ACTION ALERT: Write a Letter to the President of South Korea

DATE: May 10, 2009


TO: International Community Concerned about Democratic Principles and the Peace Movement


FROM: Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements(KAPM)
150-982 Daeyoung Building 3F, 139 Youngdeungpo-dong 2-ga, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Tel: 82-2-2631-5027    www.jinbocorea.corea.org

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

- Please write a letter to the President of South Korea to immediately stop the oppression of the peaceful peace movement and imprisonment of people engaged in peace and reunification movements. Please email your letter directly to the following address: foreign@president.go.kr. Please see the sample letter.
- Send your support to us at jinbocorea@hanmail.net

SITUATION:

In the midst of escalating police violence in Seoul, Korea, aimed at silencing public outcry against the Lee Myung-Bak administration's anti-people policies and decisions, the National Intelligence Service (a sort of Korean CIA) raided the office of the South Korean branch of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR) and arrested 6 activists on May 6. 3 (Lee, Kyu-Jae; Lee, Kyeong-Won; Jang; Choi, Eun-A) of the 6 activists were immediately imprisoned with the authorization of the Korean Prosecutor.

The Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR) was set up in 1991 as part of the efforts for reconciliation and solidarity among the South Koreans, North Koreans and Korean residents in the foreign countries. It has openly worked for the self-determined, peaceful reunification of Korea, openly publicizing all the results of the meetings with North Korea by fax. Furthermore, it is said that the PKAR has helped to facilitate communication with North Korean on the request of the South Korean government when the relationship between the SK and NK was blocked.

Even though the PKAR was maliciously labeled by then right wing South Korean government in 1995 as the 'enemy (North Korea)' organization, the following governments have tolerated it, especially since the first historical summit meeting between Kim, Jong-Il (NK) and former SK President Kim, Dae-Joong on June 15, 2000 which established the first separate family meetings and other peaceful reconciliation efforts since then. Ex-president Noh, Moo-Hyun (who took office after Kim Dae-Joong) also had a summit meeting with NK leader and reaffirmed the June 15 declaration. 

However, the current administration is trying to invalidate the past achievements of the peaceful reunification efforts and return to the Cold War situation.

The South Korean branch, Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), is affiliated to the Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements (KAPM). The South Korean Administration singled out "Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements (KAPM)" as the mastermind behind protests related to the Korea-US FTA and Reunification Movement. Police once arrested 6 people in relation to protests against Korea-US FTA and the US beef deal for the last 2 years and confiscated 22 computers from the KAPM office for the last 2 years. 2 of 3 PKAR activists are also activists of KAPM. Lee, Kyu-Jae, Chair of PKAR, is over 70 years old and has been involved in the reunification movement for a long time.

The arrest of PKAR officers is obvious proof that the South Korean government intends to crack down on the peaceful reunification movements in the South Korea for the interest of the current unpopular Lee Myung -Bak administration, who has been severely oppressing the civil rights movement since its launch, repressing various people-gatherings, freedom of speech and other peace movements.

THE SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Mr. President,

We are very worried about the current situation in Korea, namely with the raiding of the office of the South Korean branch, Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR) and the arrest of 3 activists.

We understand that Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR) was founded in 1991 as a part of the efforts for reconciliation and solidarity among the South Koreans, North Koreans and Korean residents in the foreign countries.  Together, they have openly worked for the self-determined, peaceful reunification of Korea, openly publicizing all of the results of the meetings with the North Korea by fax. Furthermore, it is said that the PKAR has helped to facilitate communication with North Korean on the request of the South Korean government when the relationship between the SK and NK was blocked.

We think that peace and the reunification of the Korean peninsula is very important for world peace. In addition, we believe that the Seoul branch of the PKAR efforts to exchange and communicate with North Koreans is contributing to peace on the Korean peninsula.  

We are very shocked to hear that PKAR activists were arrested for violating the National Security Law. We understand that the National Security Law does not guarantee basic human rights such as the right to political thought, freedom of speech and so on, and the abolishment of the law has been one of crucial demands of civil society. Also, we know that according the law, NK is stipulated as an enemy, even though NK should be a partner of reunification. We think an undemocratic law such as the South Korean National Security Law, used to suppress civil society in name of national security, has to be abolished. Therefore the arrest due to the National Security Law cannot be justified.

We think the PKAR activities are right and should be encouraged, not punished.

We urge the South Korean government to release 3 activists of PKAR and stop all repression of the peaceful movement.

For the reunification of two Koreas !

Sincerely,

Name :

Organization :