Korean Labor Militants Face 5-7 Years in Prison

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Urgent Appeal: Eight South Korean Labor Activists Face 4-7 Years in Prison

On Dec. 3 of last year, the prosecutor in the Seoul Central District Court demanded prison terms of 5-7 years for Oh sei-chull and other members (Yang Hyo-sik, Yang Joon-seok, Choi Young-ik, Park Joon-seon, Jeong Won-hyun, Oh Min-gyu, and Nam-goong Won) of the Socialist Workers’ Alliance of Korea (SWLK), a revolutionary socialist group. These activists in the Korean working-class movement were indicted under South Korea’s notorious National Security Law (passed in 1948 and theoretically still stipulating the death penalty for “pro-North” activities). The eight militants of the SWLK, who as internationalists advocate working-class revolution in both Koreas, were accused of no specific crime except being socialists, but in reality the indictment resulted from their intervention in several strikes and movements going back to 2007. This is the first instance of such harsh repression under the National Security Law in many years. It
occurs in the larger context of the hard-right turn (such as the smashing of the Ssangyong Motor Co. strike of 2009) of South Korean President Lee Myong Bak’s government since he took office in early 2008. (In fact, leaflets of the SWLK distributed during the Ssangyong strike were key evidence in the trial.)

Prosecutors have attempted to indict members of the SWLK several times since 2008, and prior to December, the prosecutors’ case was thrown out of court each time. It is not impossible that a barrage of e-mail protests to Judge Hyung Doo Kim of the Seoul Central District Court will help reduce or obviate the pending sentences altogether, when final sentencing will take place on Jan. 27.

Let Judge Kim know your feelings in your own words about this crackdown on “thought crime” by writing to

[email protected]

The e-mails must be received by 06:00 AM on Monday January 17th 2011 (Seoul time), so that the SWLK’s lawyer can forward them to Judge Kim prior to sentencing.

Please distribute this appeal as widely as possible. Messages in languages other than English are welcome.

Loren Goldner

[gorillafuck]

These activists in the Korean working-class movement were indicted under South Korea’s notorious National Security Law (passed in 1948 and theoretically still stipulating the death penalty for “pro-North” activities). The eight militants of the SWLK, who as internationalists advocate working-class revolution in both Koreas, were accused of no specific crime except being socialists, but in reality the indictment resulted from their intervention in several strikes and movements going back to 2007.

They are against NK so they are probably white middle class pro-imperialist stooges!!1!

But seriously, thanks for posting this.

[erupt]

I express my solidarity with those members of the Socialist Worker's Alliance of Korea.
Hopefully Lee Myung Bak doesn't view the fact they are socialists as them having anything to do with the DPRK.

[gorillafuck]

Hopefully Lee Myung Bak doesn't view the fact they are socialists as them having anything to do with the DPRK.

Why does it matter what he thinks? He'd imprison them either way.

[erupt]

Why does it matter what he thinks? He'd imprison them either way.

The original post mentioned the 1948 National Security Law; I'd rather the prisoners be in prison for five to seven years rather than them being executed.

[Rafiq]

SouthKoreanfreedomandemocracywut

[Tablo]

Can someone direct me to the website for the Socialist Workers’ Alliance of Korea?

Also this is terrible and further proves that democracy in the Republic of Korea is a lie.

[craigd89]

Can someone direct me to the website for the Socialist Workers’ Alliance of Korea?

Also this is terrible and further proves that democracy in the Republic of Korea is a lie.

ID still choose living in SK then the DPRK

[Tablo]

ID still choose living in SK then the DPRK

So would I. ROK has a much higher standard of living and much more room for dissent(though limited to a degree based on this event) than the DPRK.

[graymouser]

So would I. ROK has a much higher standard of living and much more room for dissent(though limited to a degree based on this event) than the DPRK.

Seriously, it does not have "much more room for dissent." Read the National Security Law here:

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/55a/205.html

This is what South Korea considers an "anti-State group":

The term anti-State groups refers domestic or foreign organizations or groups whose intentions are to conduct or assist infiltration of the Government or to cause national disturbances. (Revised 91.5.31)

And here are the punishments:

Those who organize, or join, an anti-State group shall be punished as follows:

Death or life imprisonment for the chief instigators or organizers.
Death, life imprisonment or minimum five years in prison for leadership cadres.
Minimum 2 years in prison for lesser members.
Minimum 2 years in prison for those who encourage others to join an anti-State group.
Those who violate [1] and [2] shall be punished.

Minimum 2 years for those who plan or contemplate a [1.1] or [1.2] crime. - Maximum 10 years in prison for those who plan or contemplate [1.3]. (Revised 91.5.31)

You can literally receive the death penalty for being a "chief instigator or organizer" of a group that is in opposition to the Republic of Korea. This is not a milquetoast liberal democracy; it's the law of a draconian state that allows a mockery of free speech for those who don't dissent. DPRK may not be much better in this regard - but it's hard to say how it could be worse.