FORUM-ASIA wrote to the Korean authorities calling for the immediate release of two Korean human rights defenders, detained during peaceful protests against the expansion of US military bases in South Korea. Expressing concern about peaceful protests being labeled "Interference with Government Officials in Execution of their Duties", FORUM-ASIA urged the Korean
authorities to respect the right to peaceful protests, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, as per international human rights standards.(Bangkok & Seoul, 24 March 2006) FORUM-ASIA wrote to the Korean authorities calling for the immediate release of two Korean human rights defenders, detained during peaceful protests against the expansion of US military bases in South Korea. Expressing concern about peaceful protests being labeled "Interference with Government Officials in Execution of their Duties", FORUM-ASIA urged the Korean authorities to respect the right to peaceful protests, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, as per international human rights standards.

Read content of the letter (below) and a background paper (in .pdf).

24 March 2006

President Roh Moo-hyun
Blue House, 1 Sejongno Jongno gu
Seoul, Republic of Korea (110-820)
Fax: +82 2 770 4943/ +82 2 770 2440
Email: [email protected]

Dear President Roh Moo-hyun,

Arrest of human rights defenders by Korean authorities during peaceful protests against US military bases expansion
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a membership-based regional human rights organisation, writes to seek your urgent intervention to immediately release two human rights defenders, Park Raegoon and Cho Baeki, who were arrested during peaceful protest against expansion of the US military base to Daechu-ri, Pyungtaek in Kyungki-do, Republic of Korea on 15 March 2006. Park and Cho are human rights defenders associated with well-known human rights organisations in the Republic of Korea, Sarangbang Group for Human Rights and the Catholic Human Rights Committee.

There have been ongoing peaceful protests by residents and human rights and peace activists who are concerned about the deprivation of the livelihood of the people in Pyungtaek due to the expansion of US military bases. During a peaceful protest on 15 March, 40 people were detained. Although 38 were released after two days, Park Raegoon and Cho Baeki remain detained.
We condemn the crackdowns by the Korean police on peaceful protests, and express our concern that the courts have considered a peaceful protest as "Interference with Government Officials in Execution of their Duties", which sets a dangerous precedence. We call on the Korean authorities to release them as soon as possible.

We also call on the Korean authorities to respect the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by all states in 1998 including the Republic of Korea and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the Republic of Korea is a party to.

Both the Declaration and Covenant guarantee the right of all persons to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights, as well as the right to freedom of assembly and expression.

I look forward to your positive response soon.

Sincerely yours,

Anselmo Lee
Executive Director

c.c. Minister of Justice Cheon Jung-bae
Ministry of Justice
Building # 1, Gwacheon Government Complex, Jungang-dong 1, Gwacheon-si, Kyunggi-do, Republic of Korea (427-720)
Fax: +82 2 503 3532
Email: [email protected]

Prosecutor Choi Woon-shik
Pyungtaek Branch, Suwon District Public Prosecutor's Office
245-1 Dongsak-dong Pyungtaek-si
Kyunggi-do, Republic of Korea (450-718)
Fax: +82 31 650 3555
Email: [email protected]

Judge Sung Ji-yong
Pyungtaek Branch, Suwon District Court
152-3 Dongsak-dong Pyuntaek-si
Kyunggi-do, Republic of Korea (450-140)
Fax: +82-31-650-3004
Email: [email protected]

Minister of Defence Yoon Kwang-woong
Ministry of Defence
22 Leetaewon Road, Yongsan gu
Seoul, Republic of KoreaKorea (104-701)
Fax: +82 2 748 6026
Email: [email protected]

President, Mr. Young-hoang Cho
National Human Rights Commission
#16 Euljiro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-842,
Republic of Korea
Fax: +82 2 2125 9699
Email: [email protected]