{"article":{"id":202989,"heading":" In Protest against the Arrests of Oh Jong-ryul and Jung Gwang-hoon","author":"PESANTE-USA","created":"2007-07-11 16:04:41","modified":"2007-07-11 16:04:41","last_modified":"Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:04:41","article":"

INTERNATIONAL PROTEST LETTER

In Protest against the Arrests of Oh Jong-ryul and Jung Gwang-hoon



We Demand their Immediate Release!

We Demand an Immediate End to Police Suppression of the Korean Alliance!



July 10 2007



From: Philippine Peasant Support Network-USA>

To: South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun



Dear Mr. President:

We, the Philippine Peasant Support Network-USA are deeply disappointed and troubled by the police suppression of the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA and the arrests of its two officers.

We write this urgent letter to demand 1) the immediate release of Mr. Oh Jong-ryul and Mr. Jung Gwang-hoon, two Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance and

2) an immediate end to police suppression of the Korean Alliance.



We believe that the arrests of Mr. Oh and Mr. Jung are a direct violation of basic democratic principles and constitutional rights. These rights are fundamental to any democratic nation, and we strongly feel that today's arrests and represent a retrogression of Korea's status as a democratic nation. In addition, the police's disregard for their old age and health conditions shows a sign of inhumane treatment.



Second, their arrests are an infringement of international principles

of political and civil rights. As a member of the United Nations, South Korea has signed on to conventions that protect and promote the

advancement of social freedom and human rights. South Korea has made important democratic strides since the 1970s.

We urge the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, elected by democratic means, to not forget Korea's history and to foster international and democratic principles. The rights of the people to assemble and express their voices must be protected.

We strongly demand an immediate end of police suppression against

the Korean Alliance. We disapprove the decisions made by the Roh Moo-hyun Administration on the officers and activities of the Korean Alliance. Along with the recent suppression of Korean auto workers, we fear that the suppression of the Korean Alliance signals a dangerous digressive trend in Korea's democracy.

MANSE!!!

Yours in Solidarity,



Philippine Peasant Support Network (PESANTE)-USA

Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP)

San Francisco, CA

United States of America

July 10, 2007

<\/p>\n","contact":"magsasakapil@hotmail.com","link":"","address":"337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026","phone":"213-241-0906","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"We, the Philippine Peasant Support Network-USA are deeply disappointed and troubled by the police suppression of the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA and the arrests of its two officers. \r\n\r\nWe write this urgent letter to demand 1) the immediate release of Mr. Oh Jong-ryul and Mr. Jung Gwang-hoon, two Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance and \r\n\r\n2) an immediate end to police suppression of the Korean Alliance.\r\n","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2007\/07\/202989.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}