Inter-Korean laborers' meeting in jeopardy over Seoul ban
The government and major labor umbrella groups are at odds with each other over Seoul's ban on a labor leader's visit to North Korea, threatening to scuttle an unprecedented symposium between workers from the two Koreas, group officials said.
Source : Korea Herald
The government and major labor umbrella groups are at odds with each other over Seoul's ban on a labor leader's visit to North Korea, threatening to scuttle an unprecedented symposium between workers from the two Koreas, group officials said.
Each of the nations' two umbrella labor organizations - the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) - had planned to send 20 representatives to the conference on national unification at the North's Mt. Kumgang scheduled for Dec. 11-14.
On Thursday, however, the government said it would not allow one of them, KCTU vice president Lee Kyu-jae, to cross the border, citing its unfinished probes into Lee's alleged violation of the National Security Law. The law stipulates any pro-Communist activities and praises of the North as illegal, while obligating any South Korean to obtain government approval for a visit to North Korea.
The decision immediately triggered strong protest from the labor groups, which said they would boycott the symposium unless Seoul reverses its move.
"We regard the government's action as an intentional, political suppression," said Choi Jong-myong, a KCTU spokesman. "And we strongly criticize the government for making decisions based on subjective criteria."
Even after the historic June summit, in which the leaders of the two Koreas pledged to end decades-long animosity and pursue reconciliation, Seoul has remained reluctant to approve visits to Pyongyang by pro-North Korean activists.
In early October, when about 40 social organization leaders flew to Pyongyang to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party, Seoul banned some applicants, including Lee, from going to the North.
"We think it groundless for the government to block Lee's visit as he has spearheaded civilian-level movements for unification," Choi said. He stressed that Lee had not been prosecuted, but only under investigation.
Other pro-unification organizations also expressed regret that the government appeared to restrict private-level inter-Korean exchanges.
"The government tries to maintain rights in deciding on the people's visits to the North," said Lee Chnag-hee, unification committee at the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice.
"It's nonsense for the government to urge North Korea to implement the June 15 South-North Joint Communique, while restricting free exchanges between civilian unification-promoting groups," he added.
Each of the nations' two umbrella labor organizations - the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) - had planned to send 20 representatives to the conference on national unification at the North's Mt. Kumgang scheduled for Dec. 11-14.
On Thursday, however, the government said it would not allow one of them, KCTU vice president Lee Kyu-jae, to cross the border, citing its unfinished probes into Lee's alleged violation of the National Security Law. The law stipulates any pro-Communist activities and praises of the North as illegal, while obligating any South Korean to obtain government approval for a visit to North Korea.
The decision immediately triggered strong protest from the labor groups, which said they would boycott the symposium unless Seoul reverses its move.
"We regard the government's action as an intentional, political suppression," said Choi Jong-myong, a KCTU spokesman. "And we strongly criticize the government for making decisions based on subjective criteria."
Even after the historic June summit, in which the leaders of the two Koreas pledged to end decades-long animosity and pursue reconciliation, Seoul has remained reluctant to approve visits to Pyongyang by pro-North Korean activists.
In early October, when about 40 social organization leaders flew to Pyongyang to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party, Seoul banned some applicants, including Lee, from going to the North.
"We think it groundless for the government to block Lee's visit as he has spearheaded civilian-level movements for unification," Choi said. He stressed that Lee had not been prosecuted, but only under investigation.
Other pro-unification organizations also expressed regret that the government appeared to restrict private-level inter-Korean exchanges.
"The government tries to maintain rights in deciding on the people's visits to the North," said Lee Chnag-hee, unification committee at the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice.
"It's nonsense for the government to urge North Korea to implement the June 15 South-North Joint Communique, while restricting free exchanges between civilian unification-promoting groups," he added.
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