Teachers, Christian leaders join anti-government campaign

By Shin Hae-in and Kim Eunjung
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of South Korean teachers and Christian
leaders released separate statements Thursday demanding protection of civil
liberties and public-sector reforms, joining in a campaign critical of the
current administration.
Defying government warnings, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, an
association of left-leaning teachers, issued a statement berating President Lee
Myung-bak's competition-driven education policies.
"The government must fully reform its administrative style and policies, which
have caused a democratic crisis," said the statement signed by some 10,000
teachers at public elementary and high schools nationwide.
"The government has failed to keep its promise to ease the burden of private
education fees. Public education is in havoc."
The education ministry, accusing the teachers of engaging in an "illegal
activity," said Wednesday it will punish all those who participated. The
teachers' union says simply signing the statement does not constitute "political
activity" which public servants are prohibited from engaging in.
About 1,000 members of a progressive Protestant church association also released
a statement calling many of Lee's policies anti-democratic and claiming they
suppress human rights. Some 75 percent of Korea's Christian population had
supported Lee, an elder in a prominent Seoul church, in the presidential election
in 2007, according to polls.
"Although we respect the Lee government's inclination toward conservatism and
capitalism, the basic principle of democracy cannot be trampled by force," said
Rev. Jung Jin-woo, head of the National Council of Churches in Korea. "We are
very concerned about the human rights condition in the country, seemingly
threatened by the police crackdown on street rallies."
Largely triggered by the May 23 suicide of President Lee Myung-bak's immediate
predecessor Roh Moo-hyun, academics, civic and religious groups have been issuing
similar statements highly critical of the government.
Roh, a liberal human rights lawyer-turned-politician, leaped to his death from a
mountainside precipice above his rural southeastern home amid a pressing
corruption investigation that sent several of his closest confidants to prison.
His supporters say the probe was politically motivated.
The statement by the church council also called on President Lee to alter his
stern policy on North Korea, claiming such a rigid attitude will not help thaw
chilled inter-Korean ties.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)