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16 January, 2002
In a few months' time, billions of people across the globe will be sitting in front of their TV sets around the clock watching what many consider to be the best entertainment of all, the FIFA World Cup football championship, which is coming up in Japan and the Republic of Korea. The goal of each participating country is to win the championship and become No. 1 in the world.
I believe this is also a great opportunity to put the Korean government and its president on the spot by reminding football fans everywhere that workers in South Korea are not enjoying much of this wonderful entertainment, especially those who are still in jail because they are trade union activists and militant trade union leaders.
During 2001 alone, 218 trade unionists were put in prison in the ROK. Some have been released, but as many as 50 are still detained and have been sentenced to long prison terms. Among them are Dan Byung-ho, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and Mun Sung-hyun, president of the Korean Metal Workers' Federation.
All of us would like for the World Cup to be a great celebration where people from across the globe can come together to spend a few hours in a big stadium and express his or her emotions depending on the results achieved by the various teams. And we know that large numbers of metalworkers around the world will be eager to watch the matches. We hope this happens without problems and as smoothly as possible.
The Republic of Korea is a very important country which should play a central role in the economic and social development of the entire Asian region and elsewhere. Its poor record on trade union rights will definitely have a negative impact on investors and international organisations such as the OECD, WTO and others who have to make a judgement on the Korean president and government before making decisions on investment in the country.
This is why we appeal to the Korean president to release all trade unionists in jail and to ratify International Labour Organisation conventions on basic labour standards.
On January 22, next week, metalworkers around the world are going to the various embassies of the Republic of Korea to deliver a special letter with our request to President Kim Dae-jung. We aim to get all trade unionists out of jail, not just in time to watch the football championship, but to start working again in their plants or in their union offices immediately.
This would be the best way to celebrate not only football but a return to democracy.
I believe this is also a great opportunity to put the Korean government and its president on the spot by reminding football fans everywhere that workers in South Korea are not enjoying much of this wonderful entertainment, especially those who are still in jail because they are trade union activists and militant trade union leaders.
During 2001 alone, 218 trade unionists were put in prison in the ROK. Some have been released, but as many as 50 are still detained and have been sentenced to long prison terms. Among them are Dan Byung-ho, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and Mun Sung-hyun, president of the Korean Metal Workers' Federation.
All of us would like for the World Cup to be a great celebration where people from across the globe can come together to spend a few hours in a big stadium and express his or her emotions depending on the results achieved by the various teams. And we know that large numbers of metalworkers around the world will be eager to watch the matches. We hope this happens without problems and as smoothly as possible.
The Republic of Korea is a very important country which should play a central role in the economic and social development of the entire Asian region and elsewhere. Its poor record on trade union rights will definitely have a negative impact on investors and international organisations such as the OECD, WTO and others who have to make a judgement on the Korean president and government before making decisions on investment in the country.
This is why we appeal to the Korean president to release all trade unionists in jail and to ratify International Labour Organisation conventions on basic labour standards.
On January 22, next week, metalworkers around the world are going to the various embassies of the Republic of Korea to deliver a special letter with our request to President Kim Dae-jung. We aim to get all trade unionists out of jail, not just in time to watch the football championship, but to start working again in their plants or in their union offices immediately.
This would be the best way to celebrate not only football but a return to democracy.