January 15, 2006 - We the undersigned organizations in the US, in
solidarity with the global community, welcome the January 11 decision
of the Hong Kong authorities to release 11 detainees held for
participating in a lawful demonstration against the World Trade
Organization (WTO) in December, 2005. Since their arrest,
organizations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York have
coordinated numerous actions in front of Chinese Embassies and
Consulates and Hong Kong Trade Offices to demand that the Hong Kong
authorities drop all charges against the 14 unlawfully detained. The
release of 11 of the 14 detainees is a victory for millions of people
around the world who have supported the global resistance against the
unjust trade policies of the WTO.

However, PARK IN HWAN and YOON IL KWON from the Korean Peasants League
and YANG KYOUNG KYU from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
remain charged with unlawful assembly. Therefore, as part of a global
movement for justice, the undersigned organizations demand that the
Hong Kong authorities reverse this decision. The three demonstrators
charged are scheduled for a trial in March and we vow to continue to
conduct further actions in the US until ALL are exonerated and
released.

As US-based organizations representing diverse sectors concerned about
human, civil and immigrant rights, low-wage labor, youth, women, the
environment, education, media, community development, trade policy,
military conflict, and peaceful reunification of the Korean people and
peninsula, we firmly oppose the free trade policies of the WTO that
fail to address the real needs of the people, both in the US and in our
international communities. The resistance demonstrated by people
gathered in Hong Kong was a testament to the unfair practices of the
WTO that disenfranchise and destroy the lives of millions throughout
the world.As representatives of numerous communities throughout the US,
we stand firmly with the people of the world who oppose the
undemocratic practices of the WTO, an institution which lacks
legitimacy and transparency and only benefits wealthy nations and
transnational corporations.

Background - Last December, thousands of ordinary people peasants,
fisherfolk, blue and white collar laborers, migrants, students and
activists came together in Hong Kong to protest the violence of the
World Trade Organization. The policies proposed and deals brokered
inside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the WTO
ministerial was taking place, will impoverish billions of people across
the globe. Thus, delegations of protestors, seeking to represent the
interests of the world’s people, traveled to Hong Kong to demonstrate
peacefully in its streets.

For the governments of developed countries, often led by the United
States, the WTO is a means to gain power and wealth at the expense of
developing nations and workers, farmers, women, migrants and the poor.
It destroys lives, cultures communities by commodifying basic human
rights such as access to food, education, and healthcare. Therefore,
over a thousand protesters who, on December 17 attempted to march
peacefully towards the Convention Centre where they would be seen and
heard, were engaging in necessary actions to protect their livelihoods
and loved-ones as well as those of people throughout the world. These
actions were not crimes.

However, police in full riot gear surrounded close to 1000
demonstrators sitting peacefully on Gloucester Road for over 10 hours
before arresting 944 of them. 14 of these people were charged with
“unlawful assembly” and barred from leaving Hong Kong to reunite with
their families and return to their lives. On January 11, 2006 the Kwun
Tong Court of Hong Kong released 11 of them, while upholding charges
against 3 and preparing to bring them to trial.

Organizations in Solidarity

6.15 Coalition, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism ( A.N.S.W.E.R.),
Agribusiness Research and Popular Education, API Movement Building,
Asian American Resource Workshop, Asian Pacific Environmental Network,
Audre Lorde Project, BAYAN USA, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities,
Channing and Popai Liem Education Foundation, CJWP, Chinese Progressive
Association, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles,
Community Organizing Coalition (CYOC), Congress for Korean
Reunification (CKR), Corean Action Network for Unification (CAN-U),
Cuauhtemoc, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Grassroots Global
Justice Alliance, International Action Center (IAC), Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy, Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de
California (IDEPSCA), Korea Democratic Labor Party Support Committee,
Korea Exposure and Education Program (KEEP/Delegation to the Hong Kong
WTO), Korea Truth Commission/US, Korean Community Center of the East
Bay, Korean American National Coordinating Council/Westcoast, Korean
Americans United for Peace, Korean Immigrant Workers Advocate, Labor
Community Strategy Center, Los Angeles Indigenous People’s Alliance,
Mindullae, Minjok Tongshin, Mujeres Libres, Mujeres Unidas y Activas,
Multiethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network, National Network for
Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR), Nodutdol for Korean Community
Development, Oakland Institute, One Korea LA Forum, Pan Korean Alliance
for Reunification, Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California
(PWC), Restaurant Workers Association of Koreatown, Strategic Actions
for a Just Economy (SAJE), South Central Farmers Feeding Families,
Sweatshop Watch, St. Peter’s Housing, Young Koreans United

For more information, please contact
Young Choe (718) 335-0419