[KS] South Korea's Rollback of Democratic Rights

george katsiaficas katsiaficasg at wit.edu
Tue May 5 16:17:31 EDT 2009


Dear all,

I think the excerpt below of an article from today's Hankyoreh might be of
interest. The full article can be found at
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/353268.html

"S. Korean police round up citizens holding press conferences

Seoul¹s Seodaemun Police Station, meanwhile, forcefully hauled in Monday six
of about 20 civic and social group members who held a press conference in
front of the National Police Agency (NPA) headquarters in Seodaemun-gu
criticizing police for what they called an excessive crackdown on the Labor
Day and one-year candlelight anniversary demonstrations. The arrested
included a Ms. Myoung-sook of SARANGBANG group for human rights.

After hearing that demonstrators chanted for the resignation of NPA
commissioner Kang Hee-rak and an end to violent crackdowns during the press
conference, the police charged participants with holding a demonstration
without prior notification. Kim Sang-mun of Seodaemun Police Station said
the demonstration protested the police¹s execution of its duties, and since
the guideline for law enforcement has changed into a principle of no
tolerance, the police responded out of principle.

About this, Human Rights Network activist Rang-hee said this was almost the
first time anyoneŒs been hauled in for a press conference, which are being
held all of the time. It seems police are stopping even press conferences to
block the spread of opinion.

The Human Rights Network Korea, the Korea Progressive Alliance and Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions issued a joint statement Monday claiming that
even participants in a press conference condemning violent arrests by police
have been violently hauled in. They call for police to stop their excessive
crackdowns and guarantee the freedom to assemble and demonstrate.

Meanwhile, Lawyers for a Democratic Society interviewed protest participants
currently undergoing questioning at 11 police stations in downtown Seoul
after they were arrested in candlelight-related demonstrations. Seol
Chang-il, a lawyer with Lawyers for a Democratic Society, says it appears a
fair number of high school students and even citizens who were watching the
demonstrations were round up. He also said there were individuals who needed
hospital treatment after they were severely assaulted during their arrest."

George Katsiaficas
Visiting Professor
Department of Sociology
Chonnam National University
Buk-ku Yongbongdong 300
500-757 GWANGJU 
South Korea






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