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3 October, 2001The president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, imprisoned for his trade union activities, was due for release on October 3.
KOREA, REP: The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has reported that, contrary to earlier promises made by government authorities, its president, Dan Byung-ho, was not released from Seoul Prison on October 3 and will be held indefinitely. He had been arrested again on August 2 of this year for leading a KCTU campaign of strikes and demonstrations in June.
He was originally released from prison in August 1999 as part of a general presidential amnesty, having two months and four days remaining of his sentence, but he was reincarcerated this August following a government promise that if Dan served out the remainder of the suspended sentence, this would end months of hostilities between the KCTU and the government.
This promise resulted from a deal made with prominent Catholic leader Fr. Kim Seung-hoon, who mediated between the KCTU and the government while the KCTU leadership was conducting a sit-in protest at Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral. The government accepted to ease up on arrests and legal action of KCTU activists and leadership if Dan voluntarily turned himself in. There was a clear understanding, states the KCTU, that there would be no further legal action against Dan as the KCTU president.
It has become known, however, that on September 28 the office of the prosecutor decided to lay fresh charges against Dan and obtained a warrant to hold him in detention for investigation and trial. Key government officials then denied there had ever been an agreement, and a high-level meeting on September 29 at the presidential palace arrived at the decision to keep Dan in prison.
The IMF calls urgently on all its affiliates to protest against the Korean government for its betrayal of confidence and the continued detention of Dan Byung-ho. Letters of protest can be addressed to:
He was originally released from prison in August 1999 as part of a general presidential amnesty, having two months and four days remaining of his sentence, but he was reincarcerated this August following a government promise that if Dan served out the remainder of the suspended sentence, this would end months of hostilities between the KCTU and the government.
This promise resulted from a deal made with prominent Catholic leader Fr. Kim Seung-hoon, who mediated between the KCTU and the government while the KCTU leadership was conducting a sit-in protest at Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral. The government accepted to ease up on arrests and legal action of KCTU activists and leadership if Dan voluntarily turned himself in. There was a clear understanding, states the KCTU, that there would be no further legal action against Dan as the KCTU president.
It has become known, however, that on September 28 the office of the prosecutor decided to lay fresh charges against Dan and obtained a warrant to hold him in detention for investigation and trial. Key government officials then denied there had ever been an agreement, and a high-level meeting on September 29 at the presidential palace arrived at the decision to keep Dan in prison.
The IMF calls urgently on all its affiliates to protest against the Korean government for its betrayal of confidence and the continued detention of Dan Byung-ho. Letters of protest can be addressed to:
- Kim Dae-jung
President of the Republic of Korea
Fax: (82/2) 770-0253 - Korean Embassy in your country.