세계인권평화단체 ‘쌍용차 인권유린’ 해결촉구

40개의 재외동포 및 세계 인권평화 단체가 쌍용자동차 해고노동자들의 인권유린(人權蹂躪) 상황의 조속한 해결을 촉구하는 성명서를 발표했다.

쌍용자동차 해고노동자 투쟁 재외동포연대(이하 재외동포연대)는 17일 “국가폭력, 사법살인에 의한 30번째 희생자 고 김주중 님의 죽음을 애도하며 더 이상의 억울한 죽음이 있어서는 안 되기에 쌍용자동차 해고노동자들의 인권유린 상황에 조속한 해결을 촉구하는 성명서를 발표한다”고 밝혔다.

이번 성명서에는 416 Global Network(파리)을 비롯, 416 Human Right & Peace Global Networks, 615 U.S. West Coast Committee, Arbeiterklasse in Berlin , Atlanta Knowhow SaSaSe 등 재외동포단체와 인권평화단체 등 8개국 18도시 40단와 31명의 개인이 참여했다.

재외동포연대는 “한국방문 중 투쟁의 현장을 방문하면서 과거 적폐정권(積幣政權)의 만행으로 고통받은 이웃들이 너무 많음을 알았다. 그중 쌍차 해고노동자들의 문제는 정말 긴급히 해결되어야 하고 많은 이들의 관심과 지지가 필요하다고 생각했다”고 배경을 설명했다.

이어 “이명박 정권의 국가폭력과 양승태의 사법농단(司法壟斷)에 의한 희생자 쌍용차 해고노동자들은 지난 9년간 목숨을 건 투쟁을 해 왔다. 힘든 투쟁의 과정, 희망을 찾아볼 수 있는 벼랑의 끝에서 고 김주중 동지의 안타까운 죽음이 발생했으며, 해고노동자 동지들은 국가폭력 진상규명, 책임자 처벌, 해고노동자 전원복직을 요구하며 이 살인적 더위에 또 다시 힘겨운 투쟁을 하고 있다”고 힘주어 말했다.

이들은 “쌍차의 희생자들과 투쟁하시는 동지들을 보며 어떻게 하면 우리 재외동포들이힘이 되어 줄 수 있을지 고민이 많았다. 고국의 인권과 평화를 위한 재외교민과 세계 시민의 연대의 힘을 보여주고자 한다”고 말했다..

재외동포연대는 “성명서는 18일 쌍차 범국민대회에서 발표된다. 우리의 성명서가 쌍차문제에 대한 국민적 관심과 지지를 모아 강력한 여론을 형성하는데 기여할 수 있기를 바란다”고 말했다.

성명서 발표와 함께 여론조성을 위해 다양한 소셜미디어를 통한 지지 응원 메시지 보내기 캠페인과 지역집회, 영화상영, 피켓팅, 간담회, 토론회 등 지역별로 다양한 형태의 활동을 통해 지지 연대 투쟁을 벌여 나가기로 했다.

이들은 “재외동포 대부분은 현지의 기층민중이며 노동자이다. 노동의 주체, 사회의 주체로서, 평화, 인권, 정의를 추구하는 재외동포와 세계시민들은 앞으로도 쌍차 해고노동자의 투쟁에 아낌없는 지지를 보내며 국가폭력과 사법농단으로 고통받는 이들과 계속 연대해 나갈 것”이라고 다짐했다.

글로벌웹진 NEWSROH　www.newsroh.com

<꼬리뉴스>

Statement of Unity by Overseas Koreans and Allies on Ssangyong Motor Issue

We are mourning the death of Kim Joo-Jung, the 30th victim of the Ssangyong Motor layoffs, governmental abuse of authority, and judicial murder.

On June 27, 2018, the death of a laid-off worker in South Korea brought great sorrow to the hearts of many overseas Koreans and allies. What led Kim Joo-jung to take his own life was a series of events that began with mass layoffs by the Ssangyong Motor Company in 2009, followed by a bloody police crackdown on protesting workers demanding reinstatement and unfair court rulings due to judicial corruption that have caused severe economic distress for the laid-off workers and their families. We say, “No more deaths.” Ssangyong Motor laid-off workers are now struggling for survival at the edge of their lives. The Koreans worldwide and allies are hereby announcing our support and solidarity with the Ssangyong workers to participate in the resolution process of the urgent issues in Korea that are violating workers’ labor rights.

It has been revealed that at the time of the 2009 Ssangyong Motor layoffs, then-President Lee Myung-bak ordered the police to suppress the strike with lethal force if necessary, and that the company and the police illegally cooperated to destroy the strike. Not only did the undemocratic administration violate the workers’ basic labor rights, it unjustly arrested and imprisoned them, then demanded they pay 2.4 billion won in damages. The new administration should step forward to rectify past wrongs and allow the workers to restore their lives.

Evidence disclosed in court suggests the company committed accounting fraud with the intention of claiming bankruptcy to justify the mass layoff. The dismissal itself was illegal. The mass dismissal that has destroyed the lives of the workers and pushed so many of them to take their own lives must be reversed. Only the full reinstatement of all workers can guarantee an end to these deaths. The Ssangyong Motor Company and the chair of its parent company, the Mahindra Corporation should fully reinstate all workers immediately.

The government should apologize for the illegal activities against Ssangyong workers laid off by the previous corrupt regime and recover Kim Joo-joong’s honor. The government should officially apologize for its violent involvement in the legitimate labor dispute. The government should withdraw the claim for damages and the provisional attachment of the severance pay of

the workers. There must be honor restored to the deceased who was unjustly arrested and imprisoned by the government.

Former Supreme Court Chief Yang Seung-tae, who has recently been found to have abused the judiciary in return for administrative favors from the former Park Geun-hye administration, should be held responsible for the events that led to the workers’ deaths. Despite ample evidence of the company’s accounting fraud, the Supreme Court reversed the Seoul High Court’s decision that the 2009 layoff had been unjustified. Determining whether or not the Supreme Court had delivered a fair verdict is critical to uncovering the truth about the SsangYong labor dispute. Yang Seung-tae must be fully investigated and judged by the rule of law.

Even amidst an unprecedented heat wave in Seoul, the SsangYong workers continue to struggle to reinstate their lives. When the State does not fulfill its responsibilities, when the fired workers who are victims are fighting solely to correct the wrongs, mass public support is imperative and crucial. It is time for us to act. The government, born out of the Candlelight Revolution, should listen to the Candlelight Citizens' demands to correct the atrocities committed by the past regime. Trusting in the support of the Candlelight Citizens, who have held candlelight vigils to protect democracy and human rights, the Moon Jae-In government should immediately resolve the problem of Ssangyong Motor. Our overseas Koreans and allies are keeping an eye on Ssangyong Motors' resolution. We are determined to continue our practical activism for justice for the Ssangyong workers.

The day when laid off Ssangyong workers can smile once again is the day when the human rights of the Republic of Korea are restored. We, overseas Korean and allies will provide our continual solidarity and support for dismissed Ssangyong Motor workers until the day they are reinstated.

Our overseas Koreans and allies demand the following solutions to the injustices of Ssangyong Motor.

1. State investigation into suspicion of Ssangyong Motor accounting dishonesty in 2009

2. State investigation and special prosecution of the 2009 cases pertaining to the Ssangyong Motor Company. This includes the Gyeonggi Police Agency collusion with, and inducement of, the strike and subsequent union destruction

3. Investigation and exposure of the murderous suppression of Ssangyong workers’ strikes in July and August of 2009, and punishment of the responsible person or persons

4. Redress for wrongful criminal punishment, including arrest, imprisonment and fines against the laid-off Ssangyong workers

5. Withdrawal of the provisional seizures and the claims for damages against the workers

6. Clarification of the truth of the Supreme Court’s trial transaction of Ssangyong Motor’s case and punishment of the responsible person or persons

7. Establishment of special laws for judicial transactions and retrial of Ssangyong Motor’s dismissal cases

8. Provision of support for Ssangyong Motor victims' families

9. Complete reinstatement of SsangYong Motor laid-off workers

10. An end to the practice of mass layoffs

Signed,

August 18, 2018

1. 416 Global Network, Paris

2. 416 Human Right & Peace Global Networks

3. 615 U.S. West Coast Committee

4. Arbeiterklasse in Berlin

5. Atlanta Knowhow SaSaSe

6. Citizens Fighting for Social Justice

7. Coalition of Koreans in America

8. Critical Social Studies, Umass-Amherst

9. Edmonton Korean Hope Network

10. Hope Alliance of New York

11. Hope21, Korean Progressive Network in Canada

12. Korea Peace and Unification Action of Boston

13. Korean American Alliance for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

14. Korean American National Coordinating Council

15. Korean Peace Alliance

16. Korean-American Religious Council for Peace (KRCP)

17. Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance

18. Minjung Solidarity of New York

19. Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights

20. Network for Peace and Unification in USA

21. Nodutdol for Korean Community Development

22. One Corea Now

23. Overseas Supporters of Korean Schools in Japan

24. Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification in USA

25. Peace21.Org

26. Progressive Korea (Europe)

27. Reply2016@nagoya

28. S.P.Ring Indianapolis

29. Sasase Ottawa

30. Sasase Chicago

31. Solidarity of Korean People in Europe

32. The National Institute of Ham Seokheon’s Philosophy Central of Washington

33. The National Institute of Ham Seokheon’s Philosophy Chicago

34. The National Institute of Ham Seokheon’s Philosophy Delegate of Indianapolis

35. The National Institute of Ham Seokheon’s Philosophy Korea

36. The National Institute of Ham Seokheon’s Philosophy New York

37. The National Institute of Ham Seokheon’s Philosophy, England

38. U.S. Minjoo Forum

39. U.S. Support Committee for Korean Prisoners of Conscience

40. Workers In Solidarity Australia (WISA)