ID :
68288
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 19:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/68288
The shortlink copeid
Police detain members of progressive teachers' group for protest
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- Police on Monday detained 16 members of a progressive
teachers' union who demonstrated near the presidential office to denounce a
government decision to punish their colleagues who joined a growing
anti-government campaign earlier this month.
Scores of teachers, led by Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union Chairman
Jeong Jin-hoo, were blocked by police when they tried to march to the
presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, to deliver a letter of protest to the
president.
Police claimed the protesters refused to voluntarily disperse despite repeated
warnings. They said the rally was illegal because authorities were not notified
in advance, as required under local law.
Defying government warnings, the teachers' union issued a statement on June 18
berating President Lee Myung-bak's competition-driven education policies.
Largely triggered by the May 23 suicide of Roh Moo-hyun, President Lee
Myung-bak's immediate predecessor, 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 corruption
investigation that sent several of his closest confidants to prison. His
supporters say the probe was politically motivated.
The government declared last week it will punish those who actively participated
in the anti-government campaign, saying they violated a law that prohibits
teachers at state-run schools from engaging in political activities.
Unionized teachers say the campaign, which took the form of issuing a signed
statement, did not constitute a political activity.
"Signing an (anti-government) statement is a right and a duty of all teachers who
must teach their students about democracy," the union said in a statement
released Monday, calling the detention an "abuse of authority."
"We will fight this suppression by joining forces with other civic groups and
unions," it said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
teachers' union who demonstrated near the presidential office to denounce a
government decision to punish their colleagues who joined a growing
anti-government campaign earlier this month.
Scores of teachers, led by Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union Chairman
Jeong Jin-hoo, were blocked by police when they tried to march to the
presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, to deliver a letter of protest to the
president.
Police claimed the protesters refused to voluntarily disperse despite repeated
warnings. They said the rally was illegal because authorities were not notified
in advance, as required under local law.
Defying government warnings, the teachers' union issued a statement on June 18
berating President Lee Myung-bak's competition-driven education policies.
Largely triggered by the May 23 suicide of Roh Moo-hyun, President Lee
Myung-bak's immediate predecessor, 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 corruption
investigation that sent several of his closest confidants to prison. His
supporters say the probe was politically motivated.
The government declared last week it will punish those who actively participated
in the anti-government campaign, saying they violated a law that prohibits
teachers at state-run schools from engaging in political activities.
Unionized teachers say the campaign, which took the form of issuing a signed
statement, did not constitute a political activity.
"Signing an (anti-government) statement is a right and a duty of all teachers who
must teach their students about democracy," the union said in a statement
released Monday, calling the detention an "abuse of authority."
"We will fight this suppression by joining forces with other civic groups and
unions," it said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
