THE KUKMIN DAILY

On January 23, four organizations held a joint press conference (photo) at the Korean Christian Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at which they urged the police to apologize publicly and take responsibility for their actions last December 22nd, when they broke into Civilian Control Line Peace Church and manhandled its sanctuary’s Cross during their search-and-seizure process. The four are The Christian Countermeasures Committee Against the Sanctuary Break-in and Oppression of the Peace Movement (the Committee), the Countermeasures Committee Against Oppression of Rev. Lee Jeok in the Name of “Public Security,” Minkahyup Human Rights Group Supporters of Prisoners of Conscience, and the Action Committee of the Corean Alliance.

At the press conference, Rev. Choi Jae-bong of the Committee said, “Taking down the Cross, the foundation of the Christian faith, is an action beyond imagination… I cannot help but lament that the current government has gone this far in suppressing Christianity.” Rev. Beak Gwang-mo of the Committee said, “Even during the administrations of Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, the police never broke into a sanctuary and displaced the Cross. With regard to this recent incident, the police should clarify the situation and punish those in charge.”

CCL Peace Church Rev. Lee Jeok said, “They said the police had visited the Korean Christian Building about a week ago, but in fact all they did was to meet someone related to NCCK (National Council of Churches in Korea). The police have not even contacted me, though I am the one directly related to the matter… Therefore it is hard to describe their clarification and apology as sincere.”

The NCCK announced plans to communicate about the incident to the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, overseas churches including NCC USA, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Asian Human Rights Commission, to inform them that “the Korean police broke into a Christian place of worship, carried out a forcible search and confiscation of items, and profaned a sacred Christian symbol”; and said it will take part in joint responses to the incident.

Reporter Jin Samyeol (samuel@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)

Photo courtesy of Corean Alliance for Self-Reliant Reunification and Democracy


Click here for the original article in Korean

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