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by civic organizations in Suwon

Civic organizations for civil liberty has revealed that police has taken cruel measures when investigating foreign laborers (cf. related source at 19th day, October, Daily News). The investigation on November 8, co-organized by civic organizations for civil liberty in Suwon and journalists of the local press, undeniably revealed that, "the police are guilty of cruelty in all manners."
Mr. Irawan, an Indonesian was arrested by the police on suspicion of murder and taken to the Godeng-Dong Police Box of Southern Police Station at Suwon on October 8, asserted, "A plain clothes policeman dragged me to the underground in the Police Box without sufficient cause, then he hit me on my head with shoes. Then he brought my head toward his knees, whereby my head crashed against the chair." The police, however, directly replied, "We never took Mr. Irawan

to the underground in the Police Box, rather Mr. Irawan injured himself on the wall and fixtures in the Police Box by himself." The investigation revealed that the police replied, "There was no bloodstain on the wall in the Police Box, and needless to say no blood from the desk and chair. Furthermore, the police asserted, when someone injures him or herself, is it not rational and natural for us to clean up the mess?" There was public outcry, but no evidence were submitted till now. In tandem, there were unconvincing reports by the police when questioned in-depth. "In spite of warnings by the vice-head of the Police Box of 'No entrance to the underground of the Police Box should be permitted except personnel, Mr. Irawan, however, managed to figure out the whole map of underground of the Police Box, including the exact location and structure of the private cab

inet and The CCTV (closed-circuit television) which is expected to be in operation when disturbances are raised or self-inflicted is committed in the Police Box did not work." Mr. Woon-Chul Ryeo, an active member of the Dasan Center for Human Rights which have taken part in the investigation as a member institution, made his remarks on current reactions of the Police that "The police shall be immediately indicted for its illegal cruel investigation on Mr. Irawan by the Public Prosecutors Office. Not only did the police not take efforts to make this case clear, but they did not conduct an internal investigation for the police involved. Also a public apology by the police be made as well." On the other hand, the charge of homicide for the suspected Indonesian persons, who were arrested by the police at the time, including Mr. Irawan, had not been r

esolved clearly and accurately. Until now, they have been in the detention house in Young-Deng-Po under the so-called 'legal protection for them', after being transferred from the Immigration Station Office in Mok-Dong on the pretext of their illegal immigration status. [Myeng-Moon Ki ]

SOURCE : KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS DAILY NEWS Nov. 10th, 2000.