Korea: Arrest of 15 Labor and NGO activists

                          Case KOR 190898

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention 
regarding the following situation in the Republic of Korea.

Brief description of the situation :
The International Secretariat has just been informed by reliable sources 
of the arrest of 15 labour and NGO activists, on July 25, 1998, in the 
Pusan and Ulsan areas. According to the information received, they were 
charged with violating the national security law on the day of their arrest. 
Among the 15 activists detained, the following people have been 
identified: Mr. Kim Chang-Hyon (36-years old), Chief of Ulsan Donk-lo 
ward office (Eastern district), who was elected last June 4th and was 
backed by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU); Mrs. 
Park Kyong-soon (41) and five members of her family, Mr. Park Kyung-
soon (40), 
Mr. Hwang Cholhyun, Mr. Hong Jung-ryun. 

According to the same information, Mr. Kyung-soon, Mr. Cholhyin and 
Mr. Jung.ryun were all three seriously ill prior to their arrest and the 
police has reportedly not allowed them to pursue their medical treatment, 
except for Mr. Cholhyum whom the police authorized him, on August 
17th, to have access to medical treatment on the condition that he pay for 
it. 
 
On July 24th, Pusan police headquarters announced at a press conference 
that the 15 detainees are "organisers of members of the so-called 'Anti-
Imperial Youth League' and that they have been under the orders of the 
"Korean National Democratic Front", an anti-South Korean propaganda 
organisation of North Korea. The 15 detainees have been accused of the 
possession of 1000 books and other printed materials, mostly published 
between 1989 and 1991, whose contents allegedly violate the National 
Security Law.

However, according to the statement of a group of 30 NGOs on July 27th, 
1998, the "Korean National Democratic Front" does not exist and the 
Pusan police allegedly fabricated this accusation.     

Actions requested:
Please write to the Korean authorities urging them to:

i.- ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all detainees 
    at all times and ensure their right to adequate medical care;

ii.-order their immediate release if they are held without any valid 
    charges or, in the event that they have been charged, ensure 
    their right to a fair and impartial trial and their procedural rights 
    at all times;

iii.-guarantee all human rights and fundamental freedoms in 
    accordance with international standards established in 
    international agreements, ratified by Korea.

Addresses :

President Kim Yung-sam, The Blue House, 1 Sejong-no, Chongno-gu, 
Seoul, Republic of Korea. Fax : + 822 770 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 : + 822 720 2686 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Geneva, 19 August 1998

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.