We, the undersigned, strongly demand the Lee Myung-bak government to immediately stop attacking progressive organizations and democratic citizens of South Korea. We also demand that the charges against leading members of the candlelight movement be dropped and the legal prosecutions stopped. We also demand the immediate stop of the man-hunt on Kim Gwang-il (All Together), the last leading member of the candlelight movement on the wanted list, and Kang Min-uk (Union of Korean University Students). The repression against the candlelight movement that began in 2008 continues despite strong protests from the international progressive organizations and movements. In fact, the repression spread to other broader progressive organizations and democratic citizens in 2009.
In the beginning of this year, five persons were killed as a result of the Lee Myung-bak government’s murderous police raid on the building occupied by Yongsan evicted residents. Moreover, it is wielding violence against workers who are protesting against the government’s attempt to pass on the burden of economic crisis to the workers. It is indiscriminately issuing summons to ordinary citizens who participated in rallies and demonstrations while repressing progressive organizations and activists in the name of the National Security Act. We are deeply concerned by the South Korean government’s actions that gravely infringe upon political and civil rights of the people.
The Lee Myung-bak government must immediately stop its repression. We strongly warn that the Lee Myung-bak government will confront an immense wave of protests around the world by international progressive organizations and democratic citizens if anti-democratic repression is not stopped.
The full text of the petition [link]
This International Petition Appeal is organized by Network of Civic and Social Organizations for Democracy and against State Repression
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