South Korea: KTU (Korean Teachers Union) headquarters raided by prosecutors and riot police
The Seoul Central Prosecutor's Office raided KTU Headquarters and the Seoul KTU office at 5 am today. The KTU's computer server and important documents were taken by the police. Police said that they had a search and seizure warrant from Seoul Central Court and were collecting materials related to a public KTU statement critical of the current administration. The KTU headquarters was surrounded by the riot police during the raid. The police also seized other materials not related to the seizure list on the warrant, including a list of KTU National Congress participants. Seoul, Korea -- 3 July 2009 -- The Seoul Central Prosecutor's Office raided KTU Headquarters and the Seoul KTU office at 5 am today. The KTU's computer server and important documents were taken by the police. Police said that they had a search and seizure warrant from Seoul Central Court and were collecting materials related to a public KTU statement critical of the current administration. The KTU headquarters was surrounded by the riot police during the raid. The police also seized other materials not related to the seizure list on the warrant, including a list of KTU National Congress participants. And although the police should have made copies of the files on the KTU computer server, they took the server. They also took a private notebook computer.
This is the first time in the KTU's history that KTU headquarters have been raided. The KTU is now preparing a second statement that criticizes the abusive exercise of authority and disciplinary measures against the teachers who signed the initial KTU statement. The KTU strongly condemns this illegal forced seizure, made with the aim of preventing the second KTU statement. The KTU will fight to protect the freedom of opinion and expression and will defend the values of democracy.
Re: KTU release of June 29 2009, "17,000 teachers face punitive actions for signing petition critical of Lee Myung-bak Administration"
The KTU leadership arrested have been released from custody. The KTU requests that an Urgent Action Appeal be made that will encourage teacher organizations and others to protest to Korean authorities the trampling of basic values of democracy. The KTU asks that Appeals focus on the illegal arrest of the KTU leadership, illegal seizures from KTU Headquarters, and oppression against labour union rights, including the freedom of opinion and expression, protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/natio...0315F.HTML
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/...47848.html
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http://english.eduhope.net/news/hwang030709.htm