From: "Margaret" <margaret-AT-rie.net.au>
Subject: AUT: [kctupower] 663 in three years and 10 months, 218 this year, currently 67 -- a Nobel Laureate's score card
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 21:27:24 +1000


From: "KCTU" <inter-AT-kctu.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 12:40 AM
Subject: [kctupower] 663 in three years and 10 months, 218 this year,
currently 67 -- a Nobel Laureate's score card


 Imprisoned Trade Unionists in South Korea in 2001 reach 218 arrested,
bring the tally for President Kim Dae Jung 663.
Currently, 67 unionists are held in jail

KCTU website has been updated with a documentation on "imprisonment of
trade unionists". While the following is a summary of the new article,
the full "story" can be found at http://kctu.org/news/prison-
11015hot.htm.

In this year, a total of 218 unionists were put behind bars, an increase
of 129 since May 28 when KCTU last documented the arrests. The increase
was brought about by massive 73 arrests in the month of June, the month
when the KCTU launched its coordinated industrial action campaign,
including the struggle of the Daewoo workers.

The total imprisonment under the government led by Nobel Laureate
President Kim Dae Jung stands at 663, surpassing 632 totaled in the five
years of his rival predecessor. The number of unionists currently (as of
October 13) held in prison is 67.

Arrest and imprisonment, and the "quick" release has become a Korean
industrial relations version of "russian roulette" or "revolving door".
 It is a game played by the government using trade unionists and workers,
as the government uses legal action on trade unionists as callous
quick fix for industrial disputes, conflicts in structural
adjustment. Arrest and imprisonment has become a key element of the
government's armour in its drive to to keep trade union movement at bay,
diverting its resources away from developing greater capacity to tackle
core issues in a comprehensive manner.

President Kim Dae Jung -- no believer in labour rights
The fact that more trade unionists are imprisoned in three years and ten
months of presidency of Nobel Laureate Kim Dae Jung than in the previous
five years under another president, is indicative of the inherent
violence of restructuring programme undertaken by the government.

 The government has resorted to repression in response to the labour
unrest caused by economic crisis and structural adjustment drive. If
 the government had any commitment to social dialogue, it chose to
uphold it only in situations where there is no sharp difference of
interest between the government and workers or employers and workers --
which never exists. In cases where there were sharp difference of
interest and perspectives and difficulty in bringing the parties
to a resolution, the government has been quick to rely on repression.
 It has been found to be the principal method of clearing the mountain of
 thorny issues and conflicts.

 In at least in industrial relations and attitude to labour, the
 government of president Kim Dae Jung, despite the carefully cultivated
 image of champion of human rights, has proven to be no different,
 from government of any of the previous presidents, who never aspired to
 receive Nobel Peace Prize.

 To Read the full analysis of the "imprisonment of trade unionists", which
point out some striking new features, just click here:
 http://kctu.org/news/prison-011015hot.htm

 Protest letters are continuing to stream in, to the inconvinience of the
staff at the Blue House. Each letter adds to the pressure which will
wrench open the prison gates to free the imprisoned unionists. Details
for sending protest letters are found at: http://kctu.org



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