국제앰네스티
성명서
AI Index: ASA 25/006/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 142
2007년 7월 26일
국제앰네스티는 2007년 7월 3일 한-미 자유무역협정에 대항한 집회로 오정렬과 정광훈 대표를 구속한 것에 대해 심각한 우려를 표한다. 오정렬과 정광훈은 300여개의 한국시민사회운동단체들의 대대적인 연대체인 한-미 자유무역협정 저지 범국민운동본부의 공동대표이다. 또한 2007년 6월30일 노무현 대통령과 부시 대통령에 의해 타결된 무역협정에 대해 평화적인 시위를 했다.
그들은 ‘불법적’이고 ‘허가되지 않은’ 집회를 연 혐의로 구속되었다. 하지만 이들은 미리 대한민국 정부에 집회신고를 지속적으로 했던 것으로 알려져있다. 대한민국 헌법 (21조)는 집회의 허가제를 금지하고 있다.
69세인 오정렬과 68세인 정광훈은 현재 서울구치소에 수감중이다. 이들에 대한 재판은 8월10일에 열릴 예정이다.
국제앰네스티는 오정렬과 정광훈의 구속은 자신의 의견을 표현하고 집회를 열 수 있는 자유를 명시한 헌법에 직접적으로 위반되며 이들은 양심수이다. 국제앰네스티는 대한민국 정부에 이들에 대해 즉각적이고 무조건적인 석방을 촉구한다.
오정렬과 정광훈의 구속은 2007년 6월 28, 29일 한미 FTA의 체결에 반대하며 파업을 벌이고 범국민운동본부가 주최한 6월29일의 집회에 참여한 금속노동조합의 집행부 67명이 표적이 되어 소환장이 발부된 직후에 이루어졌다.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: ASA 25/006/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 142
26 July 2007
South Korea: Crackdown against Free Trade Agreement protest leaders Amnesty International would like to express its serious concern at the arrests of Oh Jong-ryul and Jung Gwang-hoon on 3 July 2007 on charges of protesting against the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (Korea-US FTA). Mr Oh and Mr Jung are Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA (KoA), a broad alliance of about 300 different civil society and social movement groups in South Korea which is committed to peaceful protest against the trade agreement which was signed by President Roh Moo-hyun and George W Bush on 30 June 2007.
They were arrested on charges of carrying out ‘illegal’ and ‘non/un-permitted’ protests though the KoA has reportedly served the requisite notice to the Korean government about conducting the strike. The South Korean constitution (Article 21) does not recognize a permit system for rallies; a notice needs to be given, which the organizers, the KoA, have reportedly done.
69 year-old Oh Jung-ryul and 68 year-old Jung Gwang-hoon are currently detained at Seoul Detention Centre. They are expected to go on trial on 10 August. Amnesty International believes that the arrests of Mr Oh and Mr Jung are a direct violation of their constitutional right to assemble and express their opinion and that both Mr Oh and Mr Jung are Prisoners of Conscience. Amnesty International urges the South Korean government to release the two men immediately and unconditionally.
The arrests of Mr Oh and Mr Jung comes in the wake of the issuance of 67 arrest warrants targeting senior leaders of the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMTU) who spearheaded strikes on 28 and 29 June 2007 against the signing of the Korea-US FTA and whose closing rally on 29 June was part of the strike organized by the KoA. Background
Since its formation in March 2006, the KoA has reportedly organized peaceful and legal demonstrations against the Korea-US FTA, which it believes is an unjust agreement for the people of South Korea, the U.S., and the world. However, since November 2006, the Roh Moo-hyun Administration has declared all KoA’s public rallies illegal. Police suppression has reportedly been severe on all activities of the KoA. AI is concerned that the Roh Moo-hyun Administration has 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 in the past. He has also worked for the abolition of the National Security Law, for which he was again imprisoned.
Mr. Jung was born in 1939 in the city of Haenam. He has served as President of the Korean Peasants’ League, the national federation of small farmers’ organizations.
Following arrest warrants against 67 leaders of the Korea Metal Trade Union (KMTU), their employers have reportedly filed damages claims for losses, resulting in the government opening investigations for possible “criminal obstruction of business” of the KMTU leaders at regional, national and local level because of the strike, thereby opening the path for police interference into union affairs and harassment against union leaders.
AI Index: ASA 25/006/2007 26 July 2007
