Choi, Eun-A, 36, a member of the Korean Organising Committee for the International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and for the End of Arms Race, April 16 to 18, 2009 was arrested by the National Intelligence Service on May 7 with other 5 people (Lee, Kyu-Jae; Lee, Kyeong-Won; Jang, Yoon-Kyeong; Yoon, Joo-Hyung; Oh, Soon-Wan), viciously charged in violation of the National Security Law (specifically under the titles of so called 'communication with enemy', 'enemy-benefiting activities'). It was exactly one day before the Parents' Day (like Mother's Day and Father's day), in the South Korea.

By Sung Hee Choi

Choi, Eun-A, belong to the Self-Reliance Reunification Committee, Korean Alliance for Progressive Movement was a facilitator for the 'welcome and keynote Speech' on April 17 symposium.  She also edited the reference material for the trips for the DMZ vicinity, Pyeongtaek and Mugeon-ri, during the conference.

She was also in charge of the public relations in the South Korean branch, Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR).

The 6 arrested have been investigated by the NIS since their being arrested and it is known that they were decided at 2 am, today, May 9 to be placed under restraint. During the investigation, they were only allowed to see the families for the 2nd and last day.

It is heard that the PKAR, set up in 1991, as a part of the efforts for reconciliation and solidarity among the South Koreans, North Koreans and Korean residents in the foreign countries, have openly worked regarding all the works for the self-reliance, peaceful reunification of Korea, openly publicizing all the results of the meetings with the North Korea thru fax. Furthermore, it is known that the PKAR has even been the break through at the request of the South Korean government when the relationship between the SK and NK was blocked.

Even though the PKAR was maliciously labeled by then right wing South Korean government in 1995 as the so-called 'enemy (North Korea)- benefiting' organization, the sequential governments have not been concerned at all, especially since the first historical summit meeting between Kim, Jong-Il (NK) and Kim, Dae-Joong (SK) on June 15, 2000 which established the first separate family meetings and other peaceful reconciliation efforts since then.

The Korea organizing committee for the Seoul conference is furious by the unusal raid of the National Intelligence Service and the South Korean government who intends to crack down the peaceful reunification movements in the South Korea for the interest of the current unpopular Lee Myung Bak administration who has severely oppressed the civil rights since its launch including the Yongsan crackdown and other peace movements.

The May 7 incident reminds us of the military dictatorship period in the 1980s. It is heard that the 6 were not in the custody but in the Seoul Detention Center worse than custody during the investigation, which is illegal. And it is heard that even before the realization of the restraint warrant inspection, the prison number was given to each of them. All the revealed facts show that the whole process was at the violation of human rights. It is heard that the 6 are physically O.K. but we will not be sure until everything is cleared.

The Pan-Korean committee against the oppression of the unification movements in the South Korea and for the release of the six, composed of the various organizations and citizens will meet soon early next week. We will desperately need your solidarity for the survival of the peaceful reunification movements in the South Korea and for the release of the dear colleagues, including Eun-A. Please help us to spread the news. We will need all the international campaigns including the petition for the Amnesty International  next week and after.

We will keep you updated the news.

Thanks very much.

Sung-Hee

Inchon, South Korea
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/