of Committee named 'People's Conference Against Mad Cow Disease'; accused of violating the Act on assembly and demonstration and Road Traffic Act; arrested on 30 June 2008

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the arrest of three human rights defenders during recent protests which have continued for almost over 2 months.

According to the information that I have received, while Mr. Ahn Jin-Geol was appealing the illegal arrest of a minor in front of Kyongbok Palace, he was arbitrarily arrested by the police and beaten at that time of arrest. Ms. Yoon Hee-sook was also arbitrarily arrested with Mr. Ahn Jin-Geol on June 25. Both arrestees had been volunteering as staff on a committee called 'People's Conference Against Mad Cow Disease' and facilitating peaceful candle light vigils for over a month.

From the information I have learnt that Mr. Hwang Soon-won, who later joined the committee, work involved contacting lawyers when arrests took place and communicating to medical staff when injuries occurred, and also monitoring violence in the process of forcible disperse by riot police. When a group of police raided his organisation with a seizure and search warrant on June 30, they arrested him and took him to Jong-ro Police Station. I am aware that the above arrested persons are charged with violating the Act on Assembly and Demonstration and Road Traffic Act and they are currently under investigation with detention.

All activities of the Committee and information regarding the candle light vigil are accessible on its website, so that there is no worry about obstruction of evidence, and the arrestees have already submitted their statements to postpone their presence at the prosecutor's office for investigation due to the daily candle light vigil so there is no worry of running away. Furthermore, the arrestees have cooperated with police officers attached to Jong-ro and Namdeamun Police Station concerning all matters regarding the candle light vigil and informed them of all the arrangements of the vigil.

There is no reason for investigating them with detention. Accordingly, I urge you to reconsider detaining them and release them without condition. The fact that their arrest was simply based on the violation of the Act on Assembly and Demonstration shows that the prosecutor interprets the Act in a narrow manor. He does not understand the purpose of the Act to protect freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of assembly on grounds of article 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the Korean government is a state party. I further urge you to investigate them without detention, if there is allegation against them, as there is no reason for the prosecutor to keep them in detention this may constitute a misuse of power.

I would like to draw your attention in general to the fact that if people oppose government policies and express their opinions, either through the internet or in public, are simply arrested on the grounds of violating not the Koran Constitution or International human rights instruments but the Acts, this shows the gap existing not only between them but the lack of government will to implement or promote human rights. In addition, domestic law may be shown to the international community as a mockery of human rights. In this regard, I finally urge you to stop attempts to arrest a further eight human rights defenders who have been booked on charges of violating the Acts.

Yours sincerely,

----------------

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Kim Kyung-Han
Minister
Ministry of Justice
88 Gwanmon-ro, Gwachon-si
Gyonggi Province 427-760
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Fax: 82 2 2110 3079 / 503 7046
E-mail: webmaster@moj.go.kr

2. Mr. Jeong Sang-Myong
Prosecutor General
Supreme Prosecutor's Office
1730-1, Seocho3-dong
Seocho-gu, Seoul
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Fax: 82 3480 2555
Tel: 82 2 3480 2000
3. Mr. Lee Myeng-Bak
President
1 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-820
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Fax: 82 2 770 0347 / 770 0001 / 770 2579
Tel: 82 2 770 0018
E-mail: foreign@president.go.kr or president@cwd.go.kr or president@president.go.kr

4. Mr. Ahn Kyong-Whan
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of Korea
16 Euljiro 1-ga
Jung-gu
Seoul 100-842
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Fax: 82 2 2125 9812 / 2125 9666
Tel: 82 2 2125 9700
E-mail: nhrc@humanrights.go.kr

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)

United Nations Secretary General should not shun away from human rights violations occurred during anti-US beef rallies

(beth) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:43:00 +0900

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon should take an active role in dealing with US beef crisis in South Korea: Ban should not shun away from human rights violations occurred during anti-US beef rallies.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to make his first official visit to Korea on July 3rd since he took office. Ban is loaded with a tight schedule, including receiving an honorary doctoral degree from Seoul National University, giving congressional speech, joining a dinner hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and attending Model United Nations Conference of Seoul. The coalition of human rights and civic groups in South Korea express our grave concern over not holding a talk with Korean civic society during his visit, and call on Ban to hold such an occasion immediately. As head of UN, Ban needs to make responsible comments on the recent police crackdown and human rights violations occurred during the rallies against American beef imports. Handling of this crisis has clearly exposed that South Korea's image as 'Asia's leading advocate on human rights issues' is a pure fabrication. Therefore, as head of the UN whose primary role is to champion fundamental human rights for everyone, Ban should not hesitate addressing this issue. By taking special measures in the UN if necessary, Ban should actively intervene the current human rights situation in Korea where freedom of expression and rights to health were seriously violated by resuming the imports of the US beef susceptible to Mad Cow Disease.

Korean people, holding candlelight vigils for last two months, have been demanding full-scale renegotiation with the US over beef deal. Nevertheless, the Lee Myung-bak administration ignored voices of the people and suppressed their essential rights to freedom of expression and assembly by brutally crushing peaceful demonstrations. In this process, many people, largely peaceful demonstrators, were seriously injured by police’s excessive use of water cannons and violent beating with clubs and shields. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, South Korea should demonstrate its full commitment to human rights. Nevertheless, Korean government did not cease their brutal action. Last year, Secretary General Ban commented on the violent suppression of the Burmese military junta over peaceful demonstrators as a "despicable and unacceptable behavior," and called for concrete measures to be taken to promote democracy and human rights in Burma. Furthermore, this year is the 60th anniversary of declaring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this ceremonial year, Ban expressed his determination to heighten human rights awareness in international community by bringing change from the level of UN. In this regard, Ban should not forget his duty to safeguard human rights, that is, "an essential mandate of the UN" as the current governmental measures regarding anti-US beef protests are rendering serious human rights violations.

Recently, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan expressed his opinion in a newspaper article prior to Ban’s visit that "we should help solving problems of international community and thereby elevate our national integrity in the world." However, Korea’s national integrity dropped beyond our imagination when the government ordered violent police crackdown and infringed fundamental rights of the people consequently. International community already expressed its grave concern over the current status of human rights violations under the Lee administration, and called on the South Korean authorities to guarantee the freedom of expression of the Korean people ensured by Constitution and release human rights advocates immediately. Ban should not remain silent about this. As head of the UN whose essential principle lies in maintaining peace and extending human rights around the globe, Ban should made a clear stance on the current situation and demand the Korean government to make their best effort to protect fundamental rights of the people. Furthermore, Ban should seek ways that UN could help solving this problem, by taking such measures as investigating the cases of human rights violation during the government crackdown. We faithfully anticipate Ban Ki-moon to take an active role over this issue.

02.July.2008

PSPD Requests the Board of Audit and Inspection for Korea (BAI)

(beth) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:08:00 +0900

PSPD REQUESTS THE BOARD OF AUDIT AND INSPECTION FOR KOREA (BAI) FOR A CITIZENS’ REQUEST FOR AUIDT, TO DEAL WITH HASTY NEGOTIATIONS ON US. BEEF IMPORTING.

Requesting the thorough audit on the executive branch’s failure to secure national sovereignty for inspection rights, July 2nd, half past one affront the BAI.

July 4th, PSPD center for government administration Watch (headed by prof. Kyung Kun, Seoul City University) submitted the Citizens’ Request for Audit to the BAI, for the audit of the April 18 US. Beef Importation Sanitation Proviso negotiations. Audit is furthermore targeted to the violation of law and dereliction by the Blue House, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the negotiation party itself during the process preceding and succeeding the actual negotiations. The request enquires full discernment of how the government came to forfeit all its sovereignty on inspection rights.

Last April, our negotiation party allowed for the full importation of US. Beef -products that are scientifically unreliable and unsafe-, thereby threatening citizens’ rights to life, personal freedom, and health. The negotiation results were a total antithesis of the Agricultural Ministry’s standing point back in September 2007. The negotiations were also against our favour in that suspension of imports is now not permissible, even in case of an outbreak of Mad Cow disease, and in that the US has the rule over which cattle ranches are authorised to export meat to Korea. The previous are all items in breach of our Constitution’s mention of citizens’ Sovereignty. Negotiation items violate our Constitution by giving several American statutes the same legitimacy here in Korea, as they have in their home country. Questions of mal-procedure and ill-clarity also exist regarding the results. A special inspection team from Korea was sent to the States’ ranches, post negotiation, only to report down-scaled and covered-up inspection results on some negative findings.

Since the Ministry of Agriculture has no new grounds to overturn their pre-established position on US beef importation, it can only be assumed that the MOFAT and the Blue House exerted pressure during the negotiation talks. This is the rationale for the audit of the Agricultural Ministry and the negotiation party, the actual bodies of the malfeasances, and of the MOFAT and the Blue House, the culprits that led the malfeasances. In addition to malfeasance, the BAI must investigate comprehensively the violations of law, dereliction, and misfeasance, and must issue reprimands to the person/persons held responsible.

[DETAIL] Citizens’ Request for Audit

A. The South Korean task force (comprised of MIFAFF agents) and United States trade envoy reached agreement at the 2008 April 18 negotiation talks on U.S. beef import sanitation rules.

B. Yet this agreement lifts all ban on U.S. beef imports, meat that is scientifically unproven to be safe. The 2007 September 21st Ministry of Agriculture report by the ‘Expert Evaluation Committee’ states the fundamental rules regarding U.S. beef imports as “age to be limited to under 30 months old, seven SRM(Schoberer Rad Meßtechnik) parts of meat to be removed for all age levels, meat parts that are deemed inedible within the U.S. not to be allowed in”. Another document by the Ministry, same date, similarly states as part of Korea’s negotiation course, that, “beef off cows over the age of 30 months are not fully medically proven to be safe”, and that “...meaning even the OIE cannot confirm the safety of beef derived from cows of over 30 months of age”. It is clear that this April 18 agreement (the legitimate import of beef from cows of over 30 months of age, the import of meat parts with Mad Cow risk) goes directly against what was the standing point of our government a year ago, and therefore threatening the rights of citizens’ on life, personal freedom, health, consumerism, pursuit of happiness and freedom of action.

C. The agreement settled this April has within it that, even in the situation that Mad Cow breaks out in the U.S., lest the OIE alters America’s ‘Mad Cow Risk Country Regulation Grade’, Korea cannot suspend U.S. beef imports. The agreement also states that the U.S. maintains the right to charter its cattle ranches authorization to export their meat to Korea. Such settlement is a forfeiting of our sovereignty to sanitary inspection, an item that infringes our Constitution’s statement of Citizen Sovereignty. Other items of the agreement, such as granting U.S. statutes the same degree of legitimacy in Korea as they would normally have in the States, goes against several domestic laws, our Constitution, and principles of law.

D. Securing the Beef matter, one that is crucial to citizens’ health rights and our nation’s inspection sovereignty, by means of a simplified treaty or a mere memorandum of understanding can be deemed to violate the National Assembly’s authority to legislation.

E. After agreement was made, MIFAFF dispatched to U.S. ranches a special inspection squad – the squad publically announced a down-scaled and covered-up version of its report of the expedition. The proper report, full with the negative findings of the expedition, obtained by one member of the NA and Korean Democratic Labour Party (Mr. kang Ki Gab), had in it that, meat from cows of at least 30 months of age and meat from cows of under 30 months of age could be cross-contaminated, in addition to the fact that the age determining was undertaken by unscientific dental-ID methods (even that of which was a method lacking in some ranches). This report also points out that meat from cows of at least 30 months old may be used for school dinners. These were the risks the inspection squad left out in its public announcement, along with assurance that the American ranches had no flaws.

F. It can also be inferred that the Blue House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade wielded actual power in the negotiations, by issuing both direct and indirect orders to the negotiation task force. Rationale behind this is that the MIFAFF had no reason to overturn all its pre-established stances on the American Beef Ban, if indeed no pressure was exerted by the Blue House and the MOFAT.

G. Thus we request the BAI to thoroughly audit and if necessary reprimand the MIFAFF, Blue House and the MOFAT for their actual and complicit roles in meeting a hasty trade regulations agreement, who have, by doing so jeopardized its citizens’ fundamental rights and sovereignty.

[ACTION ALERT] Stop the police crackdown and arrest of innocent people in South Korea!

(beth) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:22:19 +0900

Please write a letter to the President of South Korea to immediately stop the police crackdown and imprisonment of people engaged in protest against the Korea-US beef. Please see the attached sample letter.

police brutality over the protestors in South Korea’s rallies against the import of US Beef

There has been a series of police brutality over the protestors in South Korea’s rallies against the import of US Beef into the country. Last weekend, about 100,000 people gathered for a candlelight protest in downtown Seoul to demand a renegotiation of the Korea-US beef deal. In response, the Lee Administration ordered a severe police crackdown of protesters that resulted in bodily injuries of over 400 participants.

At dawn of the June 30th, police raided the offices of "the People’s Conference against Mad Cow Disease" is one of the initiators, and the "Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements". "The People’s Conference against Mad Cow Disease” is an umbrella organization of some 1,700 civic groups nationwide that is operated by consensus of its membership groups. However, the Lee Administration singled out "Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements (KAPM)" as the mastermind behind protests related to the Korea-US beef. Police took away 22 computers from the KAPM office and arrested Mr. Hwang Soonwon on night duty. Police issued search warrants for eight activists and arrested, in addition to Mr. Hwang, Mr, Ahn Jingeol and Ms. Yoon Hee-suk.

PSPD will issue today the joint protest letter to the President Lee Myung-bak to stop the crackdown on peaceful protestors and respect their right to freedom of expression and assembly, and to release unconditionally all those who were arrested.

We call for joining the protest in solidarity with the people and civil society groups in South Korea by sending a letter to President Lee Myung-bak.

Please visit the following links to eyewitness the police repression.
http://dolb.tistory.com/325
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/295971.html
http://bbs1.agora.media.daum.net/gaia/do/debate/read?bbsId=D003&articleId=1464719
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/296110.html

Action alert PSPD-2008JULY1.doc

ACTION ALERT

[ SAMPLE LETTER ]

Please email your letter directly to the following address: foreign@president.go.kr

July 1, 2008

The Honorable Lee Myung-bak

President

Republic of Korea

Dear Mr. President,

We are deeply disappointed and troubled by the police suppression and brutality of the on-going peaceful protests and the arrests of three human rights defenders of "the People’s Conference against Mad Cow Disease."

We write this urgent letter to demand the immediate release of Mr. Ahn Jingeol, Ms. Yoon Hee-sook and Mr. Hwang Soon-won and to stop without delay the police suppression of peaceful protests.

First, the arrests of three human rights defenders 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.

Second, the suppressions are an infringement of the basic rights for the freedom of expression as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Article 19 in which South Korea is the state party.

South Korea has made important democratic strides since the 1970s and we have witnessed this transformation. In this light, we urge you to not to forget Korea's history and to foster international and democratic principles. The rights of the people to assemble and express their voices must be protected.

We strongly believe that the activities of Korean people are by no means illegal and violent. On the contrary, it is very just and highly applausive for democracy and public health rights.

Therefore, we urge you to release without delay Mr. Ahn Jingeol, Ms. Yoon Hee-sook and Mr. Hwang Soon-won and to stop immediately the

police suppression and brutality of peaceful protests.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your address]

Korean Police Needs to refrain from their irrational process of confiscation when executing search warrant in its probe into Anti-US beef protests

(beth) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:07:00 +0900

Korean Police Needs to refrain from their irrational process of confiscation when executing search warrant in its probe into Anti-US beef protests

Police today raided the office of the People’s Conference Against Mad Cow Disease located at the building of People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. Since established in 1994, PSPD has been dedicated to promoting Korean civic movements and participatory democracy through the extended guarantee of Constitutional rights. The police had claimed that the raid was to investigate the instigators of the ongoing anti-U.S. beef protests. However, the police’s behavior during the raid was shocking and despicable beyond our description.

First of all, we strongly denounce irrational police action while executing a warrant. The search warrant was issued by the court. However, this does not guarantee that the police will abide by adequate legal procedures while they carry it out. When the police raided the PSPD building at dawn, there were several PSPD members waiting for them to cooperate for the smooth investigation. Nevertheless, detectives secretly shattered a security lock on the back door of the building and broke into the building without any warning. It is a police’s fundamental duty to show their warrant, inform the person present in the place to be searched of their intended purpose, and enter the place accordingly.

Police, however, did not pay attention to these basic principles. Instead, they seized various documents and items arbitrarily, even including a memoir which chronicled citizens’ phone calls. Their irrational process of confiscation stopped only when lawyers made a strong complaint regarding their seizure. Furthermore, they videotaped the seminar room on the basement floor whose location is not included under the search warrant. They also demanded PSPD members to show their ID cards without explaining any legitimate reason. PSPD has no intention to impede the police investigation if they conduct reasonably while executing the warrant. However, today’s raid was unreasonable beyond our imagination, and in doing so, the police undermined its own authority.

Today’s raid clearly demonstrated police’s intention to denigrate the People’s Conference Against Mad Cow Disease as an illicit organization and thereby arousing discord between citizens and the organization. Police charged that People’s Conference Against Mad Cow Disease engineered illegal and violent activities during recent demonstrations. But hard evidences that they had seized, such as a speaker, rally pickets, and MICs, had nothing to do with the alleged illegality.

Today’s raid would also put down the efforts of other civic organizations that have been participating in running peaceful demonstrations.

Once again, PSPD express our grave concern over the raid of the office of the People’s Conference Against Mad Cow Disease located within PSPD building and call on the police to refrain from its irrational behavior and abide by decent principles as they move to execute the law.

June 30th, 2008

Enforcing the Announcement on Resuming US Beef Import Is A Declaration of War against the People

(beth) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:41:00 +0900

In the end, the government is about to enforce the announcement on the new conditions reflecting fraudulent results of additional negotiation, when all peoples' nationwide candlelight rally reaches 50 consecutive days to protect the safety of ourselves and family by recovering quarantine sovereignty and national health rights that the Lee administration transferred to the United States.

Above all we were greatly astonished by the fact that the explanation of Lee administration is completely different from the press release from the USTR. The US government defines the characteristics of the so-called 'additional negotiation' a 'discussion', rather than a 'negotiation', which means that it was not the process between governments, thereby has no legal effects. The US government also made it clear that QSA for Korean exportation is "a transitional and voluntary committment between private traders", i.e., Korean beef importers and U.S. exporters, contrary to the Korean government's explanation saying that the QSA includes US governmental assurance and compulsory power.

In addition, import ban from the brain, eyes, spinal-cord, the cranial bone of US cows less than 30 months is nothing but a level of the remark that US government "affirms an expectation that commercial practice will be continued." Like this, the differences regarding discussed contents between the two governments are also very clear. Much more critical than that, there is no written agreement at all signed by the authority of the both governments reflecting the outcomes of additional negotiations, and the measures the US side should take is to be determined only after the Korean government would post first and put into effect the announcement on lifting the ban.

In every aspect including characteristics of negotiation, contents of agreement, legal force of implementation, Korean government's explanation is far different from the position of the US government: therefore we define it a deceptive play the outcome of the so-called additional negotiation made public by Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon. Otherwise there is no reason not to publicize the original copy of the agreed document, not to accept our proposal to conduct on-air public debate in front of the people, and no need to take unlawful path by breaching regulation of re-announcement procedure according to the alteration of the contents of it.

Even if we trust fully the result of the additional negotiation, it would be only temporary patch-ups to earn some time to avoid showers of criticism. However, the people was petrified with the fact that the government has fabricated even this stopgap measure falsely. Now everything came to the front. The government itself well recognizes more than any one else. As time goes by, the trifling reality of the additional negotiation will be exposed and the already hostile public opinion would become even more hostile, that's why the government enforces this announcement which is impractical to everyone's eyes.

The government's enforcement of the announcement is just like a way of "let's spill water first." However, such an action resulted from misjudgment of the government, given the people's high level of democratic consciousness, firm attitude to the mad cow disease, and deep-seated fury to the government.

We know that it is no use crying over spilt milk: so the Korean people will revolt just like volcano in order to force the government to do the right things before the water spills. The government knows very well where the explosive and massive public protest would lead to, should it push the announcement in the end.

Here is our demands in the name of the people:

First, withdraw the governmental announcement;
Second, open to the public the process of the additional negotiation honestly;
Third, engage in national debate sincerely;
Fourth, declare a will to take full-scale renegotiation with the US;

These is only way the government can live with. We advise faithfully that the government should remind the lessons of the history, that is, there was no regime to win the struggle over the people and the regime must face the grave consequences when it resists against the people.

2008.6.25

The People’s Conference against Mad Cow Disease

Universal Periodic Review- Republic of Korea

(beth) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:01:00 +0900

8th Session of the UN Human Rights Council 12 June 2008
(Geneva, Switzerland)

The representatives presented NGO joint oral statement of UPR(Universal Periodic Review) of the government of Republic of Korea, related to the issues of freedom of assembly, migrant worker, and irregular workers.

pspd-forumasia_joint_statement.pdf

oral joint statement

[Photo News]Candlelight Rallies to Protest the Import of Unsafe U.S. Beef

(beth) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:18:00 +0900

Candlelight Rallies to Protest the Import of Unsafe U.S. Beef

The Korean People Gather Together as One at Candlelight Rallies to Protest the Import of Unsafe U.S. Beef and for the Re-negotiation of the Agreement so that it reflects the Concern for the Health and Safety of Korean Consumers.

Present Status
The Korean people’s opposition to U.S. beef imports began on April 18, 2008 when a deal was signed between S. Korea and the US without any regard for public health. The deal which was made between the U.S. and Korean governments would allow the import of U.S. beef with a high possibility of Mad Cow infection into the Korean beef market. The people are concerned about the detrimental effects this agreement could have on the welfare and health of Koreans as a whole. Since the agreement to resume U.S. beef imports was officially announced, citizens not only have joined their voices in unison against this agreement, but they have also gathered together in the form of candlelight rallies to strongly protest the import of U.S. beef. Since then over one million internet users have joined to begin a signature gathering movement against the US beef deal and are demanding that President Lee take responsibility for his actions.

The candlelight rallies began May 2nd with approximately 20,000 citizens who came together to protest the incumbent administration’s agreement to import U.S. beef and has continued steadily since. After the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced the government’s decision to resume U.S. beef imports, it only fueled the Korean citizens’ protests.

On May 2nd, PSPD along with 12 other civil organizations gathered to discuss the formation of a citizen’s organization against the import of U.S. beef. On May 6th, various opposition political parties, approximately 1700 civil organizations and numerous groups formed over the internet gathered to form <Citizens Against the Import of U.S. Beef Organization>. This organization has been committed to participating along with the Korean citizens in their efforts to protest the U.S. beef imports and to urge the Korean government to develop a plan that keeps the health and safety of its citizens in mind.

<Citizens Against the Import of U.S. Beef Organization>, which PSPD is a very active member of, has been working toward creating solidarity among its members and in urging the government to take responsibility for its irresponsible actions. The organization has led efforts in gathering other civil organizations in candlelight rallies and informing the Korean people about the seriousness of U.S. beef imports and the negative effects it will cause. It has been a mouthpiece for the Korean people as the people attempt to right the government’s mistakes and will continue to do so until the U.S. beef import issue is resolved.

Background
On April 18, 2008, Korea and U.S. representatives agreed to resume U.S. beef imports, hours before President Lee Myung-bak’s summit meeting with U.S. President, George Bush. The problematic issue with resuming U.S. beef import is that this agreement does not encompass any restriction policies regarding the age or the parts of the beef to be imported, i.e. bone, vertebrae, marrow, which is directly related to the contraction of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), more commonly known as mad cow disease. This hasty move by the Korean government has caused quite a stir within the Korean society. Because the U.S. beef import issue is directly related to the health and welfare of all involved, many Korean people are voicing their opinions, in unison, and urging the government to reevaluate its unwise decision and to renegotiate with the U.S. regarding the import of American beef.

Citizen’s Movement against the Import of U.S. Beef
Civil Organization’s Actions in Response to Resumption of Import of Unsafe U.S. Beef
Civil organizations have joined together in a coalition to voice opposition for the resumption of U.S. beef imports and to urge the Korean government to renegotiate the beef deal with the U.S. government. PSPD has taken an active, leading role in this coalition.

Nullify the Agreement! Retract the Official Announcement! Fully Re-negotiate! (May 15, 2008)

Many gathered together to urge the Blue House and the Korean Government to re-negotiate the U.S. beef import agreement.

Protesting the Police’s Excessive Suppression of the Candlelight Rallies:
an Infringement on the People’s Right to Free Speech and Expression(May 16, 2008)

A Press Conference in Protest of the Government’s Plan for Official Announcement of U.S. Beef Import in spite of the Korean Citizen’s Opposition: The government’s move will jeopardize the lives of its own people. (May 26, 2008)

Bureaucrat Monitoring Report(Jun 3, 2008)
PSPD has put together a report on the bureaucrats and their consequent actions which led to the resumption of the U.S. beef import deal on the 18th of April, 2008. The report attempts to shed light onto the bureaucrats responsible for the agreement reached between the two governments involved.
The report details the persons directly involved in reaching this agreement and urges those involved to step down from office, taking responsibility for their hasty decision which did not accurately reflect the people’s opinions.

Signature gathering activity to impeach Chief of the National Police Agency(Jun 4~10, 2008)

On May 31, 2008, during the candlelight rally, the police demonstrated unnecessary force on the peaceful protestors using water cannons, fire extinguishers, shields and police batons. Approximately 100 unarmed citizens were injured as a result. There was even an incident of police officers kicking a female college student in the head which only infuriated the Korean people more.

As all Korean citizens are aware, the violence was not prompted by the peaceful protestors but rather the police force. Chief Uh Chung-soo needs to publicly apologize and ask for forgiveness of the people rather than evade this issue.
PSPD began a signature gathering movement to impeach Chief Uh from his office on June 4th. The signatures were delivered to the government on June 10th, 2008, and relays effectively the anger of the people regarding police brutality.

72 Hour Relay Demonstration(Jun 5~7, 2008)
Civil organizations including PSPD gathered together on June 5th began a 72 Hour Relay Demonstration which ended Sunday, June 8th, 2008. People organized this demonstration to actively and accurately convey to the government the extent of the people’s dedication to the issue of unsafe beef imports.

PSPD provided a collection of various events for the participants titled, “I ♥ Democracy.” Participants and all citizens alike were able to take part in peaceful cultural activities and protest U.S. beef imports in a positive way.

June 10 Candlelight Rally in Commemoration of the 1987 Pro-democracy Movement(Jun 10,2008)
citizens gather in a peaceful protest to ask for renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal. It turned out over 70,000 people in Seoul alone, and hundreds of thousands came out in solidarity nationwide to protest U.S. beef imports and request a renegotiation between Korea and the U.S.

The demonstrators remained calm and peaceful and focused on just getting their voices heard instead of engaging the authorities in physical altercations.

Burmese Military Regime Must Accept Humanitarian Aid

(beth) — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:32:37 +0900

Burmese Military Regime Must Accept Humanitarian Aid

The Korean Government Must Urge the Burmese Military Regime to Accept the Relief Aid from the International Community

The worst cyclone to date, the trail of ruins by Cyclone Nargis has left Burma destitute. It is estimated that at least 130,000 people have died or been injured and 2,000,000 cyclone victims have been created as a result. Many of these survivors are suffering from famine and disease. Although the Burmese people are suffering from lack of water and food at this very moment, the Burmese military regime has not taken any measures to protect its people, let alone accept relief aid from the international community. This action of the Burmese military regime can only be seen as an inhumane act that will result in the mass killing of its own people. PSPD urges the Burmese military regime to take urgent action in providing relief for its people as well as immediately cooperating with the international community in receiving humanitarian aid.

The Burmese military regime been rejecting the entry of search and rescue teams from international relief organizations as well as entry of foreign press members. Furthermore, it has also been deporting relief aid workers who are already present in Burma. The military regime has been consistently behaving in inhumane ways towards its people, even as far as confiscating relief materials and deterring relief actions by the Burmese Buddhist monks. Currently in the hard-hit Irrawaddy River delta, communicable diseases such as cholera are rampant, and 20% of Burmese children are complaining of diarrhea and stomach pains. If the Burmese military regime continues to neglect its people whose right to live have been threatened, its actions will bring about a huge calamity to humankind.

However, the Burmese military regime continues to ignore the miserable state in which its people are in. In contrast, in order to maintain its political power, the military regime has been enforcing the referendum for revision of the constitution upon its people as well as regulating foreign assistance. In addition, in order to enforce the referendum, the military regime has formed a police force as well as a military force to intimidate and hold the voters under the regime's control. In a word, the military regime held a referendum under an unfair and politically oppressed situation. In this manner, the Burmese military regime-with no concern for disaster relief activities-has been solely focused on the maintenance of its political power. PSPD can not help but become enraged at these behaviors of the Burmese military regime.

UN, ASEAN, and the international community as a whole are strongly urging the Burmese military regime-which is neglecting the deaths and damages caused by Cyclone Nargis-to receive relief aid for its people. According to principles set up by the UN, the victims of Cyclone Nargis have been classified as internally displaced persons (IDP) and in this case where Burma can not provide emergency disaster support on its own, it can not purposefully withhold intervention of humanitarian aid organizations. Therefore, if the Burmese military regime continues to refuse relief aid, the opinion that "forced humanitarian intervention" must be enforced will only keep getting stronger.

The international community is unfolding solidarity activities such as a signature-seeking campaign and donation collecting campaign so that the Burmese military regime can actively accept support from the international community. However, the reality is that the citizen's organizations efforts are not being communicated to the people of Burma due to the Burmese military regime's political interests and corruption. Responding to the current pressure by the international community, the Burmese military regime has been showing a movement to accept ASEAN and the international community's relief aid. However, because the issue involves the survival of the Burmese victims, the military regime must not restrictively receive aid from only ASEAN nations, but immediately and without condition, broadly receive aid from the international community, and promptly open Burma to relief aid so that it may reach the victims directly.

The Korean government can not just look on thinking that it has completed its responsibility as a member of the international community by providing the bare minimum. The Korean government must strongly urge the Burmese military regime to promptly meet the demands of the international community. The Korean government must also provide necessary support at the political level so that the assistance provided by the Korean people can be directly transferred to meet immediate needs of the Burmese victims. As a developed nation, the Korean government has stated that it would actively pursue a diplomatic policy that contributes to the international community. Therefore, the Korean government must contribute to the democracy and protection of human rights in Asia by participating in an active role regarding the catastrophe in Burma.

ISe2008052900.doc

statement

About PSPD

(beth) — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:46:00 +0900

Founded in 1994 by more than 200 members, the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) is a civil organization dedicated to promoting justice and human rights in Korean society through the participation of the people.

PSPD has been serving as a watchdog against the abuse of power. It has developed various activities to bring justice and democracy to many areas in our society: the PSPD evokes public awareness through campaigns, questioning social and political activities, filing administrative and public litigations, and petitioning legislation. The Civil Actions for 2000 General Election (the CAGE) and the Minority Shareholders’ Campaign might be said to be the most successful activities.

PSPD has developed and coordinated a wide range of activities to bring about a systematic reform and to suggest counterproposals to various government policies and agendas. In this process, the PSPD has regarded independence and consistency as the most important principles of being a watchdog of power.

Departments

PSPD is comprised of 11 departments. Each department is composed of executive committee members, of whom some are progressive scholars, attorneys, accountants, etc.

Center for Judiciary Watch monitors power abuse in the judiciary and provides reform plans. The center publishes a monitoring magazine and operates legal profession archives to record and manage the details of judges’ rulings.

Center for National Assembly Watch contributes to participatory democracy through continuous watch of and civil participation in national politics. It watches the activity of the National Assembly and its members, and operates an on-line archive. The center also monitors the flow of political funds and government subsidies for political parties.

Center for Peace and Disarmament seeks to look for ways to overcome the remnants of the Cold War ideology and bring peace on the Korean Peninsula. Its activities include evaluating policies concerning peace in Korea and East Asia, monitoring military defense policies, proposing alternatives, and peace education.

Center for Tax Reform aims to promote fairness and equality in taxation. It works to make a better society by trying to reform the tax system so that tax is imposed more fairly depending on income level. The center also keeps an eye on tax authorities so that they carry out fair and transparent tax administration based on accurate calculations of income.

Center for Government Administration Watch works on making the society and the government transparent and accountable while stamping out corruption and frauds. The center organizes anti-corruption campaigns, plans legislation, researches policies and monitors government officials. It also works tirelessly to uphold the Freedom of Information Act and supports whistle-blowers who provide information on corrupt activities.

Campaign for Anyone with Stable Life works to recover civil rights that might have been infringed upon by government officials and corporations. To regain the rights of citizens, this team works tirelessly to file litigations for the benefit of the public and to educate people about their rights.

People’s Economic Committee seeks to reform corporate governance and realize democracy in economy by keeping a watchful eye on various businesses activities. The committee monitors chaebol, their practice of monopoly and illegal agreements, and also contributes to creating new laws and systems that protect consumer rights.

Social Welfare Committee strives to reform the social welfare system for all as a right, not blessing from the state. It works on numerous campaigns to ensure the minimum standard of living and the national pension for just right living standards, to extend coverage of the national health care insurance, and to protect the right to adequate housing. It keeps monitoring on national welfare policies and submitting bills improving social welfare for all.

Committee for Fair Labor Society strives to abolish unfair discrimination between regular and irregular workers, and to protect the rights of labor. It works on increasing the minimum wage to enjoy the adequate living condition, requiring corporations to comply with laws and fulfill social responsibilities, campaigning for decent works and work-life balance and suggesting alternative labor policies for fair labor society.

Citizen’s Committee is comprised of a public relations sector and an education sector. Its main purpose is to open channels of communication with the public to foster understanding about PSPD’s work as well as increase awareness of relevant issues through citizen education program.

International Solidarity Committee monitors government’s activities in the international arena and promotes international networking for human rights and democracy, especially among Asia countries. The committee monitors the Korean government’s ODA(Official Development Assistance) policies. In 2004, PSPD obtained a special consultative status with the ECOSOC of UN.

PSPD in Numbers

PSPD was established in 1994. As of December 2007, PSPD has approximately 9,700 members and 50 full-time paid staff members. Membership dues cover 62% of the total budget. The annual budget is US$1.3 Million.

Board Members (2008)

Co-Representative
Prof. Jong-Dae Lim, Ven.Chung-Hwa

Chair of Steering Committee
Prof. Sun-Song Park

Chair of Executive Committee
Prof. Yeon-Myung Kim

Secretary General
Mr. Min-Young Kim

Deputy Secretary General
Mr. Won-Suk Park, Mr. Tae-Ho Lee

PSPD Organizational Structure

10 Years of the PSPD: We have...

- Participated in the minority shareholders’ campaign to reform the chaebol, and lobbied to enact laws that facilitate class action lawsuits by investors against companies suspected of insider trading and stock price manipulation.

- Suggested initiatives for improved care of the poor and underprivileged by lobbying for a bill to install the Basic Living Cost Guarantee Act, and promoted the reform of social insurance.

- Enacted anti-corruption law and protected whistle blowers.

- Campaigned "No Vote" for corrupt candidates in the 2000 and 2004 general elections.

- Promoted initiatives to force chaebol families to pay inheritance tax.

- Pushed for reform of the judicial system to stamp out unreasonable and unfair judicial processes.

- Promoted the freedom of information campaign.

- Promoted the movement against the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the deployment of Korean troops.

- Filed 194 public litigations and petitioned 100 legislations.

engb_final_0521.pdf