[사진1]
국제사면위윈회가 한미FTA저지범국민운동본부 공동대표로 활동하다 구속 수감된 오종렬·정광훈 공동대표를 양심수로 선정하고 한국정부에 즉각 석방을 권고했다.

지난 7월26일 국제사면위원회는 "지난 7월3일 한미자유무역협정 체결에 반대하던 오종렬, 정관훈 범국본 공동의장을 체포·구속한 사태에 대해 위원회는 심각하게 보고있다"며 "오종렬, 정관훈 범국본 공동의장은 한국내 300여 단체와 함께 평화적으로 한미자유무역협정 체결에 반대해왔다"고 밝혔다.

국제사면위원회는 "한국정부는 두 분을 체포함에 있어서 불법불허된 집회시위를 벌였다고 주장하지만 헌법 21조에서는 모든 집회에 대한 승인를 허용치 않고 있다"고 지적했다.

이어 "서울구치소에 투옥된 69세의 오종렬 의장과 68세의 정광훈 의장은 그들의 양심에 따라 의사를 표현하였으며, 국제사면위윈회는 아무 조건없이 즉각 석방을 한국정부에 강력히 요구한다"고 강조했다.

다음은 오종렬, 정광훈 공동대표 구속을 규탄하는 국제엠네스티 성명서 원문이다.

<b>AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement </b>

AI Index: ASA 25/006/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 142
26 July 2007


South Korea: Crackdown against Free Trade Agreement protest leaders
Amnesty International would like to express its serious concern at the arrests of Oh Jong-ryul and Jung Gwang-hoon on 3 July 2007 on charges of protesting against the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (Korea-US FTA).
Mr Oh and Mr Jung are Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA (KoA), a broad alliance of about 300 different civil society and social movement groups in South Korea which is committed to peaceful protest against the trade agreement which was signed by President Roh Moo-hyun and George W Bush on 30 June 2007.

They were arrested on charges of carrying out ‘illegal’ and ‘non/un-permitted’ protests though the KoA has reportedly served the requisite notice to the Korean government about conducting the strike. The South Korean constitution (Article 21) does not recognize a permit system for rallies; a notice needs to be given, which the organizers, the KoA, have reportedly done.

69 year-old Oh Jung-ryul and 68 year-old Jung Gwang-hoon are currently detained at Seoul Detention Centre. They are expected to go on trial on 10 August.

Amnesty International believes that the arrests of Mr Oh and Mr Jung are a direct violation of their constitutional right to assemble and express their opinion and that both Mr Oh and Mr Jung are Prisoners of Conscience. Amnesty International urges the South Korean government to release the two men immediately and unconditionally.

The arrests of Mr Oh and Mr Jung comes in the wake of the issuance of 67 arrest warrants targeting senior leaders of the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMTU) who spearheaded strikes on 28 and 29 June 2007 against the signing of the Korea-US FTA and whose closing rally on 29 June was part of the strike organized by the KoA.

Background

Since its formation in March 2006, the KoA has reportedly organized peaceful and legal demonstrations against the Korea-US FTA, which it believes is an unjust agreement for the people of South Korea, the U.S., and the world. However, since November 2006, the Roh Moo-hyun Administration has declared all KoA’s public rallies illegal. Police suppression has reportedly been severe on all activities of the KoA. AI is concerned that the Roh Moo-hyun Administration has violated fundamental rights of the people to assemble and oppose any unjust government practices.

Mr. Oh was born in 1938 in the city of Kwangju. He helped establish the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union, for which he was imprisoned in the past. He has also worked for the abolition of the National Security Law, for which he was again imprisoned.

Mr. Jung was born in 1939 in the city of Haenam. He has served as President of the Korean Peasants’ League, the national federation of small farmers’ organizations.

Following arrest warrants against 67 leaders of the Korea Metal Trade Union (KMTU), their employers have reportedly filed damages claims for losses, resulting in the government opening investigations for possible “criminal obstruction of business” of the KMTU leaders at regional, national and local level because of the strike, thereby opening the path for police interference into union affairs and harassment against union leaders.

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