CINA

ONE WEEK OCCUPATION OF NHRC

Saturday was day 6 of the occupation of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and the 57th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This morning (12.10) at about 10 am, the Korean government held ceremonies to commemorate the annivesary. In the ceremonies, the Minister of Justice, Chan Cheon-bae, gave awards to organizations and individuals who promote human rights for all. As part of their cultural program, they also had migrant workers sing traditional songs from their home countries and participate in the ceremonies.

In order to point out their hypocrisy, MTU members and some 60 supporters joined the ceremony to protest the the NHRC's decision to support the Immigration Department's unlawful detention of Anwar Hossain, MTU's president, the crackdown on undocumented migrant workers, the recent arrest of yet another MTU leader, and the Korean government's unwillingness to grant basic working rights to migrant workers. One demonstrator was ejected peaceably from the ceremony for shouting, "Stop Crackdown!" The other protesters held signs reading, "Stop ignoring migrant workers!" and "Recognize Migrant Workers' Rights!"

"Last night (Sat., 12.10) we went to a program at Hanyang University that was organized by (or maybe for?) the mothers of martyrs from the dictatorship era. This program was mainly entertainment, but at the end, we got to give a really quick little speech explaining who we are and what the demands are. I say "we" because I was paraded up on stage with the real migrant workers. It was good exposure for MTU because there were a couple of thousand people there, but it wasn't anything "action" oriented. I rarely know what we are going to do ahead of time- I just follow along and do what I'm told. It's still really difficult to get questions answered.", one comrade reported later in the following morning.

About yesterday, Sunday, 12.11, following was reported from the spot:

"Today folks are out in Incheon, Dongdaemun and elsewhere organizing and just a few of us are holding down the fort at the office. The nights here are packed with people and during the day there are constantly people coming and going. It's nearly impossible to sleep at night because of all of the meetings that can't happen during the day, so folks are looking a little tired and catching naps whenever and wherever they can. Still though, everyone seems to be holding up well. Spirits are high even though they are sometimes tense and the Korean government seems to be getting a little nervous about how much press we are generating. We were on KBS two or three separate times yesterday- first the protest at the human rights celebration and then a really long piece on Radhika getting deported and a third really emotional piece about two men from Bangladesh who lost fingers in industrial accidents here and can't go back home for the shame of no longer being able to provide for their families. It was a good media day, even if 2/3 of the reasons for being on the news really sucked."

Radhika is still in Mok-dong Detention Center, it was reported yersterday (12.11). It looks like she'll be there until the 14^th or 15^th, but she really wants to go home. She said that being a femaledetainee is really humiliating. They have cameras in their rooms, thebathrooms, everywhere so they have absolutely no privacy. It sounds like she is having a really awful time.

And as I remember, and I remember very well, Mok-dong Detention Center is just a rat hole. If you must stay there longer than few days you can become easily complete crazy. This is definitely not a place for human beings!!!

A Korean report about Saturday you can read here:

http://www.nodong.com/zero/view.php?id=sokbo&page=1&sn1=&divpage=2&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=7083

International Solidarity

Le combat pour le droit d’organisation des migrants est particulièrement dur, car il est plus difficile à populariser que celui des fonctionnaires. Le Syndicat des migrants (MTU), lui aussi adhérent à la KCTU, a été formé le 24 avril 2005. Il lutte pour la légalisation des travailleurs sans papiers et le droit du travail dans l’entreprise. Il en appelle à la solidarité internationale et propose d’échanger expériences et informations sur la façon dont la défense des immigrés est assurée dans divers pays. ...

Please read (if you understand French language...^^) more here: