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The Police expurgated writings and ID

Writings in cyber spaces were expurgated with force and many people have remonstrated.

On June 21st, commercial computer communication company 'Nownuri' cleared up some writings in 'Chan Umul,' and in 'Persons Improving people's Lot' and suspended the usage of computer account for a month.

For that, 'Nownuri' explained, "The Ministry of Information and Communication or MOIC required the expurgation of writings and suspension of the accounts because the writings said about the yellow sea battle contravened the law of electric communication business". And MOIC insisted, "the public security section of the police asked MOIC concerning the writings". Therefore this occurrence was happened by the police and now it is ascertained the police has been making secret inquiries.

On June 23rd, in public statement, executives of 'Chan Umul' defined this situation as 'a political censorship, moreover anti-democratic violence to curb the basic freedom of expression of people' and urged the reinstatement of accounts, public apology, stoppage of censorship by government and guarantee of freedom of expression.

Jang Yeo Gyung, the representative of Communication Solidarity, said, "Article 53 in law of electric communication business and article 16 in enforcement ordinance of the same law allow the minister of information and communication to reject, to suspend and to restrict the treatment. So the commands without any legal judgement and the arbitrary interpretation of subversive communication are the most serious problem".

This kind of censorship has not been uncommon. In 1997 hundreds of writings concerning the departure ceremony of Hanchongryun were expurgated. In May, 1998 a labor of Korea Telecom was accused for violating National Security Law due to benefiting the enemy of his writings at a commercial computer communication network, 'Hitel'.

SOURCE:KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS DAILY NEWS June 25th, 1999