(Hong Kong, January 30, 2008) Hundreds of people from around the world are signing a petition demanding that the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) be kept independent.
“Many people in the world are shocked and concerned that the incoming president wants to take control of the National Human Rights Commission, which must be independent,” said Basil Fernando, executive director of the Asian Human Rights Commission.
The petitioners have expressed their concern over a draft by the Presidential Transition Committee placing the NHRCK under the direct control of the president. The draft is now being considered at the Korean National Assembly.
“We have already sent the hundreds of signatures collected so far to members of the sub-committee of the National Assembly that is considering the draft,” said Fernando.
“We will send more signatures to the concerned assemblymen and government officials in coming days,” he added.
Fernando is also the recipient of the 2nd Gwangju Human Rights Award by the May 18 Memorial Foundation, Korea.
Petitioners have joined from countries as far and wide as the US, UK, Germany, Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Egypt and Burma, in addition to Korea.
“If the Commission is to serve the purpose for which is has been created, which is to protect human rights, then it must remain independent,” Fernando insisted.
“This institution should remain a symbol of the Korean determination to make the protection of human rights one of the primary goals of the state,” he added.
The online petition is open for signature at http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/savenhrck.
The petition attracted many comments from concerned individuals and groups, including the staff of national human rights commissions in Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal.
Some comments from petitioners are reproduced below.
COMMENTS FROM PETITIONERS:
“The NHRCK’s impartiality should never be lost in any way. The NHRCK has been the hope of all the peoples of Asia and the model to be followed by other countries.” — Yuriko Moto, Osaka Jogakuin College, Japan
“The independency of the committee must be protected. I am really surprised with this horrible plan. Do you really want to go back to the 80`s?” — Hyungyu Kim, Seoul, Korea
“Having observed the ROK closely during the period 1966 to now and tried to help the democracy movement during that time, I know how important it is to protect human rights. An independent NHRCK is essential to the effort to keep Korea free.” — Edward J. Baker, Harvard University, US
“National Human Rights Commissions all over the world are the democratic response to combat violence and deprivation of human rights. It should enjoy total independence and freedom to function well as it is intended for. The Republic of Korea is an emerging Democratic Super Power in Asia and hence absolute independence to its National Human Rights Commission is indispensable.” — Pulikuthiyil George, Jananeethi Institute, India
“I fully support the independence of the NHRCK to be preserved. Being under the executive will greatly impact the raison d’etre of the national human rights institution and tarnish the reputation of the country and people’s benefits as a whole.” — Atchara Shayakul, Office of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
“Please do not make Korean Human Rights Commission be like our Commission, we no more independent after our secretary general must be from government employee.” — Teguh P Nugroho, Office of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission
