Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- UA001222(18)

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background
Update

Summary

On 18 December 2000, members of 20 human rights groups in Korea staged a hunger strike in Myung-Dong Cathedral in spite of a freezing weather of zero degrees Celsius. The human rights groups demanded that the National Security Law should be abolished and the effective National Human Rights Commission should be established in a proper manner. Both are President Kim Dae-jung's promise. However, there was no significant progress in these areas for 3 years since Kim's inauguration. The hunger strike will continue for a week and, according to the government's response, can be prolonged.

Recently, the bill of the abolishment of National Security Law and the bill of the establishment of National Human Rights Commission were submitted to the National Assembly. However, neither the ruling party nor the opposition party carefully considered passing them. Therefore, Korean Human Rights Activists staged a hunger strike, strongly requesting the President Kim, Dae-Jung and the ruling party to keep the public promise.

The call for the abolition of National Security Law has been a long on-going battle for the Koreans. In 1999, Hotline issued three urgent appeals [UA990628(9), UA991004(17) and UA991216(18)] in support of their efforts, and this year, the support to achieve the unattained goal still continue.

Please write polite letters to express your concern about the unjust National Security Law and the health situation of the people participating in the hunger strike. Please also request the authorities to consider the abolition of the National Security Law and establish the National Human Rights Commission.

Sample Letter

Background

In February 1998 President Kim Dae-jung, a former political prisoner and human rights campaigner, took office promising to respect and enhance human rights in South Korea.

Based on the country report of the Amnesty International (ASA 25/027/1998), ‘After six months in office, there has been some progress. President Kim Dae-jung's government has taken steps to establish a national human rights commission and has committed itself to improving human rights education. Over 150 political prisoners were released after prisoner amnesties in March and August, and in July the government announced that political prisoners would no longer be forced to change their political views (known as ideological "conversion") to qualify for early release. The government took steps to facilitate civilian contacts with North Korea, which included plans for uniting divided families. The President has publicly stated his commitment to participate in international efforts to protect human rights.

But in many respects, the human rights situation remains unchanged and some rights have been eroded as a result of the economic crisis. Over 180 people are reported to have been arrested under the National Security Law between February and August 1998, most of whom were held for the non-violent exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and association. During these months trade unionists have been arrested and harassed for exercising their basic labour rights. Criminal suspects and prisoners have continued to face ill-treatment by law enforcement officials and further steps are needed to protect vulnerable groups such as migrant workers, asylum seekers and women. The lack of structural and legislative human rights reform is disappointing, although Amnesty International welcomes proposals to establish a national human rights commission.’

Calls to Abolish the National Security Law (NSL):

It was believed that the Inter-Korean Summit (North & South) of June 15, 1999 provided President Kim with a perfect chance to abolish NSL. But he appeared to lose interest in the significant revision of NSL. It seems also that the ruling party intends to delay the NSL issue until the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two Koreas. Official efforts towards the peace treaty, however, have not yet been launched and it may take years. Up until then the human rights of thousands of political activists will continue to be endangered.

Before the closing session of the National Assembly, which was ended on 9 December 2000, human rights and other NGOs organized a three-day sit-in protest from November 27 to 29 in front of the Myung-Dong Cathedral under much media attention. They would like to remind the authorities that the NSL should be repealed or significantly amended and the effective Human Rights Commission Law (HRCL) should be enacted.

On 1 December 2000, the 52nd anniversary day of NSL, a dozen of leading activists of the National Solidarity for Abolition of NSL gathered in front of the Myung-Dong Cathedral. More sit-ins, demonstrations, rallies, and hunger strikes were scheduled during that week, especially on the occasion of the departure of President Kim to Oslo, Norway, to attend the Nobel Prize awarding ceremony on 8 December.

Korean human rights NGOs demanded President Kim that at least the core clauses of NSL under which enemy-benefiting expressions and organizations are punishable be deleted. The arbitrariness and thought-punishing nature of NSL would then be much reduced. On 18 December 2000, another round of hunger strike started.

National Security Law (NSL):

Article 7 of the NSL provides up to seven years’ imprisonment for the act of “praising” or “benefitting” an "anti-state" organization "with the knowledge that s/he might endanger the existence, security of the State or the basic order of free democracy" (North Korea is defined as an "anti-state" organization). This vague provision is the most commonly used and abused clause of the NSL. It is used arbitrarily since people considered to have left-wing views, students and dissident figures are most at risk of arrest.

Article 7 of the NSL violates the right to freedom of expression. The NSL should therefore be amended in accordance with international standards.

Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for monitoring purpose.
Thank you for Your Continued Support!!