STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF RO SU HUI, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH HEADQUARTERS OF THE PAN-NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR KOREA'S REUNIFICATION
(POMMINRYON)


It is with deep concern, that we the friends of Korea, have learnt of the immediate arrest and detention of the south Korean Peace and Reunification activist, Ro Su Hui by the south Korean authorities at Panmunjom on July 5th, 2012. As soon as Ro Su Hui crossed the line dividing his homeland, Mr.Ro was pounced upon by agents of south Korea's National Secruity Planning Agency and dragged off for interrogation. We note that the reception given to Ro Su Hui by the south Korean state was in sharp contrast to the warm send off given to him by the north Korean people.

Right in front of the world's media, the south Korean authorities disgraced themselves, with their agents' using physical force to knock down Ro Su Hui to the floor and manhandle him, at the very moment Ro entered the southern part of Panmunjom. Mr.Ro, posed no threat to the stability of south Korea and came back from the north on a mission to promote peace and understanding between the north and south of Korea through dialogue and exchange. As was seen through the footage of Ro Su Hui being set upon by the National Security Planning Agents for simply carrying a flag with the symbol of a united Korea.

Ro Su Hui now faces the prospect of 10 years or more in solitary confinement by the south Korean regime, for the crime of simply visiting the northern half of his divided country. Vice-Chairman Ro went to Pyongyang in March this year to defuse tensions between the north and south of Korea. Ro had discussions with his counterparts at the northern headquarters of Pomminryon and with other sectors of DPRK society, aswell as having a meeting with Kim Yong Nam, the President of the Presidum of the Supreme Assembly of the DPRK. All Ro Su Hui activities in north Korea were publicized and had nothing sinister about them.

North and south Korea were on course for better relations and ultimately independent reunification a decade ago with the signing of the June 15 2000 north-south agreement. Inter-Korean cooperation was being intensified, people to people contacts were strengthened
Left to the Korean people themselves, the question of Korea's peaceful and independent reunification would have been solved long ago. All the progress which was made on Korean reunification was wrecked by the intervention of outside forces, princially the United States. The coming to power of Li Myoung Bak and his ultra-right party returned Korea to the cold war era. History appears to be repeating itself, Rim Su Young, a delegate to the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students held in Pyongyang from the National Students Council of south Korea, was detained by the south Korean military regime of Roh Tae Woo twenty three years go. Now Ro Su Hui has become the latest victim of the anti-reunification witch hunt of the present inhabitant in the Chengwadae (the Blue House), Seoul.

The Recent events at Panmunjon has revealed the true nature of south Korea. Viewing those shocking scenes of a pacifist such as Ro Su Hui being roughed up by the NSPA agents, the international community now sees through the illusion of south Korea being a democracy. At its core, south Korea cannot be classified as a parliamentary democracy but as a military corporate state sustained by American neo-colonialism. South Korea's National Security Law is a draconian piece of legislation, which violates the fundamental rights to conscience and freedom of brief. Li Myoung Bak has returned the political situation in south Korea to the days of Yusin, that is to the security orientated rule of the 1960s and 1970s. In south Korea during this period of its history, hundreds of thousands of political activists were rounded and in May 1980, the south Korean regime massacred 10,000 demonstrators in the city of Kwangju. Today many reunification activists and trade unionists face similar persecution in south Korea for exercising rights which would be taken for granted in West European countries.


We the members of the Staffordshire Branch of the Korean Friendship Association ( UK ) call upon all peace activists, human rights advocates, anti-imperialists and trade unionists to mobilize and campaign for the release of Ro Su Hui by the south Korea authorities instantly. Public opinion in Britain and elsewhere must be informed of the terrible treatment given to 68 year old Ro Su Hui by the south Korean security agencies. The Friends of Korea urges everyone who values peace, democracy and human dignity to put maximum pressure upon to those in power in Seoul to free Ro Su Hui straight away. Ro Su Hui is a envoy of peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula and must be entitled to his personal and political rights.


FREE RO SU HUI NOW!!!

KOREA IS ONE!!!

PEACE AND INDEPENDENT REUNIFICATION FOR KOREA!!