CINA

본문

Just few minutes ago following was posted on (the conservative bourgeois) JoongAng Ilbo's web site:

U.S. base protester gets 2-year term
 
The leader of a group of Pyeongtaek residents opposing the relocation of U.S. military installations was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday by the Suwon District Court.

Kim Ji-tae had been convicted of instigating violence at prostests near the site for the relocated U.S. headquarters.

The court said Mr. Kim was personally responsible for the violence that broke out; his actions, the judge said, had instigated an atmosphere of defiance of public authority. Because he argued for the need to use violence, he should be punished severely, the verdict continued; "Considering [that] Mr. Kim was a catalyst for a large-scale violent protest in which bamboo sticks and iron pipes were wielded his crimes cannot be taken lightly."
 
The committee and some of its members complained of a "political" verdict and promised an appeal. Choi Yeon-chul, a committee official, said the sentence was out of proportion with those of similar cases, and accused the court of trying to intimidate future protesters.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200611/03/200611032134277479900090409041.html 

For more informations please check out:

성지용판사, 대추리 김지태이장 징역 2년 실형 선고

Pan-S.Korea Solution Committee Against US Base Extension in Pyeongtaek (http://antigizi.or.kr) published following:

Village Leader Ji-tae Kim Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
 

An Exceptional Trial…. Dachuri, Doduri Residents Astonished
Judge Ji-yong Song Sentences Dachuri Village Leader Ji-tae Kim to Two Years in Prison

Scene 1- 10:40am

 
Dachuri Village Leader Ji-tae Kim's sentence shocks residents.

Today, November 3, 2006 at the Suwon, Pyongtaek District Courthouse at 10:00am Dachuri Village Leader Ji-tae Kim (head of the Paengsong Residents Committee) was handed the shocking sentence of 2 years imprisonment for obstructing civic affairs.

“The wickedness of the Noh Moohyun government goes beyond imagination.”

These are the words of Father Moon Jung-hyun, Representative for the Pan S.Korea Solution Committee against US Base Extension in Pyongtaek (KCPT), who spoke in astonishment this morning in the courtyard in front of the courthouse.
Compared with other similar cases, a sentence of 2 years imprisonment is extremely out of the ordinary.

Father Moon was not the only one who was bewildered.  Greatly shocked as well were the crowd of residents from Dachuri and Doduri and members of social movement organizations, about 70 people in all, who had come out to welcome Mr. Kim expecting him only to receive probation.  No one could hide their expressions of shock and confusion.  Mr. Kim’s elderly father, Mr. Suk-gyung Kim sank to his seat and remained their unable to speak or even move, with only a sorrowful look on his face.  Mr. Kim’s mother, Mrs. Hwang Pil-soon cried out “A-i-go, Ji-tae!  Our Ji-tae!” and then collapsed. 

Perhaps having anticipated this sort of verdict, 3 units of policemen were stationed in front of the court house, even blocking the residents from attending the trial.  While the resident met gruff treatment when trying to enter the courthouse from policemen blocking their path, the court delivered Mr. Kim’s two year sentence and ended the trial.

Scene 2- 11:20am

“Clearly a politically motivated trial.”  According to Father Moon Jug-hyun, “more cruel than the days of the Yushin System.  Therefore we must fight has hard as we did at that time.”

Upon hearing the verdict of Village Leader Kim Ji-tae’s trial, some 50 residents of Dachuri and Doduri and people affiliated with KCPT held press conference in front of the courthouse to condemn the verdict.

According to Representative Kim Yong-han who arrived early this morning and was therefore able to attend Mr. Kim’s trial, “the courts had decided because of disturbance at the last trial date (10.13) that it was necessary to stop residents from attending the trial in order to make it possible to deliver the verdict securely and protect equipment inside the courtroom.”

At the last court date residents had protested angrily when the prosecution presented old evidence as if it were new in order to intentionally prolong Mr. Ji-tae Kim’s imprisonment.

According to Representative Yong-han Kim, “we acknowledge the seven indictments put forward by the prosecution.  Among these the severe charge of obstructing civic affairs has a sentence of 3 to 7 years associated with it.  However considering that the defendant is the village leader and had to do what he did they give him a 2 year sentence.”   
 
But, he said, “I have experienced many trials in the past, but this is the first time I have seen a first-time offender receive prison time.”

According to Father Moon, “this the first time after Yushin System that I have seen police block the courthouse and refuse the right to attend the trial.  What is worse, they even denied Mr. Kim’s parents and family the right to attend the trial, which makes this even crueler than the time of Yushin.”    

“Because this is clearly a politically motivated trial the judgment that came out was not usual,” he added.
 
“If the government acts in this way, we have no choice but to struggle against it just as during the Yushin days,” he said and encouraged the residents to gather together even greater strengthen for this struggle.

Mr. Jong Il Kim, Joint Executive Director of KCPT, said of the situation, “Today, we must strictly question the violent attitude assumed by the government authorities who ordered the residents be blocked from the courtroom and the stance taken by the police and the prosecution.  We will also mobilize all means and measures possible to secure the release of Mr. Kim Ji-Tae.”

“In as much as the struggle to stop the base expansion is in a new phase with will fight to prevent the base expansion with new determination,” he said, assuring that there would be a corresponding plan after these events.

The press conference ended, but the residents could not be calmed, throwing newspapers and paper cups they were carrying in an expression of their pent up rage.

http://antigizi.or.kr/zboard/view.php?id=english_news&no=155