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Keep Korean Human Rights Film Festival on Screen
Source: Social Information Networking Group
The 2nd Human Rights Film Festival-Seoul, which is being held to educate
the public about the value of human rights and human dignity, is at the risk
of being discontinued due to pressures from the Korean government. Held at
Hong Ik University from September 27th, the Human Rights Film Festival is
screening 24 films from 13 countries as scheduled until October 4th.
However, due to the frantic efforts of the school to hinder the film
festival by closing off screening halls and cutting off electricity, the
festival is proceeding under difficult circumstances such as showing films
outdoors or at rest area without chairs. The strong opposition of the school
administration is thought to be due to pressures from government agencies
such as the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Ministry of Education, the
Agency for National Security Planning and the Seoul Police Department. In
addition, the school administration has pressed charges against the chairman
of Executive Committee for the Human Rights Film Festival, Mr. Joon-sik
Suh (Representative of Sarangbang, Center for Human Rights).
On October 1st, 1:45am, the police department sent in five squadrons into
the school and staged a search and seizure operation. During the operation,
this year's festival sponsor, Hong Ik University acting student body
president, Mr. Sung-ook Yim and one other student was taken to the police
station, and summons for Mr. Joon-sik Suh was sent on the afternoon of
October 1st.
Further Background Information
The Human Rights Film Festival, as a non-profit film festival that is
sponsored by Sarangbang, Center for Human Rights, is showing human rights
films from various countries which the Korean public has never before seen
at no cost. Last year, the 1st Human Rights Film Festival was held at Ewha
Woman's University, and attracted about 30,000 audiences during the one week
of the festival, showing the Korean public's wide interest in human rights
films. This year, Claude Lanzmann's Shoah along with 23 other films from 13
countries are scheduled to be shown in eight days.
Recommended Action
Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in English,
Korean or your own language:
- Urging authorities to ensure that the Human Rights Film Festival go on.
Please send appeals to:
President Kim Young-sam
The Blue House
1 Sejong-no
Chongno-gu, Seoul
Republic of Korea
Fax. +822 770 0253
Telegrams. President Kim, Young-sam, Seoul, South Korea
Salutation. Dear President
Minister of Culture and Sports
82-1 Sejong-no
Chongno-gu, Seoul
Republic of Korea
Fax. +822 723 0302
Salutation. Dear Minister
Minister of Education
77 Sejong-no
Chongno-gu, Seoul
Republic of Korea
Fax. +822 733 2322, +822 723 5656
Salutation. Dear Minister
Director, Agency for National Security Planning
PO Box 200, Suhcho Post Office
Suhcho-gu, Seoul
Republic of Korea
Fax. +822 3412 3000
Salutation. Dear Director
Director, Police Bureau
209 Migeun-dong
Suhdamun-gu, Seoul, 120-704
Republic of Korea
Fax. +822 313 2242
Salutation. Dear Director
Chief, Seoul Police Department
201-11 Neja-dong
Chongno-gu, Seoul
Republic of Korea
Fax. +822 735 4400
Salutation. Dear Chief of SPD
Copies to:
Sarangbang, Center for Human Rights
4th floor
8-29 Myunglyun-2ga
Chongno-gu, Seoul
Repulic of Korea
Please send a copy of your appeal to diplomatic representatives of the
Republic of Korea accredited to your country. |
