hankyoreh

Wrapping up their joint investigation into human rights violations by police during the candlelight demonstrations in South Korea, following a similar probe by Amnesty International, two Asian human right groups advised the South Korean government to “punish officials who were responsible for violating human rights and revise laws that undermine freedom of expression.”

In a press conference on July 25 in Seoul, the Asian Forum for Human Rights Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Asian Human Rights Commission announced the advisory, saying, “During the candlelight demonstrations, the South Korean government used violence against the defenders of human rights such as journalists, medical personnel, and lawyers, and restricted freedom of expression on the Internet.”

In the statement, the two Asian human rights groups proposed that “the South Korean government, which signed the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, take specific measures to implement the advisory.”

South Korea’s Justice Ministry was also advised to revise laws that limit freedom of expression and ban overnight rallies. In addition, the two Asian human rights groups proposed that the South Korean ministry amend defamation laws, in a move to promote a culture of democratic discussion.

The four-member team composed of people from both organizations arrived in Korea on July 21 to conduct the investigation. They visited civic organizations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and met with 12 people who said they had been victims of human rights violations.

The inspection team tried to visit the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency and to meet with arrested executives of the People’s Countermeasure Council against Full Resumption of Imports of U.S. Beef Endangered with Mad Cow Disease, but were prevented from doing so, they said.

A report based on the investigation will be submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in September and the two organizations plan to ask then UN commission to conduct its own investigation.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]