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Korean Leaders Opposing FTA Freed!
On September 14, 2007, Mr. Jong-ryul Oh and Mr. Gwang-hoon Jung, the two Co-Chairs of the
Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, were released on bail.
They were arrested on July 03, 2007 on charges of carrying out 'illegal' and 'non-permitted'
protests against the FTA.
Since its formation in March 2006, the Korean Alliance has organized peaceful and
legal demonstrations to protest the FTA, often in the face of government repression.
Article 21 of the Republic of Korea Constitution does not recognize a permit
system for rallies; only a notice needs to be given, which the Korean Alliance
did without fail. Their arrests are in direct violation of their democratic and
constitutional right to assemble and express their political views.
The two elderly Korean Alliance leaders have devoted their lives to bring
democracy to South Korea. Mr. Oh, 79, helped establish the Korean Teachers
and Education Workers' Union. Mr. Jung, 78, was the former president of the
Korean Peasants' League, the national federation of small farmers'
organizations in South Korea.
The process by which the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement was negotiated
was deeply flawed, non-transparent, and allowed for no citizen input.
Furthermore, it was rushed to meet a deadline to be considered under
the recently expired Presidential Trade Promotion Authority, or "Fast Track,"
legislation in the United States, subsuming product to process in a rush to the finish line.
Citizens and civil society organizations must be allowed to give
meaningful input into legislation and agreements that will have such
profound and wide-reaching consequences for their lives and livelihoods.
While we are relieved to see these leaders released, we are gravely
concerned that their arrests signal South Korea's deteriorating respect
for international principles of political and civil rights.
The international community is watching closely this situation,
as it has significant negative implications for the political
stability in South Korea.
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