2 Migrants' Union Leaders Deported

Amnesty International has expressed its deep regret over South Korea's deportation of two leaders of an unauthorized migrants' union for overstaying their visas. The international non-governmental organization denounced the deportation as the South Korean government's attempt to deprive them of basic labor rights.

The criticism came as the Ministry of Justice Thursday deported Torna Limbu of Nepal and Abdus Sabur of Bangladesh, who served as president and vice president respectively at the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants' Trade Union (MTU).

They were arrested last Friday on the charges of illegal residence ― they had stayed here for 16 and nine years, respectively, beyond visa expiration dates.

The two men were charged for teaming up with civic groups to organize several protests to revise touchy labor issues such as giving legal residence status to all illegal migrant workers.

Amnesty International contended that the deportation was a targeted crackdown and infringement of their human rights.

``We are gravely concerned at these measures to stop the union from conducting its rightful activities. They appear to be a continuation of targeted crackdowns against its leadership since November 2007 when three senior MTU officials were arrested and subsequently deported,'' Amnesty International said in their statement.

The organization also alleged that the two men were investigated and deported in an unfair manner, citing they were beaten by immigration officers at the time of arrest.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea had recommended that the decision be reconsidered.

The ministry said the arrest, investigation and deportation were conducted in an legal manner and they were unable to accommodate the advice from the human rights commission as the recommendation was made after a deportation decision was made.

``They were illegal migrant residents. Despite their illegal status, they even organized protests against the government's policies,'' a ministry official said.

The government will continue the crackdown on illegal migrants to contain their soaring numbers here, the official said.

As of January, a total of 653,064 foreign laborers were living in Korea, including 202,817 illegal workers. The government estimates more than 20,000 illegal workers have resided here for a decade or longer.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/05/113_24293.html