U.$. puppet regime in southern Korea arrests journalists "On October 23, 2001, south Korea's National Intelligence Service (former KCIA) arrested three journalists of Jajuminbo magazine, illegally searched their office and confiscated computers and other materials for alleged violation of the National Security Law. "At 9:00 a.m., approximately 20 government agents entered the office of Jajuminbo magazine without a search warrant and confiscated computers, cameras, books, notes and virtually all office materials except the furniture. Thirty minutes prior to the illegal search and seizure, NIS (KCIA) agents arrested Jajuminbo chief editor, Lee Chang-gi along with two other journalists Park Joon-young and Baek Oon-jong. "Jajuminbo magazine launched in May 2000 and has operated independently without commercial advertising or government support. Following the historic June 15th North-South Joint Declaration in which the two Korean governments pledged to promote social exchange and work toward peaceful reconciliation, Jajuminbo began to publish articles and interviews of Koreans both in and outside of south Korea to carry forth the social exchange pledged by the two governments. "The three journalists have now been charged for violating the National Security Law by allegedly 'praising' north Korea in articles and interviews carried by the magazine earlier this year. The National Security Law contradicts the south Korean government's current 'Sunshine Policy' toward north Korea and has been denounced by human rights organizations worldwide for its frequent use as an instrument of government repression. "The Korean American community joins south Korean human rights organizations in protesting this recent act as not only a violation of human rights and repression of the media, but also as an obstacle to peaceful reconciliation on the highly volatile Korean peninsula. "We demand the immediate release of the three journalists and 127 additional political prisoners currently detained by the government under the National Security Law. We call for the abolition of south Korea's oppressive National Security Law so that its citizens may freely join the dialogue for peaceful unification of Korea without fear of arrest or government persecution. "For additional information, please contact: "Korean American Support Committee for the Release of Jajuminbo Journalist, Yong-bin Yuk yby@ktown.tv 213-787-8653 ext. 1517" MIM International Minister comments on the above: Korea is still in the throes of achieving national liberation from U.$. imperialism which continues to occupy the peninsula with 30,000 troops. The southern regime has various byzantine "laws" which enable it to crack down on patriotic and freedom- loving Koreans. The election of the most "dissident" of the "left"-leaning reformists Kim Dae Jung did nothing to change this fundamental fact about Korea. Not for nothing did U.$. imperialism save Kim's life and then prepare him for leadership in southern Korea. Korea cries out for a Korean Mao Zedong, adapted for Korea's more industrialized condition today in 2001. The above authors are correct to target the problem of freedom of journalists interested in reunification. Like people in many other countries, the conditions for freedom do not exist for Koreans yet and probably will not for some time. Uncle Sam is especially hypocritical for bragging about "freedom" while propping up regimes that arrest journalists like this. The whole discussion of socialism as a stage seems blocked by the fact that Korea is still not whole as a country. We do not believe the northern Koreans calling themselves followers of Kim Il Sung are advancing socialism, but it is also difficult to expect much in the circumstances of U.$. occupation. Our one objection to the above article would be that it refers to "Korean Americans." The people of Korean ancestry here within U.$. borders should be in no rush to integrate themselves as another kind of "American." It only means becoming bought off by the empire and taking a share of imperialism's superprofits at the expense of the oppressed of the world.