No FTA Newsletter 
Official News of the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA 
www.nofta.com  nofta@hanmail.net 
July 23, 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 18, 2007

 

From: International Community Concerned about Democratic Principles and Economic and Social Justice

To: South Korea?셲 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?셲 disregard for their old age and health conditions shows a sign of inhumane treatment. 

 

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?셲 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?셲 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?셲 activities are singled out and determined as illegal indicates a direct attack against a people?셲 organization and an obvious violation of Korea?셲 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?셲 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. 

Signed:
 
Organizations (116)

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, National Office
CEPU, Electrical Division
SEARCH Foundation
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, New South Wales
Via Campesina Austria
CADTM Belgium (Comittee for Cancelation of the Third World Debt)
Conlutas (National Coordination of Struggles)
National Metalworkers' Confederation of CUT
Partido Socialista dos Trabalhadores Unificado
Canada Haiti Action Network (CHAN)
Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW)
Isabeau Prémont-Schwarz
Asia Monitor Resource Center
Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong
Globalization Monitor
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)
Hong Kong People's Alliance on Globalization (HKPA)
World Thought Organization
Zi Teng
Institute of Alternative Legal Services (ILSA)
La Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indigenas (CAOI)
ATTAC France (Association pour la Taxation des Transactions pour l?섲ide aux Citoyens)
Europe solidaire sans frontieres (ESSF)
FTM-CGT (Metalworkers Union of France)
Public Services International
IG Metall
Campaign Genoa 2001
Stop the War Coalition
Mesa Global de Guatemala
Plate-forme haitienne de Plaidoyer pour un Developpement Alternatif (PAPDA)
Centre of Indian Trade Unions
Party of Communist Refoundation
ATTAC Japan (Association for Taxation of the finacial Transaction for the Aid of Citizens)
Coalition Paysanne de Madagascar
Consumers Association of Penang
Friends of the Earth Malaysia
Socialist Party of Malaysia
Third World Network
Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN)
La Asociacion Latinoamericana de Micro, Pequenos, y Medianos Empresarios, A.C.
Labour, Health and Human Rights Development
Reseau National Dette et Developpement (RNDD)-Niger
CORECAMI - AQP (Coordinadora Regional de Comunidades Afectadas por la Mineria)
La Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres
GRAIN
Migrante Metro-Baguio
Dundee Trades Union Council
South Durban community Environmental Alliance
Ecologistas en Acción
Observatorio de la Deuda en la Globalización
Centre for Protection of Right to Life and Democracy
International Union of Food, Agriculture, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, and Allied Work (IUF)
Swiss Korea Committee (KFA Switzerland)
Thai Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+)
Committee for Asian Women (CAW)
Corporate Europe Observatory
Transnational Institute (TNI)
Farmer Unions Confederating Platform
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
ACTUP New York
Alliance for Responsible Trade
American Run to End AIDS (AREA)
Anakbayan Los Angeles
AnakBayan Seattle
BAYAN USA Southern California
Boston Korea Friendship Association
CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 626
Casa Baltimore/Limay
Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health
Change to Win
Channing and Popai Liem Education Foundation
Citizens Trade Campaign
Committee for Social Justice in Colombia (CSJC)
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES)
Congress for Korea Reunification
Consejo Nacional de Danza Azteca Cuauhtemoc
Cuauhtemoc Mexica Group
Educational Network for Global and Grassroots Exchange (ENGAGE)
El Polo Democratico Alternativo
End AIDS Now
Global Exchange
Grassroots Global Justice Alliance
Habi Arts
Harlem Tenants Council
Health GAP (Global Access Project)
International Action Center
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Labor Rights Forum
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
Justice Committee
Korean American National Coordinating Council, Inc.
Korean Americans against War and Neoliberalism
Korean Americans for Fair Trade
Laborers' International Union of North America
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Movimiento por la Paz
National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA)
New York People's Referendum against Free Trade
Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
Polo Democratico Alternativo
Public Citizen
Puerto Rican Alliance Of Los Angeles
Quixote Center/Quest for Peace
Sahngnoksoo
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network
Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice
UNITE HERE
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE)
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Vermont Workers' Center
NW Legacy of Equality, Leadership and Organizing
 
Individuals (145): See attached

The Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA (KoA)
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 (also attached)

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

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 'illegal' and 'non-permitted'
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's 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's 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' Union, for which he was
imprisoned. He has worked tirelessly for democracy, unification, and
the abolition of Korea's 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' League, the national
federation of small farmers' organizations. He has for years led the
farmers' 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 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's 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's disregard for their old age and health conditions shows a
sign of inhumane treatment.

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's 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's 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's activities are singled out and determined as illegal
indicates a direct attack against a people's organization and an
obvious violation of Korea's 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's 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.

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

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

No FTA Newsletter  
Official News of the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA  
www.nofta.or.kr nofta@hanmail.net  
June 25, 2007  
 

Suppression of Anti-FTA Struggles Continues  

In the Newsletter
-Korean Government?셲 Deliberate Distortion on Metal Workers??Just Walkouts-
-Police Trying to Arrest Two Co-Chairs of Korean Alliance-  
 
 
Korean Government?셲 Deliberate Distortion on Metal Workers??Just Walkouts  

On June 19, the Korean Metal Workers??Union, an affiliate of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, announced that it will hold a general strike from June 25 to June 29. The strike aims to show workers??three demands. One demand is to protest against the Korea-U.S. FTA, scheduled to be signed by the two countries on June 30. In addition the union is striking in opposition to the government?셲 law on irregular workers, which is predicted to create more unstable and low-paying jobs and Korea?셲 minimum wage structure, which does not provide a living wage to low-paid workers. The third one is to demand a law protecting outsourced workers. June 29 is also the day of a national rally against the FTA hosted by the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA.  
 
The Roh Moo-hyun administration and conservative media have lambasted the action calling it an ?쁦llegal political strike.??They are recklessly complaining that the action is not aimed at protecting the interest of union members, but instead politically motivated and therefore against the law. Using these excuses, the administration is planning to arrest and prosecute union leaders and mobilize massive force to stop the strike from going forward. About nineteen union members are expected to be indicted from the strike.  
 
But the administration?셲 logic is highly hypocritical: Whenever workers strike for improvement in their working conditions and wages, the administration criticizes them for acting ?쁬erely out of self-interested.??Yet, now, when the KMWU calls an action to protect not only its own members, but the interest of Korean society at large, they label the action ?쁯olitical??and ?쁦llegal??and seek to break it with national force. This hypocrisy shows that in fact in the administration?셲 opinion, no form of strike at all should be allowed. For KMWU?셲 however, this strike is not about following the flawed claims about legality made the government. KMWU has called the strike knowing full well that no matter what process it went through in decision-making, the administration would call the action illegal, because it understands the necessity of taking a stance against a destructive trade pact, whose negotiation did not even bare the faintest resemblance to democracy. The administration?셲 threats against KMWU, on the other hand, only make it all the more clear that it and the conservative forces, with which it is aligned, are repressive and anti-labor in nature. Here, it is the administration?셲 tactics, not the KMWU?셲 action, which should be deemed undemocratic.  
 
The administration and the mainstream media have been claiming that the car industry, which is part of the Metal Workers??Union, stands to gain the most out of all sectors from the FTA. The fact is, however, while it is questionable how much exports to the U.S. will really increase because of the FTA, it is quite clear that any profits will go to capital and not to workers themselves. The Korean auto industry is already overrun with foreign investment, and the tendency for businesses to move outside of Korea in search of cheap labor is high. The result is increased job insecurity and competition between workers and the diminishing of labor conditions and labor rights. The Korea-U.S. FTA and all FTAs only stand to increase these trends while making the movement of capital overseas easier. In addition, the influx of cars from the United States will put pressure on domestic producers, easily leading to reduction of the domestic labor force and weakening of protection for labor rights.  
 
However, the KMWU?셲 strike is not focused narrowly on the interests of one part or even all of its membership. Rather it is an action in recognition that the Korea-U.S. FTA is harmful to all workers and, beyond that, to all common people in Korean society. Given this, it is clear that the strike is a Constitutional right and courageous and just action against an unfair trade policy that puts the profit of a few big corporations before the interests of people. We, Korean Alliance, are holding press conferences and releasing statement about the just nature of this strike. We stand firmly with the KMWU to defend the strike and stop the signing of the Korea-U.S. FTA.  
 
Police Trying to Arrest Two Co-Chairs of Korean Alliance-  
On Friday, June 22, a week before the national rally to be held on June 29, the police made a request to the courts for the arrest warrants of two chairpersons of the Korean Alliance. They are required to appear on Monday in person where the validity of their possible warrants will be determined. Along with the suppression of Korean Metal Workers??Union?셲 strike next week, the police?셲 attempt to arrest the officers signifies the overall suppression of the people?셲 movement.

The suppression, ordered by the Roh Administration, is an assault on the people?셲 right to what we think is wrong about state affairs. Freedom of association is thus fundamental in a democratic society. The suppression violates the basic rights inherent in all free people, and such rights ought to be protected in a democracy. The persons who should be investigated and arrested are the Roh Moo-Hyun administration.  
 
Mr. Oh and Mr. Jung have devoted over four decades of their lives to the people?셲 struggles against authoritarian regimes and destructive effects of neoliberalism. Mr. Oh has led Korea?셲 unification movement and social movement. Mr. Jung served as Chair of the Korean Peasants League and is responsible for taking Korean farmers??struggle to the international stage. They both have been previously imprisoned for a number of years for their activism.  
 
At the moment, two other officers of the Korean Alliance are under warrants. Park Seok-woon, Executive Committee Chair, and Ju Je-jun, General Secretary, have been wanted by the police for charge of instigating anti-FTA protests since November 2006. For the past 7 months, they have been living and working with KoA under warrant.

For countless number of Korea?셲 activists, warrants and arrests have become a harsh reality. The state suppression of the people has continued below the guise of a democracy. But this also testifies the strength and will of the people of Korea and the world to fight against regimes and policies that harm their community and livelihood. In opposition to the planned signing of the Korea-U.S. FTA on June 30, the Korean Alliance will hold a national rally on June 29. The rally is part of the campaign to stop the ratification of the trade agreement. This campaign is expected to continue well into the fall and winter seasons.