Case KOR 130296.1; Follow up of Case KOR 130296

From the United Nations OMCT/SOS-Torture, 18 March 1996

The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture has received further information on the situation in Korea.

Brief reminder of the situation:

ICFTU, a member of our network, informed the International Secretariat of the apparently arbitrary detention of two union leaders in Korea.

On 1 February 1996, Yang Kyu-heon, Vice-President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was allegedly illegally arrested. Furthermore, last November, KCTU President, Kwon Young-kil, was arrested for no apparent reason either.(see appeal KOR 271194)

New information:

According to new information the KCTU President, Kwon Young-kil, was released on 13 March 1996. However, the KCTU Vice-President,Yang Kyu-heon, remains in detention.

Remarks:

The International Secretariat welcomes the release of Kwon Young-kil and would like to thank all those who intervened on his behalf.

However, in the case of the illegal detention of Yang Kyu-heon OMCT would like to remind the Korean authorities once again that Korea is a State party to the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights and that Art. 22 guarantees the right to join trade unions.

Please write to the Korean authorities urging them to:

i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Yang Kyu-heon and order his immediate release;

ii. Put an immediate end to the intimidation of the trade union movement

iii.ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights, basic trade union rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards.

Addresses:

President Kim Yung-sam, The Blue House, 1 Sejong-no, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Fax : + 882 770 0253 or (+ 882 720 2686 via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Mr Ahn Woo-man, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 1 Chungang-dong, Kwachon-myon, Shihung-gun, Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Fax : + 822 504 3337

Director, Military Security Command, Ministry of National Defence, 3-1 Youngsan-dong, Yongsan-ku, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Fax : + 822 770 2686 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Geneva, 18 March 1996

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this follow up in your reply.

Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager OMCT/SOS-Torture
Case Postale 119
Rue de Vermont 37-39
CH-1211

Tel:4122 733 3140
Fax:4122 733 1051