request for support

Dear friends,

Greetings from Seoul!

I would like to give you some information about the activities of “People’s Action Against the Dispatch of Korean Combat Troops to Iraq” (People’s Action) and ask you for your support of these activities. In particular, People’s Action is organizing a demonstration on June 12, 2004, called “People’s Action Day for the Repeal of the Dispatch of Korean Troops to Iraq and for Building Peace on the Korean Peninsula.” This demonstration will coincide with the second memorial day for the two girls who were killed in the accident involving a US military vehicle in June 2002.

Will you please send us a message of solidarity for this day of action on June 12? Your support and encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Below is a short report on the activities of People’s Action Against the Dispatch of Korean Combat Troops to Iraq. I hope this report will help you to understand our work. Your support will empower us to continue working for peace both in Korea and in Iraq.

Thank you in advance for your support!

please send solidarity message to Gyung-Lan Jung (wmp@peacewomen.or.kr) or Youngmi Yang (pspdint@pspd.org)

All the best,

Gyung-Lan Jung / Youngmi Yang

International Coordinator, People’s Action Against the Dispatch of Korean Combat Troops to Iraq

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1. Background of People’s Action

-On April 2, 2003, the ROK National Assembly passed a bill on sending ROK troops to Iraq. Shortly after that, around 700 soldiers, including medics and engineers, were dispatched to Iraq.

-On September 4, 2003, the US government asked the ROK government to send combat troops to Iraq.

-On September 23, 2003, 351 South Korean NGOs organized “People’s Action Against the Dispatch of Korean Combat Troops to Iraq” to oppose both the US occupation in Iraq and the dispatch of additional ROK troops to Iraq.

-On February 13, 2004, the ROK National Assembly passed a bill on sending additional troops to Iraq. Of the 212 congress people, 155 supported the bill, 50 opposed the bill, and 7 were absent.

2. Activities of People’s Action

-On October 16, 2003, People’s Action made an international appeal against the dispatching of Korean combat troops to Iraq: “The Korean government and National Assembly must say NO to Washington’s unreasonable request for additional Korean troops!” Six international NGOs, and 371 Korean NGOs, and 146 individuals from around the world signed this appeal. People’s Action sent this message to ROK President Roh Moo Hyun, and US President George W. Bush, and the US Embassy in Seoul on October 16, 2003.

-On October 25, 2003, People’s Action wrote a Korea-Japan People’s Statement against US request for sending troops to Iraq. Three hundred Japanese NGOs and 351 Korean NGOs signed the statement.

-On October 25, 2003, People’s Action developed a Turkish-Korean-Japanese Peace Consensus on Iraq in cooperation with Japanese and Turkish NGOs.

-People’s Action organized Six People’s Rallies against dispatching South Korean troops to Iraq, a Peace Camp in downtown Seoul, and meetings with chairpersons of political parties. People’s action has also been monitoring the activities of members of National Assembly on the matter.

-On March 20, 2004, the one-year anniversary of the US attack on Iraq, People’s Action joined the International Joint Action Against the US-Iraqi War. Five thousand people joined the demonstration.

-On May 3, 2004, People’s Action issued the “10,000 People’s Declaration Saying No To Sending Troops to Iraq.” These ten thousand people then made a proposal for another movement: “Say No to Sending Troops to Iraq -100,000 Signature Movement.”

“Say No to Sending Troops to Iraq – 100,000 Signature Movement”

This movement aims to gather 100 000 signatures of people opposing the bill to dispatch additional troops to Iraq and will send the petition to the newly elected National Assembly. The movement is asking all political parties to repeal the bill, and asking the National Assembly to adopt a resolution to repeal the bill. This movement is working for: 1) repealing the bill for sending additional troops to Iraq; 2) the immediate withdrawal of Korean troops already in Iraq; 3) opposing the US occupation in Iraq; and 4) peace building in Iraq and on the Korean peninsula.

-On May 3, 2004, People’s Action sent a message of solidarity to the Japanese activists and political parities that supported the Peace Constitution.

-May 14, 2004, People’s Action participated in a candlelight vigil in downtown Seoul to repeal the bill about sending Korean troops to Iraq.

-On May 24, 2004, as part of the celebrations for the International Women’s Day for Disarmament and Peace, fifty-one women’s groups held a press conference with 15 newly elected congresswomen about the dispatch of additional troops to Iraq. They agreed to work together to review the decision to about dispatching troops at the National Assembly. These groups included: Women Making Peace, Korean Women Associations United, Korean Women’s Environmental Network, and the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Among the 15 congresswomen, 9 were from the Ury party (ruling party), 4 were from Democratic Labor Party, and 2 were from the Millennium Democratic Party.

3. Upcoming activities of People’s Action

May 29-30, 2004: “Peace Festival- Put the Gun Down” in Pyungtaek (south of Seoul)

This Peace Festival opposes both the relocation of US military bases to Pyungtaek and the sending of troops to Iraq. People’s Action supports aims of this festival.

June 5-12, 2004: People’s Action Week Against Dispatching South Korean Troops to Iraq, with a focus on the “Say No to Sending Troops to Iraq -100,000 Signature Movement.”

June 12, 2004: “People’s Action Day for the Repeal of the Dispatch of Korean Troops to Iraq and for Building Peace on the Korean Peninsula.” This demonstration will coincide with the second memorial day for the two girls who were killed in the accident involving a US military vehicle in June 2002. After the demonstration, People’s Action will send the petition containing 100,000 signatures to the newly elected National Assembly to repeal the dispatch bill.