Oppression of Pyongtaek Defenders, 6 People including President Suhoe Noh (National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification of Korea)
News summary from tongil news
A new wave of arrests of individuals involved in protests against the Pyongtaek base expansion has begun. Residents and social justice organizations are calling this oppression against public peace.
On October 14 at 11:00am KPCT (represented by co-chairman Mr. Junghyun Moon) held a press conference in front of the Pyongtaek branch of the Suwon Public Prosecutor¡¯s Office to censure the ¡°excessive arrests of Pyongtaek defenders and oppression of the public peace.¡±
The previous day (October 13) Representative of the Residents Committee (and village head of Dachuri), Mr. Jitae Kim¡¯s, was briefly opened but closed after only 4 minutes. KCPT has held that ¡°although the verdict should have been forthcoming, the prosecution presented some evidence with no meaning and asked for the verdict to be delayed in order to keep Rep. Kim in prison.¡±
Mr. Chunjae Lee, President of National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification of Korea, Seoul Division, said also, ¡°the public prosecutor is acting from an antihuman rights position.¡±
On the same day a hearing was held for 8 people who participated in the demonstration on May 4th to stop the destruction of the elementary school in Dachuri. The National Alliance¡¯s co-president, Suhoe Noh, 4 members of Kia Labor Union, and a member of the DLP were sentenced to imprisonment.
Mr. Jijoong Ahn of the National Alliance commented that the actual situation on May 4 had not been one you could imprison people for and the verdict was illogical. He said he had not expected this merciless imprisonment.
Presenters at the press converse call this move to arrest Pyongtaek defenders 5 months after the fact an abuse of government authority. They say it represents an act of oppression against the entire movement to stop the Pyongtaek base expansion and protect peace on the Korean peninsula.
According to KCPT, the people arrested related to anti-base protests include 40 related to March 14, 31 related to April 17, 524 related to May 4, 100 related to May 5, 24 related to September 13. Among these there are warrants being requested for 73 people and eight people, including Representative Jitae Kim are imprisoned.
Related Actions
Demonstration to stop the Targeted Criminal Investigations and Free all Pyongta ek Defenders Immediately! >
When: Thursday, October 19, 2:00pm
Where: Jongro 3 Ga, In front of Tapgol Park
Sponsoring Organization: Minkaphyup Human Rights Group
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