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PETITION OPPOSING THE "REGISTRATION SCHEME, THE CRACKDOWN ON UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT WORKERS AND THE DEMAND TO IMPLEMENT A LEGALIZATION PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS IN SOUTH KOREA

April 25,2002

Dear Friends,

We would like to seek your support.

The Equality Trade Union-Migrants Branch (ETU-MB) of the KCTU the Human Rights Solidarity for Women and Migration (HRSWM) are joining the campaign exposing the deceitful registration policy and the expected crackdown on undocumented migrant workers in which aims to purge out and criminalizes the undocumented migrant workers in South Korea.

The 'Voluntary Reporting Period' is set on March 25 until May 25, 2002 wherein undocumented workers will be exempted from various penalty if they report to the authorities or register voluntarily. The one year supposed moratorium will give the migrant to prepare before departure at the maximum of one year. Such announcement and moratorium is a preventive measure aimed to stop the sharp rise of undocumented migrants.

We believe that this deportation strategy is not only simply because of the expected rise in the number of illegal or undocumented migrants during the World Cup and the Pusan Asian Games. This is but a divisive policy in line with the Government's agenda to maintain the Trainee System and implement the new Employment Permit System (EPS) for the new comers. Both the Trainee and the new Employment Permit system is and will not actually resolve the increasing number of undocumented migrants, as more migrants will experience more and more human rights violation. In addition the 'Registration "strategy to implement the new Employment Permit System is basically not for the currently undocumented migrants in Korea.

We also believe that such a policy aimed to divert the publics attention that more than 260,000 migrants workers who contributed to the Korean economy have been neglected and have been forced to work with an illegal status by the government up to now.

We are also very alarmed with the heightening harassments and threats against those who are opposing this scheme. To express their demand, migrants are supposed to hel a rally but was blocked an suppress by the police and other agencies of the Korean government. This is a clear violation of the fundamental human rights that prep-supposes the freedom of speech and organization.

Below is a statement released by ETU-MB for your reference.

We encourage you/your organization to support this campaign. You can show your support and participate in this campaign through the following:

1. By forwarding the draft letter to the following e-mail address belonging to President Kim Dae Jung of South Korea (E-mail: president@cwd.go.kr with a copy to and/or migrant@jinbo.net); and

2. If Possible please send a statement condemning the suppression of the migrants basic human rights which presupposes freedom of statement and organization while at the same time reiterating the demand for Genuine Legalization for undocumented migrants. If possible, may we request you to hold a picket protest in front of the Korean Embassy in your country. May we suggest that if you cauld hold a protest action in fron of the Korean Embassy in your country, pls do it on May 3( if possible) because the dif! fererent Groups from Canada, Bangladesh, and the Philippines will hold the rally on that same date.

3. Forwarding the letter petition to the different governments to be sent to the offices of the Ambassadors at the different Embassies of Migrants in South Korea. Below are the email and fax numbers:

1. INDONESIAN EMBASSY in the REPUBLIC OF KOREA

55, Yoido-Dong, Young Deoungpo-ku Seoul REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Phone: 7825116/8,783-5372,783-5371

Cable: Indonesia Seoul

2. Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Seoul

7-3 Hannan 1-dong, Yongsanku, Seoul, Korea

Telephone : 82-2-796-4056/7, 795-6535

FAX : 82-2-790-5313

3. Philippine Embassy in Korea

9th Floor, Diplomatic Center, 1376-1, Seocho-Dong, Seocho-ku, Seoul Korea

Phone: (82)-2-571-6147, 574-6148, 572-3654

Fax: (82)-2-574-4285, 572-3655

4. Myanmar Embassy

7323-1,724-1, Hannam dong,Yongsan-ku, Seoul.

Tel: 792-3341,796-9858

5. Embassy of Pakistan Seoul, Korea

258-13 ITAWON 2 DONG,YONGSAN-KU SEOUL 140-202 KOREA

TEL: 82-2-796-8252

FAX: 82-2-796-0313 Commercial Wing fax no: 82-2-796-1141.

E-mail parep@pakistan-korea-trade.org

6. China Embassy

83, 2-ga, MyungDong, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea

TEL (82-2) 779-7387 FAX (82-2) 319-5103

7. Indian Embassy Seoul

37-3, Hannam-Dong, Yongsan-ku, Seoul 140-210.

Telephone Numbers (82-2) 798-4257, 798-4268

Fax Number (82-2) 796-9534

Telex Number INDEMB K 24641

E - Mail eoiseoul@sinbiro.com

8. Peru Embassy

Phone: (02) 793-5810/

Fax: (02) 797-3736.

9. Myanmar Embassy, Seoul

7323-1,724-1, Hannam dong,Yongsan-ku, Seoul.

Tel: 792-3341,796-9858

10. Nepal Embassy in Japan (Nepal have no embassy in Korea, migrants have to apply their passports in Japan when they want to go renew their passports)

Tel.03-3705-5558/5559,

Fax.03-3705-8264

E-mail:embassy@nepal.co.jp

You can also send this appeal/request to your respective e-mail networks and friends to seek their support.

Looking forward for your support and thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Marlen Kim Obrero

International Solidarity Director

Equality Trade Union- Migrants Branch, KCTU

E-mail: migrant@jinbo.net vmigrant@h otmail.com

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LETTER PETITION TO PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA

Mr. Kim Dae Jung

President

Republic of Korea

1 Sejong-no Jongno-ku Seoul 110-820 Korea

Fax: +82-2-770-0347

E-mail: president@cwd.go.kr

Choi Kyong-won

Minister of Justice Republic of Korea

immi_moj@moj.go.kr

Han-Dong, Lee

Prime Minister Republic of Korea

m_opm@opm.go.kr

Dear Mr. President,

Greetings!

I/we are writing this letter to express our concern on the current move of your administration to purge out the undocumented migrants through the "Registration" strategy, while starting on May 25, there will be an expected intensified crackdown and arrest of undocumented migrants in Korea as earlier announced.

These migrants are forced to work abroad because of the worsening economic situation in their own homeland and to cope with the basic needs of their family. While in Korea, they contribute in the economy through the availability of their cheap labor services and as consumers.

We believe that this deportation strategy is not only simply because of the expected rise in the number of illegal or undocumented migrants during the World Cup and the Pusan Asian Games. This is but a divisive policy in line with the Government's agenda to maintain the Trainee System and implement the new Employment Permit System (EPS) for the new comers. Both the Trainee and the new Employment Permit system is and will not actually resolve the increasing number of undocumented migrants, as more migrants will experience more and more human rights violation. In addition the 'Registration "strategy to implement the new Employment Permit System is basically not for the currently undocumented migrants in Korea.

We are very alarmed with reports of heightening harassments and threats against those who are opposing this scheme. To express their demand, migrants are supposed to hel a rally but was blocked an suppress by the police and other agencies of your government. This is a clear violation of the fundamental human rights that prep-supposes the freedom of speech.

It is in this regard would like to appeal for your immediate action wherein undocumented migrants be given a legal status, to stop the suppression of their rights to express, and stop the series of arrest of undocumented migrants and instead implement a Genuine Legalization program that can be availed by migrants with undocumented status so that their rights as workers and contribution to Korean economy will be recognized.

We hope for your immediate and timely action in this regard.

Sincerely,

Sign your Name:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

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LETTER PETITION TO THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF KOREA

Hon. Choi Kyong-won

Minister of Justice Republic of Korea

immi_moj@moj .go.kr

Dear Mr. Minister,

Greetings!

I/we are writing this letter to express our concern on the current move of your administration to purge out the undocumented migrants through the "Registration" strategy, while starting on May 25, there will be an expected intensified crackdown and arrest of undocumented migrants in Korea as earlier announced.

These migrants are forced to work abroad because of the worsening economic situation in their own homeland and to cope with the basic needs of their family. While in Korea, they contribute in the economy through the availability of their cheap labor services and as consumers.

We believe that this deportation strategy is not only simply because of the expected rise in the number of illegal or undocumented migrants during the World Cup and the Pusan Asian Games. This is but a divisive policy in line with the Government's agenda to maintain the Trainee System and implement the new Employment Permit System (EPS) for the new comers. Both the Trainee and the new Employment Permit system is and will not actually resolve the increasing number of undocumented migrants, as more migrants will experience more and more human rights violation. In addition the 'Registration "strategy to implement the new Employment Permit System is basically not for the currently undocumented migrants in Korea.

We are very alarmed with reports of heightening harassments and threats against those who are opposing this scheme. To express their demand, migrants are supposed to hel a rally but was blocked an suppress by the police and other agencies of your government. This is a clear violation of the fundamental human rights that prep-supposes the freedom of speech.

It is in this regard would like to appeal for your immediate action wherein undocumented migrants be given a legal status, to stop the suppression of their rights to express, and stop the series of arrest of undocumented migrants and instead implement a Genuine Legalization program that can be availed by migrants with undocumented status so that their rights as workers and contribution to Korean economy will be recognized.

We hope for your immediate and timely action in this regard.

Sincerely,

Sign your Name:

(Sign your Name and send the email to the President of Korea and forward a copy to migrant@jinbo.net