Our Solidarity to the Activists Arrested in Prague and an Immediate Call for
their Release!!
Denouncement of the Czech Government and Police for their Brutality and Abuse
of Human Rights!!
All of us here in Korea, organizing support and action for the struggle
that will take place against neo-liberal globalization on the 20th of October
at the Asia Europe Meeting, were greatly angered by news coming from Prague
on
police brutality and the blatant disregard for human rights that have
occured, and which are still going on, regarding the activists arrested at
the anti-globalization demonstrations. During the days leading up to the
demonstrations, the Korean People's Action Against Investment Treaties and
the WTO (KoPA), and the People's Rally Committee had already expressed our
solidarity to the activists gathering in Prague and declared our full support
for their/our struggle against globalization. We were concerned over the
massive gathering of police and even military forces, and in recent days we
have seen our concerns become reality, with the Czech authorities brutallly
suppressing the demonstrations and arresting hundreds of activists in the
process. That is not all, we have reports coming in of beatings, sexual
harassment, and denial of basic rights going on in prisons. The degree of
brutality is reminiscent of the oppression that was present during the
dictatorships, both here in Korea and abroad. It is especially alarming
because such practices have become routine in the government and
police/military responses toward international actions such as the ones in
Seattle, Melbourne, and Prague. We are seeing increased government
suppression, increased police violence, increased efforts by those in power
to control their opposition and to limit their actions.
The police/government in Korea are responding with similar measures, they
have already announced that the area all around the site of the Asia Europe
Meeting will be closed off for the duration of the meetings, and have
outlawed
all demonstrations. Police special force units are training around the site
already in southern Seoul. A clash with the police appears to be inevitable
in Korea as well.
Many of the demands of the activists in Seoul on October 20th will be the
same as the ones voiced in Seattle, Washington, Meobourne, and Prague. We
will oppose globalization for the few, corporate rule, and the system of
inequality which financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank
enforce upon third world nations and the people of the world. We will demand
the cancellation of third world debt, a stop to neo-liberal restructuring and
plans for more liberalization. We will be in the streets to protect the
livelihood and rights of the workers, the farmers, the poor, and all those
who suffer from the barbarism of neo-liberal globalization.
As the appeal message for solidarity from INPEG said, '[the] huge majority
of the arrested are arrested only because of their political conviction. The
repression is based on the collective guilt - the police must stop their
brutality and release the activists immediately.' It seems governments and
police authorities have forgotten that the right to criticize the government
and to voice opposition to its policies, to congregate and demonstrate in the
process of doing so, are values and rights that are at the very heart of
democracy. Rights which need to be protected in order for democratic society
to prosper, not suppressed and denied. We again denounce the Czech
government and police for their outright disregard for democratic rights and
the human rights violations going on inside the prisons. We demand the
immediate release of all activists. We also demand an apology from the
government for it's oppression of the justified activities of the people
participating in the demonstrations and demand that the police chief step
down
for his responsibility in the human rights violations that have taken place
inside the Czech prisons.
The actions by the people against globalization will continue in Seoul, and
although we are hoping for the best, objective expectations lead us to
believe that much of what has happened in Prague will repeat itself here.
This is
why your continued interest, support, and solidarity for our actions is
critical, both for the success of the movement and for the safety of the
protestors. We promise to keep you continously updated on all that happens
here in
Korea leading up to the actions, and the actions themselves. Solidarity!!
-The Korean People's Action Against Investment Treaties and the WTO (KoPA) is
a people's network opposed to the MAI and the WTO,composed of more than 40
social, labor and citizen's movement organizations. Its aim is to make people
recognize clearly the negative effects of the WTO, and also to stop the
on-going negotiations of Bilateral Investment Treaties(BIT) between Korea and
U.S / Korea and Japan. KoPA focuses on four issues mainly; first, opposition
to the investment treaties and the WTO. secondly, control of transnational
financial capital, thirdly, cancellation of foreign debt and
redistribution to people, and the lastly stopping the IMF's SAPs. It also
stress the importance of international solidarity in the development of its
struggles.
-The People's Rally Committee is a composed of the major people's
organizations in Korea, including the Korean Confederation of Trade
Unions(KCTU), the Korean Farmer's League(KFL), and the National Union of
the Poor. It organizes The People's Rally to defend the people's livelihood
and basic rights against capital and the government's neo-liberal policies.
More information on the ASEM actions can be seen at:
http://antiwto.jinbo.net
Regular updates on the preparations for the ASEM action can be heard through
the PICIS internet broadcasts at: http://cast.jinbo.net/news/yundai.html
Contact us at: kopa@jinbo.net
3rd Oct. 2000
Korean People's Action Against Investment Treaties and the WTO (KoPA) /
People's Rally Committee
