An Appeal by 365 Korean Organizations to the Iraqi Group Holding a Korean National

We appeal for the release of the Korean national KIM Seon Il

Today the Korean people were overcome with shock at the news the Korean
KIM Seon Il has been kidnapped in Iraq. His seizure and the threat
against the life of this private citizen is already a source of
unspeakable sadness for his family and the Korean people. This sadness
and shock is the same for the many Koreans who have opposed the United
States’ unjust invasion and the deployment of Korean troops to Iraq.

The Korean people are well aware of the fact that the US invaded Iraq
for domination and oil, and not for theedom and peace of the Iraqi
people. We know also that the US occupation of Iraq has denied the
Iraqi people their sovereignty and that there have been widespread human
rights abuses by US forces there, leading to Iraqi pain and loss of
life. For this reason we have done all that is humanly possible to
prevent the deployment of Korean troops, as they will in no way
contribute to the peace and security of the Iraqi people.

The kidnapping and threatening a private citizen with death, however,
will not contribute to Iraqi peace. The Iraqi people are right to resist
the US’s unjust invasion, occupation, and carnage. Nevertheless,
kidnapping and threatening a private citizen with death cannot be
justified. Doing so will only lead to a vicious cycle of blood and
revenge.

Again we make an earnest appeal. Please make your claims known through
dialogue and release KIM Seon Il to his family as he is of no relation
to government policy.

21 June 2004

Seoul, Korea

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

ABOUT US: People’s Action Against the Dispatch of Korean Combat Troops to Iraq
(http://antipabyeong.jinbo.net/, "Iraq Pabyeong Bandae Bisang Gungmin
Haengdong" in Korean pronunciation) is an umbrella organization of 365 Korean groups
opposed to > sending Korean troops to Iraq.