calendar>>July 14. 2014 Juche 103

Abolition of "Law on Supervision for Public Peace" Demanded in S. Korea

Pyongyang, July 14 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Progress, the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy and the Association for Supporting Prisoners of Conscience of the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy of south Korea at a press conference in Seoul on July 11 demanded the abolition of the "Law on supervision for public peace", according to the south Korean internet paper Thongil News.

The organizations in a press release said that Choe Ki Yong who had served three and a half years in jail on the charge of involvement in the case of the Ilsim Society was sentenced to forced labor from July 7 for the mere reason that he was not subject to the administrative punishment under the law.

This action was taken against him for failing to pay a fine of 800 000 won imposed upon him for his failure to inform police of his movements, subject to supervision for public peace. Choe is now on a hunger strike in a prison in Seoul in protest against this, the press release said, adding:

The law is an evil law forcing ideological conversion on people and violating their freedom of conscience as it originates from the "order for the probation of Korean political offenders" in the period of the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule over Korea.

The press release urged the abolition of the law and release of Choe at once.