Korean Human Rights Groups Rally Against Anti-Terrorism Bill
Human rights organizations held a rally yesterday in front of the office of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to protest the anti-terrorism bill, which is currently being debated in the National Assembly
Source : BASE21
Activists confront a line of riot police while protesting in front of the NIS office [photo by Chamsaesang News]
By Chang-nam Lee/Staff Reporter
(tolerance@base21.org)
November 28, 2001
Seoul, Korea -- Human rights organizations held a rally yesterday in front of the office of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to protest the anti-terrorism bill, which is currently being debated in the National Assembly.
The activists argued at the rally that the anti-terrorism bill, partly a result of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in the United States and the subsequent passing of "anti-terror" legislation in many pro-Western countries, is hypocritical in a sense that the South Korean government is trying to control anyone who is considered to be "dangerous."
They also added that the dauntless NIS will detain anyone who wants to express objections to their criminal charges in the name of national defense.
If the anti-terror bill is railroaded through the legislative process, collective bargaining rights and the right to demonstrate will be banned in accordance with the government's security guideline.
"Although civil rights-related bills still wait on the sideline in the National Assembly, the draconian anti-terror bill has quickly reached the top of the agenda. This shows NIS's sinister plans to dominate people's freedoms," said Ryu Eun-Suk, director for the human rights group, Sarangbang. He also criticized the NIS for their out-of-date practices.
On the same note, activists also reprimanded the NIS for their violation of civil rights, saying "if the NIS drives this law through legislation, the NIS will not be exonerated from the punishment of history."
At the end of the rally, representatives from human rights groups expressed deep concerns through a public statement, and they handed over a protest note to the NIS office. However, the NIS did not respond. 
In the meantime, human rights activists will petition against the bill at the National Assembly. They will also start a one-person rally against the bill.
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