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Statements: Protest the denial of border entry of KCTU delegation to the G8 Summit
Posted on Jul 11, 2008 - 12:09 AM
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Guarantee Democracy and Human Rights at all Moments
Protesting the Denial of border entry of the KCTU Delegation to the G8 Summit by the Japanese government.
Statement from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions G8 Delegation
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) with a membership of 800,000 is a major confederation of South Korean trade unions
actively fighting to advance democracy, human rights, and a democratic trade union movement. At this very moment, we are conducting a General Strike against the importation of U.S. beef; privatization of public services, and the failure of the current Lee Myung Bak
government to address the genuine concerns raised by South Korean citizens about food safety. The negotiations around the
importation of U.S. beef within the context of the unequal KORUS FTA has denigrated South Koreans the right to food safety and
privatization will force the working poor to undergo more social sacrifices.
The G8 Summit is a gathering of representatives of corporations and governments that support their interests to further the advance an
agenda of neoliberalism, privatization, and free trade. The neoliberal economic agenda has not only failed to resolve urgent issues that
affect workers in general, but have triggered a global emergency on financial markets, food supply, and the environment. This is a
moment when we truly need to seek another path, another direction, and another praxis.
Therefore, the KCTU delegation consisting of 9 representatives of various KCTU affiliates traveled to Japan to participate in the G8 Summit on July 4 to ensure that workers� voices and interests were addressed. It was the goal of the KCTU delegation to join other civil society
groups and popular movement to oppose the neoliberal agenda. We believe this is a fundamental human right and responsibility we
carry in these momentous and challenging times.
Four members of the delegation arrived in Haneda Airport, where they were forced to undergo a lengthy individual examination without
any proper explanation. The other members of the delegation that included KCTU Vice President Huh Young Goo were denied entry to
Japan by the Japanese Immigration Department without any explanation. Their passports were confiscated and during the process Vice-President of the Korean Health and Medical Workers Union, Lee Keun Sun was detained when he protested the actions of the Japanese
Immigration officials.
Prior to entry, the KCTU had notified the Japanese Immigration Department the purpose for their visit and the details of the activities during the G8 Summit. The KCTU had been invited by the Japan-based G8 Action Network to participate in their planned events. Despite
having followed all proper standard protocol and procedures, the Japanese government unfairly denied the entry of the KCTU delegation
to the G8 Summit.
The KCTU believes that the irrational denial of entry by the Japanese government is politically motivated and an attempt by the
government to pre-emptively block any dissenting voice during the G8 Summit. This is clearly a repression of people�s right to freedom
of expression, right to dissent, and against human rights as guaranteed by all international conventions. The KCTU challenges the
undemocratic actions of the Japanese government.
The KCTU determines that the denial of entry of the KCTU G8 Summit Delegation is an overprotective measure to ensure �peaceful�
proceedings of the G8 Summit without any disruption or dissent. This is of course a repression of democracy and human rights. The
KCTU will continue to organize for the right for workers to express their voices and raise concerns as a fundamental human right in
solidarity with other trade unions and civil society groups in Japan as well as the social movement at the international level. At the same time, the KCTU will focus on revealing the corporate greed of the G8 Summit and to show that there are people�s alternatives to
neoliberalization through dialogue and solidarity.
Finally, the KCTU wishes to convey its sincere thanks to Japanese and international trade unions and civil society groups for the support
in this difficult time. In solidarity, we will stop the neoliberal agenda and achieve true democracy and human rights.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
July 7, 2008
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: [email protected] Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
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