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Dear friends,

KCTU president Dan Byung-ho is to be held in prison continuously, instead of being released from prison on October 3, 2001.

He was "re-incarcerated" on August 2 this year for leading the KCTU campaigns in June.

He was originally released in August 1999 as a part of the general presidential amnesty. At the time of his release in 1999, he had 2 months and 4 days of his prison sentence remaining. He was released on a "suspension" of the execution of the sentence.

President Dan was "returned" to jail in August as a result of a "promise" from the government that his serving out the remainder of the suspended sentence would bring a resolution to months of hostilities between the KCTU and the government following series of concerted strike and demonstration campaigns organised by the KCTU in June 2001.

The "deal" was made between a prominent Catholic leader Fr. Kim Seung-hoon who mediated between the KCTU and the government as the KCTU leadership's sit-in protest at the Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul continued.

In an agreement between the Catholic mediator and the government, the government agreed to ease up on the arrest of KCTU activists and to abandon a prosecutorial pursuit of the KCTU leadership following a "voluntary" "turn-in" by president Dan.

KCTU decided to accept the agreement obtained between the Catholic mediator and the government in the hope to end the wave of arrest of KCTU leaders, activists, and members. The decision was made in view of the urgent issues the KCTU as a national organisation and movement had to tackle. It was felt that the continued hostility between the KCTU and the government would undermine the capacity of the movement and organisation to engage effectively on issues, such as, the rights and welfare of workers in "irregular" employment and working hour reduction which were developing into major issues for the workers.

The KCTU took the decision to establish a "break" in the chain of events which was causing the organisation and members great difficulties. Government's thirst for blood had to be satiated somehow. So Dan became the sacrificial lamb. There was a clear understanding, however, that there would be no further legal action against Dan as the president of the KCTU for all the allegations the government had against the KCTU.

As a result, president Dan and other leaders of the KCTU brought the protest sit-in at the Myongdong Cathedral to an end on August 2, and "reported" themselves to police. President Dan was promptly re-imprisoned to serve out the remaining 2 months and 4 days. This was seen as enough for the KCTU to pay for all the "troubles" it had caused to the government.

It became known in the afternoon of September 28, around 100 hours before his expected release from prison (October 4, 2001 00:00 hours) that the prosecutors office has decided to lay fresh charges against him and obtained a warrant to hold president Dan in detention for investigation and trial.

Key government figures, who deny that there was ever an agreement between either the KCTU and the government or the Catholic mediator and the government, claim that the government cannot do anything against the "independent" decision and actions of the prosecutors. It is known, however, that a high level meeting was held on September 29 at the Blue House, the presidential palace, to arrive at the final decision to seek warrant of arrest against KCTU president Dan.

Korea celebrates one of the two most important festivities from Oct. 1 to 3. It is called Chusok -- a full moon harvest festival. We celebrate the harvest and give thanks to the ancestors for the abundance that they have facilitated their descendants. Millions of people move hundreds of kilometres to be with their families. It is perhaps more important than the New Year's Day celebration (by lunar calendar).

President Dan's release was expected on the early hours of Oct. 3 (virtually minutes into the new day) as his sentence expires at 24:00 of Oct. 2. He would have been able to join his family on the last day of the three day festivities. He would have joined his family to give thanks to his ancestors for good harvest, abundance, the well-being. He would have joined many waiting KCTU members who had planned to gather at the prison at night.

All this was not to be. It has been said, while unconfirmed, that the presidential office had called one of the KCTU leaders to say "sorry" for what is about the happen.

Everyone at the KCTU is lost for words at the betrayal of words. But, the mood in the KCTU leadership's emergency meeting on September 29, was firm. "We may be small, we may be weak, but, we cannot just stand by as the government snubs us."

There may be many explanations for why this is happening. The following explanations have been put forward in an attempt to "understand" the situation.

1) the new mood created by the terrorist attack on the U.S. has given "government" a supreme position to be impervious

2) the recent break up of the ruling coalition, making the ruling party alone and a minority party, may have a play in this. The government needs something to grip the society. Nothing better than bashing the KCTU and workers and all those forces that are critical of the government. Put Dan back in jail, the KCTU will react (if it has any guts, it would have to!), then use that as a pretext to mobilise more state violence. This will have the effect of lining up "allies", just as Bush is doing in the context of "war against terrorism" ("infinite justice"). This will serve the government well as it prepares for presidential election in 2002.
3) another version of 2: the ruling coalition is broken. The government party is in minority position in the National Assembly. It is better to be clear and without any disillusions. The ruling minority party cannot rely on the KCTU to be an ally. There is no need to keep promises. Clear all ambiguities. Streamline the purpose and forces.
4) it may not be the intentional work of this government. Prosecutors are moving on their own. This may be an indication of the "lame duck" position of the government. It cannot control parts of its own organisation and people. The prosecutors -- who are by nature very conservative, and bastion of establishment, and seek to side with where the power lies -- are lining up with the "pretender" who is "sure" to win the next election.

Regardless of the variations in explanation, it is clear that the government does not regard a "working" relationship with the KCTU to be important. The government has no real "care" for industrial relations. It has no real interest in the vital issues concerning workers, such as, the issues of the rights and welfare of irregular workers and working hour reduction. It has no time to engage with labour to arrive at an arrangement which would meet the demands of these issue. It is totally consumed by the matters and machination of "power" and "survival".

For whatever reason, the government has decided to keep KCTU president Dan in prison longer under fresh charges. This will certainly influence the decisions and plans the KCTU has been preparing to make with regards to the campaigns for the remaining months of this year. The issues of loss of confidence in government, and government's repression of trade union movement, and the relegation of the issues of workers and industrial relations would certainly become the central concern and focus of the KCTU's campaigns.

KCTU calls on all friends to begin actions of protest against the Korean government to condemn its betrayal of confidence and jailing of KCTU president.

In solidarity

Yoon Youngmo
KCTU