Korea. Miscellaneous. � KOREA HERALD 22 08 2001 � 1) Lawyers for Nogun-ri survivors to file suit against Washington�� 2) Korean civic groups to take Japan's history distortions to U.N. conference on racism�� 3) Visitors under investigation for activities in N. Korea�� � ------------------------------------------------------------------------ � 1) Lawyers for Nogun-ri survivors to file suit against Washington � � Representatives and attorneys for Nogun-ri survivors said yesterday they will file a lawsuit against the Bush administration with a U.S. court early next week. They are also pushing for a congressional hearing on the Nogun-ri incident in the United States, along with the enactment of a special act. The moves came one day after a number of declassified U.S. military documents showed that U.S. Air Force planes strafed South Korean civilians on three occasions in and around Nogun-ri, a hamlet about 250 km south of Seoul, during the early days of the Korean War (1950-53). The new documents were put on the Web site of U.S. publication company, Henry Holt, which will publish a book authored by a team of Associated Press reporters on the Nogun-ri incident early next month. "Our attorneys in the United States, including Michael Choi, told me that they will file a lawsuit against the U.S. administration with a Washington court as early as next week on charges of violating the U.S. Freedom of Information Act," said Jung Eun-yong, chairman of the Committee for Unveiling Truth about the Nogun-ri Massacre. The private committee, representing the Nogun-ri victims and survivors, was set up in 1994 to investigate the incident, in which it claims that some 300 South Korean civilians were killed or injured by retreating U.S. soldiers and U.S. Air Force planes in and around Nogun-ri. "If we win the lawsuit, then we will file another suit with a U.S. court against U.S. military officials deeply involved in their investigation of the Nogun-ri incident on charges of omitting or covering up crucial information," Jung said. In June, the U.S. attorneys asked the U.S. government to disclose its estimated 1 million documents and testimonies of Nogun-ri survivors, which the U.S. investigative team reviewed during its 15 months-long inquiry. Citing lack of time, the U.S. side asked for the delay of the information disclosure for 45 days and then another seven days, Jung said. "The deadline for the second delay was this past Sunday and if the U.S. government continues to refuse to disclose the information in question, then we have no choice but to file a suit," Jung said. If the attorneys successfully prove the United States intentionally omitted information, he said, then the U.S. government should be held responsible for the Nogun-ri incident. After 15 months of joint inquiries into the Nogun-ri case, South Korea and the United States announced their joint report in January, which ended inconclusively on the strafing case. The U.S. military has consistently denied strafing by U.S. air force planes on South Korean civilians in and around Nogun-ri on July 26, 1950. "Along with the lawsuit, we are also pushing for a congressional hearing and the enactment of a special act on the incident this fall," Jung said. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) By Kang Seok-jae Staff reporter 2) Korean civic groups to take Japan's history distortions to U.N. conference on racism � � Four civic human rights organizations, announced yesterday their plans to question the accuracy of Japanese history textbooks at a meeting of the U.N. World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) slated for next Monday in Durban, South Africa. The non-governmental organizations, including Lawyers for a Democratic Society, unveiled the plan at a news conference. A key agenda item of the international meeting to be sponsored by the United Nations is "compensations for colonial rule in the past," they said. "Our delegation will officially raise questions about the Japanese government's distortion of history before the 5,000 civic and governmental representatives at the meeting and seek international backing," an NGO official said. The delegation also plans to draw international attention to Korea's industrial trainee system which forces foreign workers to endure low wages and hence pushes them to take higher paying but illegal positions, the official said. The mission will also publicize the government's refusal to grant refugee status to Kurds, he said. The WCAR conference was last held in Geneva in 1983. Mary Robinson, the commissioner for human rights, currently leads the non-governmental human rights watchdog. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3) Visitors under investigation for activities in N. Korea � � Upon their return home from joint Liberation Day celebrations with North Korea yesterday, 16 members of a South Korean delegation were taken into custody by authorities for questioning regarding their controversial activities in the North. Prosecutors said the 16 members of the 337-member delegation are suspected of violating the anti-communist National Security Law that bans South Koreans from engaging in pro-North Korea activities. The suspects were taken to the Police and the National Intelligence Service upon their arrival at Gimpo Airport, where riot police scuffled with conservative protesters to keep the two groups apart. Those who underwent questioning from authorities stirred controversies in the South when they led more than 100 Southern delegates to a Liberation Day ceremony held at a politically sensitive monument in Pyongyang. The civic leaders include Prof. Kang Jeong-gu of Dongguk University, who touched off another controversy when he left a message in the North that was interpreted as praise for the late North Korea founder, Kim Il-sung. Prof. Kang left a visitor's note during a tour of Mangyongdae, the birthplace of Kim Il-sung that said, "Let's achieve unification by inheriting the Mangyongdae spirit." The South Korean delegation, composed of civic, religious and labor activists, arrived in the North Korean capital Wednesday last week to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. The string of controversial activities of some progressive members of the delegation drew strong criticism from the opposition party and conservative groups in the South. The opposition Grand National Party is demanding the resignation of Unification Minister Lim Dong-won, whose ministry gave the go-ahead for the delegation's North Korean trip. Upon arriving at Gimpo Airport, the delegation offered an apology. "We sincerely apologize for the incidents in Pyongyang and admit responsibility for them," they said in a statement. "But we believe the incidents should not disrupt inter-Korean private-level exchanges at a time when governmental dialogue has been suspended," it said. The delegation said that the South and the North had agreed on a number of joint programs. They agreed to organize joint Liberation Day celebrations in both Seoul and Pyongyang next year. The two sides also promised to boost civilian-level exchanges and take joint actions on Japan's past wartime atrocities and attempts to distort history, they said. About 3,000 policemen were posted around the airport, where hundreds of civic organization members gathered to either greet or denounce the delegates. A group of conservative activists, including some 700 members of the Korean Veterans Association, chanted: "The puppets of (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il, go back to the North!" Opposition lawmakers also harshly criticized the delegates. "The incidents resulted from the government's clumsy North Korea policy," the Grand National Party (GNP) said in a statement. The GNP renewed calls for the resignation of Unification Minister Lim and the review on President Kim Dae-jung's engagement policy toward the communist North. Prosecutors earlier said that they will question at least 16 delegates to ascertain if their activities violate the National Security Law and will take criminal actions against them if necessary. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) By Kim Ji-ho Staff reporter **** Southern Delegates Return From NK, Some Face Charges Under Security Law By Son Key-young Staff Reporter South Korean delegates yesterday returned home following week-long Liberation Day celebrations in North Korea, a set of events which showcased inter-Korean conflicts rather than setting a model for civilian exchanges between the two rival states. Upon arrival at Kimpo Airport, some of the 311 delegates faced arrest by law enforcement authorities because of their allegedly illegal acts during their stay in Pyongyang, highlighted by their praise of North Korea's unification formula. Their arrival in Seoul was delayed because the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the wording of a joint statement until the last moment. The Seoul government has threatened to take punitive measures, if they are found to have committed illegal actions. However, observers here fear that such actions by the South might further aggravate inter-Korean ties, which have been already marred by the prolonged suspension of official dialogue. By taking political advantage of the events, North Korea has apparently cornered the South's Unification Minister, Lim Dong-won, regarded as the chief architect of Seoul's ``sunshine policy.'' North Korea has virtually suspended dialogue with the South since early this year when its business partner, the Hyundai group, tumbled because of financial difficulties and the public opinion in South Korea turned negative towards the unconditional assistance to the North. Defying a South Korean government warning, a third of the 311 South Korean civic leaders attended a ceremony at a monument dedicated to the North's unification policy. When the South Korean delegation visited a thatched cottage, Mangyongdae, on Friday, where the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung is said to have been born, one delegate, identified as Prof. Kang Jong-ku of Dongguk University, wrote in the visitors' book, ``Let's achieve unification by inheriting the spirit of Mangyongdae.'' This could be interpreted as pro- North Korean, and therefore another violation of South Korean law. Earlier, the Seoul government allowed the delegates to travel to the North on condition that they stayed away from the communist monuments amid fears the North would use the occasion for propaganda. Those who visited the ``Monument to Three Chapters for National Unification'' could face charges under the South's National Security Law, which bans pro-communist activities. The South Korean delegation flew to Pyongyang on Wednesday to jointly celebrate the Aug. 15 anniversary of Korea's 1945 liberation from Japanese colonial rule. [EMAIL PROTECTED] **** Subject: Special Report--Korean Reunification Conference > > > NORTHEAST ASIA PEACE AND SECURITY NETWORK > ***** SPECIAL REPORT ***** > > August 20, 2001 > > The following article contains the press release and > declaration from a recent conference on Korean Reconciliation > and Reunification held in Seoul, ROK. The conference was > organized by a coalition of ROK and international non- > governmental organizations and included participants from > Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia. > > --------------------- > > Historic International Civil Society Conference in Korea > Pushes the Korean Reconciliation and Reunification Process > from Below > > On August 13-14, participants from Korea, the Asia-Pacific, > Europe and North America attended an historic gathering at > Yonesi University in Seoul, Korea: The International > Conference on Korean Reconciliation and Reunification for > Global Peace. This was a landmark effort to globalize the > struggle to overcome the division of Korea by bringing > together the energy of Korean and international civil society > movements and organizations. Sponsoring organizations in > Korea included the Korean Council for Reconciliation and > Cooperation, People's Solidarity for Korean Reunification, > Seven Major Korean Religious Groups and the Hankyoreh Shinmun. > International sponsors included ARENA (Hong Kong), > Transnational Institute (Netherlands), American Friends > Service Committee, Nautilus Institute, Council for Alternative > Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific, and Focus on the Global > South. > > Just a little over a year ago, on June 15, 2000, the historic > summit held by the leaders of the two Korea's captured the > imagination of the world, offering the hope of dismantling the > structures of military confrontation and hostility on the > Korean peninsula and of overcoming Korea's division. At the > time of the gathering, though, this historic process of > reconciliation and reunification was in grave danger. The > Bush administrations cool attitude towards the reconciliation > process, combined with its shift in global military policy > towards the Asia-Pacific region and containment of China, has > emerged as key obstacles towards moving forwards on the path > towards Korean reconciliation and reunification. Throughout > the Cold War period, the future of Korea, Asia and the world > have been entwined; today, they once again hang in the > balance. The meeting in Seoul, by bringing together > representatives from Korean and international civil society > and follow-up efforts, holds out the promise of giving the > reconciliation and reunification process a much needed push > from below. > > Leading scholars, activists, elected representatives and > diplomats came together to engage in a broad dialogue about > the progress towards reconciliation and reunification, the > obstacles to be overcome, the hopes of moving forward and the > need for international solidarity to support these efforts. > The two day conference ended with the adoption of a > declaration by the participants and the related formation of a > Global Forum for Korean Reconciliation and Reunification: > Working for Korean Unity and Global Peace. > > Many participants in the conference were also invited to take > part in the national celebrations commemorating Korea's > liberation from Japanese colonialism on August 15. A > delegation from the conference addressed rallies with > solidarity messages from conference organizers and > participants and marched together with Korean citizens through > the streets of Seoul. The conference could mark a significant > leap forward in the "globalization of movements for overcoming > Korea's division system," to borrow from the title of a paper > delivered at the conference. The Global Forum for Korean > Reconciliaton and Reunification plans to build on efforts such > as these, supporting transnational movements working for > Korean reconciliation and reunification as part of the larger > struggle for global peace and justice in the Asia-Pacific > region and throughout the globe. > > THE SEOUL DECLARATION FOR KOREAN RECONCILIATION AND GLOBAL > PEACE AND JUSTICE > > We represent civil society groups, scholars, activists, > journalists and Members of Parliament from the Asia-Pacific, > Europe and North America, who have gathered together in Seoul > on August 13 and 14, 2001, for the International Conference on > Korean Reconciliation and Reunification for Global Peace. We > have spent our time discussing key issues related to Korean > reconciliation and reunification and issue the following > declaration: > > We the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals > > 1. Support fully the Korean initiatives towards > reconciliation, peace, and eventual reunification on the > Korean peninsula. > > 2. Recognize the importance of the June 15th, 2000 meeting and > declaration between the leaders of North and South Korea. > This historic effort to overcome more than a half-century of > Korean division has significance not only for Korea, but for > Asia and the entire globe. This historic event demonstrates > that Asians can work out their problems for themselves without > outside interference from foreign powers. > > 3. Recognize that this process is now in great danger of being > derailed by the change of government in the United States and > the resulting Cold War policy of the Bush administration in > Washington. The vulnerability of Korea's reconciliation > efforts exposes the great obstacles which smaller nations face > when they move to take their future into their own hands. > > 4. Realize the urgent need to regain the momentum begun with > these efforts through mobilizing civil society movements and > people's aspirations that laid the groundwork for June 15th > declaration in the first place. Civil society participation > is crucial in a process that until now has been largely driven > by personalities at the top level of government. Moreover, > civil society participation in Korean reconciliation takes on > additional importance in the context of the Bush > administration's shift in US global military policy towards > the Asia-Pacific region. > > 5. Support the removal of obstacles to the second Korean > summit in Seoul. > > 6. Oppose the policy of the United States to implement a > theater missile defense system in the Asia-Pacific. This > threatens to ignite a dangerous new arms race from Northeast > Asia across to South Asia and directly threatens smaller > nations in the region. It risks setting back dramatically the > process of peace and reconciliation in Korea. In particular, > North Korea is being used as a convenient pretext for > maintaining US military supremacy in Korea, containing China > and preventing greater steps towards regional autonomy. > > 7. Theater missile defense is part of a larger Asia-Pacific > US policy of gaining increased military access to bases in the > Pacific islands and in Southeast Asia, including a return to > the Philippines through the Visiting Forces Agreement. These > moves take place in the context of growing citizen opposition > in Okinawa to US bases, the unfair Status of Forces Agreements > in Japan and Korea imposed by the US, popular opposition to > the return of US troops in the Philippines and global > opposition to the US unilateral pursuit of missile defense. > Like the West's original entrance into Asia, US policy today > aims to use military superiority as a way of ensuring that > dense regional trade links support US state and corporate > power, rather than to increase regional autonomy that could > lay the foundations for a more equitable, democratic and just > peace. > > 8. Welcome the Japanese People's support for Korean > Reconciliation and Reunification while we oppose the Japanese > government's policy as an obstacle to peace and reunification > on the Korean Peninsula because of its hostility towards North > Korea, including its unwillingness to move towards > normalization of relations. > > Therefore, we members of civil society from Korea, the Asia- > Pacific, Europe and North America are determined to reenergize > the Korean reconciliation effort as an integral part of the > larger struggle for global peace. > > * We welcome the recent EU initiative - under the Swedish > presidency - to support Korean reconciliation and pledge to > broaden this effort by mobilizing civil society support within > Europe. > > * We demand the reversal of US unilateral opposition to the > Korean reconciliation process and urge the Bush administration > to go back to the negotiating table and work towards the > normalization of relations with North Korea. > > * We urge greater efforts by Asian governments and civil > society to support Korean reconciliation and demilitarization > of the Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region. > > * We pledge support in the creation of multilateral solutions > and institutions for peace, friendship and cooperation in the > Asia-Pacific as an alternative to US unilateralism in the > region. > > * We encourage North Korea to be flexible and resilient in > their efforts to pursue reconciliation with the South in spite > of the obstacles. > > * We support the grassroots efforts in Korea to push the > process of reconciliation from below. > > * We demand that governments in Korea lift restrictions and > controls on family visits, movements, travel and other cross > border communications in accordance with international human > rights standards. > > * We call for the institutionalization of trust and > reconciliation and the dismantling of Cold war legacies. We > support the continuity of the spirit of engagement policy > under any government. > > * We call for the urgent elimination of land mines, especially > those in populated areas, which have been mainly deployed by > the US army as well as those around the DMZ. > > As movements, organizations and concerned individuals in civil > society, we take up these challenges. We realize that we are > calling for nothing less than a new vision and the reinvention > of international solidarity in the age of globalization. The > time demands nothing less. > > Signed by the Participants of > The International Conference on Korean Reconciliation & > Reunification for Global Peace > > August 14, 2001 > Seoul, Korea _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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