Dear Friends,

This letter is to inform you of an urgent situation of labor repression unfolding in South Korea and to ask for your support. In an act of repression against migrant workers and an affront to all workers in Korea, the Korean government is blocking the Migrants Trade Union's President Anowar from participating in the 14th ILO Asian regional meeting and threatening to arrest and deport him.

Background
Migrant workers in Korea generally work in 3D industries and face oppression by their employers and by the Korean government.  Most recently the government has been carrying out violent crackdowns and deportations against undocumented migrant workers, causing countless deaths and injuries in the last two years.  In order to fight for their rights, migrant workers founded the Migrants Trade Union (MTU) in April 2005.  MTU is currently a member of the umbrella Korean Commission of Trade Unions (KCTU).  Immediately after this MTU President Anowar was forcibly arrested and imprisoned for a year.  The government has never recognized MTU as an official union.

The 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting is scheduled to take place in Pusan, South Korea from Sept. 1. to Sept 4. KCTU selected President Anowar as a representative to the ILO.  He is schedule to speak during a session that will address the issue of migrant labor.

After receiving the list of KCTU representatives the South Korean Ministry of Labor intentionally declined to report President Anowar's name to the ILO general office, saying he could not participate because of his illegal status.  Further, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Justice are now threatening to arrest and deport President Anowar.  This is a clear act of labor repression.

This incident demonstrates clearly the extend to which the Korean government ignores the principles and purpose of the ILO and is instead operating on a principle of labor repression.  The Korean government is afraid that the world will see its repression of migrant labor and anti-labor policies and is therefore trying to stop President Anowar from participating in the ILO.

Blocking President Anowar's participation in ILO and threatening to deport him is not only a threat to MTU.  It is a threat to KCTU's right to choose is own representatives and its autonomy.  Therefore it is a threat to all workers in Korea.  

Because this matter concerns the Noh Moohyun government's image, international support is essential.  We are therefore asking your assistance in pressuring the government to stop its threats and allow President Anowar's participation.

Please email or fax letters of protest with the following demands to the South Korean Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Labor.  A form letter is attached here and copied below.  Feel free to add your own content in fitting with the demands.  Please also forward this message to as many groups and individuals as you can.



MTU Demands.


Stop Threatening President Anowar with arrest and Deportation!
Allow President Anowar's participation in The 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting!
Respect KCTU autonomy and workers' rights to choose their own representatives!


South Korean Ministry of Justice: fax: 82-2-503-7107, email: webmaster@moj.go.kr
South Korean Ministry of Labor: fax: 82-2-503-6623, email: m_molab@molab.go.kr  

To the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Labor of South Korea,

We are writing you to demand that you retract your threat against MTU President Anowar and allow his participation in the 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting.  

Your act to stop President Anowar's participation as a KCTU delegate is a clear violation of KCTU's autonomy and an affront to labor worldwide.  Your move to arrest and deport him is an heinous act of repression against migrant workers, which brings international shame to the government of Noh Moohyun.  

In the name of labor rights and human rights we ask you comply with the following demands.
1. Stop Threatening President Anowar with arrest and deportation!
2. Allow President Anowar's participation in the 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting!
3. Respect KCTU autonomy and workers' right to choose their own representatives!
To the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Labor of South Korea,

We are writing you to demand that you retract your threat against MTU President Anowar and allow his participation in the 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting.  

Your act to stop President Anowar's participation as a KCTU delegate is a clear violation of KCTU's autonomy and an affront to labor worldwide.  Your move to arrest and deport him is an heinous act of repression against migrant workers, which brings international shame to the government of Noh Moohyun.  

In the name of labor rights and human rights we ask you comply with the following demands.
1. Stop Threatening President Anowar with arrest and deportation!
2. Allow President Anowar's participation in the 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting!
3. Respect KCTU autonomy and workers' right to choose their own representatives!

Sincerely, To the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Labor of South Korea,

We are writing you to demand that you retract your threat against MTU President Anowar and allow his participation in the 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting.  

Your act to stop President Anowar's participation as a KCTU delegate is a clear violation of KCTU's autonomy and an affront to labor worldwide.  Your move to arrest and deport him is an heinous act of repression against migrant workers, which brings international shame to the government of Noh Moohyun.  

In the name of labor rights and human rights we ask you comply with the following demands.
1. Stop Threatening President Anowar with arrest and deportation!
2. Allow President Anowar's participation in the 14th ILO Asian Regional Meeting!
3. Respect KCTU autonomy and workers' right to choose their own representatives!



Thank you,