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2004-11-19 12:27:18
KoPA
KGEUBreakingNews041116.doc (149.5 KB), Download : 360
Anti human rights suppression of KGEU by government and police
You can download articles and photos of the strike action of KGEU.

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KGEU Breaking News #8                                  17th November 2004

Anti human rights suppression of KGEU by government and police

According to documents that the office of MP DAN Byeong-Ho of DLP has obtained, the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs(MOGAHA) has issued a directive on "disciplinary measures concerning KGEU's general strike" to government offices and local governments.
The directive says that government offices and local government should countermeasure KGEU's strike by all means. The MOGAHA even orders local governments to take anti human rights measures like making a blacklist of those who have been actively involved in and expected to join illegal collective activities, chasing mobile phone contacts to tell where striking government employees are and questioning their colleagues and acquaintances. And in the name of securing evidences of illegal collective action, the ministry demand to form a special task force in each local government and ministries to carry out securing evidences such as taking pictures or making video records of those who are involved in KGEU's activities. The ministry even warns that those who connive and give countenance to illegal activities will be punished as well and that if those who are in charge are sluggish in proceeding disciplinary measures will be reprimanded.
This is the very evidence that the government has designed to annihilate KGEU by intention, and that the MOGAHA has abuse its authority against local autonomy to suppress KGEU. It just shows government anachronistic attitude on trade unions reminding of military dictatorship in the past.
On 16th two detectives trying to inspect KGEU's office in secret were uncovered by KGEU and KCTU members. The detectives were searching and inspecting the office inside without any warrants.

Followings are excerpt from MOGAHA's directive on disciplinary measures concerning KGEU's general strike;

Directive on disciplinary measures concerning KGEU's general strike

1. On preparation in advance for securing evidences to take disciplinary measures
  ¡Û Superintending and making a list by singling out those who have been expected to join illegal activities
    - Securing personal information and pictures of those who have actively been involved in activities of illegal union such as education, encouraging, fund raising and demonstration, in advance
  ¡Û Being prepared to securing evidences to take disciplinary measures
    - Each local government shall make a report on how many government employees would join illegal activities such as the number of KGEU members, ordinary level of struggle with union and how much fund has been raised, and shall also form a special task force to carry out securing evidences.
    - Cooperative network with prosecution and police
    - Getting equipped with cameras, video camcorders and recorders to secure evidences

2. Uncovering and securing evidences of illegal activities
  ¡Û Securing evidences to take disciplinary measures in cooperation with the police and non union members, based on "directive countermeasuing KGEU's strike"(MOGAHA)
    - Making a report on activities of those who have encouraged signature campaign for general strike and who have signed up to the campaign.
    - Surveilling, supervising and chasing to secure evidences for illegal activities of those who are expected to be absent from office, to use annual leave, and to leave during worktime
    - Making a list of those who are expected to lead and join the KGEU's rallies on 6th, Nov. and securing evidences of those illegal activities
    - Obtaining information on illegal activities from family, relatives and friends of those under observation and encouraging to make a file and to uncover illegal activities
    - Securing evidences such as polling stations, poll boxes and ballot papers, as well as pictures of those who are leading and getting involved in KGEU's ballots including internet vote.
    - Blockading of planning and agitating for participation in KCTU's annual workers' rally on 13-14th Nov. and KGEU's strike rally
    - Securing evidences of expected participants to the rallies by chasing them and taking pictures of those illegal activities
    - Chasing and making a file of those who participate in strike
    - Monitoring local governors and managers' countermeasuring KGEU's strike to call them to account
    - Securing personal information and evidences of those who connive and giver countenance to illegal activities as well as those who are involved in the activities concerning strike
    - Securing evidences such as searching illegal union's web sites and confiscating leaflets and making a list of those who witness illegal activities.
    - Tracing where they are by chasing mobile phone contacts and questioning their colleagues and acquaintances, if difficult to secure evidences confirming absentees's participation in strike

3. Preparation for disciplinary measures taking
  Regardless of how many they are, disciplinary measures based on principles shall be taken to all those concerned.
  ¡Û Reprimanding those who are in charge, if they are sluggish in proceeding disciplinary measures
  ¡Û For this strike is illegal collective action disordering state discipline and damaging national security, there shall not be any mitigation of penalty.


Situation changed?

"What is the weapon of the workers to break poisonous laws? It is strike of workers." Who do you think said this 'slogan'? It is President ROH Moo-Hyun, as an MP actively advocating workers' interests 16 years ago. And in 1988, he initiated a revised bill of Labor Law to fully guarantee government employees' basic labour rights including right to strike. At that time, MP LEE Hae-Chan(Prime Minister now), MP KIM Won-Gee(Chairperson of the National Assembly, now), MP KIM Young-Sam(former President), and MP KIM Dae-Jung(former President) joined passing this bill. It was passed in the National Assembly, but then President ROH Tae-Woo vetoed the bill.
In 2002 as well, MP LEE Boo-Young(Chairperson of the Ruling Party, now) and MP CHEON Jeong-Bae(Floor Leader of the Ruling Party, now) drafted a revised bill of Labor Law, similar to one in 1988, to fully guarantee government employees' basic labour rights including right to strike. Then MP LEE Boo-Young said that without right to strike it could not be called trade union.
When Prime Minister LEE Hae-Chan was asked about this by MP NOH Hwoi-Chan from the DLP, he firmly answered that situation has been changed. 17 years of development for democracy from dictatorship meant nothing to him and 'situation has been changed' toward limiting basic labour rights of government employees.


Those who have been under arrest warrants

KIM Young-Gil, President
JEONG Yong-Cheon, First Vice President
AHN Byeong-Soon, General Secretary
KIM Jeong-Soo, Vice President
MIN Jeom-Gee, Vice President
KIM Sang-Girl, Vice President
BAHN Byeong-Ja, Vice President
KIM Il-Soo, Vice President
GWON Seung-Bok, Chair of Anti-Corruption Campaign Committee

NOH Myeong-Woo, Chair of Seoul Regional Branch
HAN Seok-Woo, Chair of Busan Regional Branch
KIM Gab-Soo, Chair of Ulsan Regional Branch
KIM Won-Geun, Chair of Gyeonggi Regional Branch
KANG Yang-Hee, Chair of Gangwon Regional Branch
KIM Sang-Bong, Chair of Chungbuk Regional Branch
KIM Boo-Yoo, Chair of Chungnam Regional Branch
PARK Jong-Shik, Chair of Jeonbuk Regional Branch
KANG Ki-Soo, Chair of Gwangju Regional Branch
PARK Hyeong-Gee, Chair of Jeonnam Regional Branch
KEE Byeong-Ha, Chair of Gyeongnam Regional Branch
KIM Yeong-Cheol, Chair of Jeju Regional Branch
Lee Tae-Gee, Chair of Educational Administrative Organs Branch

LEE Joon-Gee, Deputy Secretary
JEONG Yong-Hae, Spokesperson
SEO Hyeong-Taek, Policy Planning Secretary
LEE Ho-Seong, Organising Secretary
KANG Soo-Dong, Education & Publicity Secretary
HYEON In-Deok, External Relations Secretary
LEE Byeong-Gwan, Executive Director of Organising
SEO Tae-Won, Executive Director of Industrial Dispute

LEE Choon-Shik, Director General of Ulsan Regional Branch
LEE Dal-Soo, Chair of Seoul Ganbuk-ku Chapter
LEE Gyu-Sam, Chair of Gangwon Wonju-si(city) Chapter
CHOI Seon-Jung, Director General of Gangwon Wonju Chapter

8 Chairs of chapters in Chungbuk Regional Branch

There may be more of KGEU members under arrest warrants


Those who have been arrested

13th
  JEONG Woo-Wan, Executive Director of Finance
    : arrested when he tried to get access to his email account at an internet cafe. released 2 days later
  KIM Yong-Seong, Chair of National Assembly Branch
    : released 2 days later
  GWON Jong-Mahn, Chair of Seoul Yeongdeungpo-gu Chapter
    : arrested in front of his chapter office. detained on 16th
14th
  KIM Hyeong-Cheol, Chairperson of Political Empowerment Committee
    : arrested after the KCTU's annual workers' rally on 14th. detained.
  NAM Hyeon-Woo, Chair of Seoul Gangseo-gu Chapter
    : released 2 days later
15th
  HONG Seong-Ho, Executive Director of bargaining
    : released 2 days later
  HYEON Chang-Hyo, Chair of Incheon Gyeoyang-gu Chapter
    : arrested after a rally at Hanyang University on 15th. detention warrant claimed
  LEE Deok-Woo, Chair of Ulsan Nam-gu Chapter
    : arrested after a rally at Hanyang University on 15th. detention warrant claimed
  HEO Won-Haeng, First Vice Chair of Seoul Guro-gu Chapter
    : arrested after a rally at Hanyang University on 15th. detention warrant claimed
  KIM Bae, Chair of Daegu Dong-gu Chapter
    : arrested after a rally at Hanyang University on 15th. detained on 17th
  24 more arrested after a rally at Hanyang University on 15th. released one day later
  6 arrested after a rally in front of Gangnam Bus Depot on 15th. released an hour later
  19 members of Gangwon Branch arrested for walk-out on 15th. released one day later
  KIM Seon-Tae, Chair of Jeonnam Gangjin-gun(county) Chapter
    : arrested while walk-out on 15th. detention warrant claimed
  48 more members of Jeonnam Gangjin-gun Chapter
    : arrested for walk-out on 15th. released one day later
  39 members of Ulsan Branch arrested for walk-out on 15th. released one day later
  KANG Dong-Jin, Director General of Gyeongnam Branch
    : arrested in front of his branch office. detention warrant claimed
  19 more members of Gyeongnam Branch
    : arrested for walk-out on 15th. released one day later
  LEE Il-Sook, Director of Women's Activities of Gyeonggi Goyang Chapter
    : arrested for walk-out on 15th. released one day later
  AHN Jeong-Gook, Delegate, Gyeonggi Goyang Chapter
    : arrested for walk-out on 15th. released one day later
16th
  CHOI Yoon-Hwan, Chair of Daegu/Gyeongbuk Regional Branch
    : arrested with police questioning
  PARK Joon-Bok, Chairperson of Auditing Committee
    : arrested with police questioning
  KANG Woong-Je, Exectuive Director of Policy Planning
    : arrested with police questioning
  15 members of solidarity organisations like KCTU and DLP
    : arrested while joining a rally for protesting government suppression of KGEU in Wonju, Ganwon-do(province). released hours later.
17th
  GYEONG Gab-Soo, Chair of Chungbuk Jecheon Chapter
    : arrested for KGEU's industrial ballots
  YEO Jae-Yool, Chair of Ulsan Buk-ku(district) Chapter
    : arrested in front of his Chapter office
  KIM Boo-Hwan, Chair of Ulsan Jung-gu Chapter
  LEE Gwang-Woo, Chair of Gangwon Samcheok Chapter
  KANG Yeong-Goo, Chair of Incheon Regional Branch
    : arrested in a cathedral
Video Clip on KGEU¡¯s struggle
mms://soli.cast.or.kr/cham/power/04/1115.wmv
- The riot cops have been deployed around all the major universities where KGEU's strike rallies seem to be held. And the police has indiscriminately questioned passers-by and those who look like striking government employees. The striking KGEU members have dispersed and gathered once a while to hold a rally. In the morning on 15th, the KGEU held a rally at Hanyang University, but riot cops swept in right away. After the rally 28 KGEU members were arrested. In the afternoon, the KGEU held a rally again in front of a bus depot, but 15 minutes later riot cops rushed there. The striking KGEU members were able to disperse successfully, but 6 members of solidarity organisation who have observed KGEU's rally were arrested. They stated that they were not striking government employees and showing their IDs but riop cops didn't care at all.
This viedo clip is on striking workers' rally and police' arrest of 6 members of solidarity organisations.


Your solidarity desperately needed! Please send your message to the Korean government demanding to stop the repression and to come up to talks with the KGEU. Solidarity Message to the KGEU, protest letter to the Korean government and protest visit to Korean mission abroad may be a lot helpful.

Followings are where you are expected to send your message;

President ROH Moo-hyun
The President of Republic of Korea
1 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-820, Republic of Korea      
E-mail: president@cwd.go.kr
Fax: +82-2-770-0347

Prime Minister LEE Hae-Chan
Office of the Prime Minister, Republic of Korea
77-6, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-760, Korea
Email: m_opm@opm.go.kr
Fax: +82-2-720-3571

Minister HUH Sung Kwan
The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs
The Government Central Building
77-6 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-760, Korea
Email: minister6@mogaha.go.kr
Fax: +82-2-3703-5501
     +82-2-3703-5526

CC: KGEU Fax: +82-2-2631-1949 Email: kisto@jinbo.net kgeu@kgeu.org




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