by Dogpatch 6 Replies latest jw friends
Conscientious Objection Issue to Resurface 99% of inmates are JW's
`Conscientious Objection' Issue to Resurface
Korea Times, South Korea - 1 hour ago
... According to statistics made available at the Military Manpower Administration (MMA),
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By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter The nation will likely see the controversy over ``conscientious objectors?? be brought to the fore again, as a parliamentary committee is set to deliberate on a revision bill in April. Under the current conscription system, conscientious objection is not allowed in Korea. That means such objectors have had only one solution to keep their faith so far _ to serve a jail term.
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According to statistics made available at the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), Jehovah?s Witnesses account for almost 99 percent of some 700 to 800 conscientious objectors per year.
The revision bill, submitted by a ruling party lawmaker, aims at allowing conscientious objectors an alternative to military service, mainly at social welfare facilities, for one and a half times longer than ordinary ones who serve in the military.
If passed, it will likely mark a crucial watershed in the conscription system, experts said.
Mindful of its meaning and aftereffects, people who oppose the passage of the bill were eager to prove their points during a public hearing held at the National Assembly on March 17. An extraordinary parliamentary session opens on April 6.
The main concerns of the opponents were summarized as following _ lack of human resources for the military, the unique security situation on the Korean Peninsula and a sense of inequality likely to be triggered by the passage of the bill.
``In recent years, the human resources have been decreasing. As a result, we are advised to cut down on the alternative duties we now operate,?? said Kim Byung-ryul, professor of the National Defense University who supported the Defense Ministry at the hearing.
Currently, a small number of men who have health problems or special expertise or skills can serve as technical or civil service personnel instead of being enrolled for active duty, after finishing a four-week basic training program.
Chung Chang-in, a researcher at the Korea Veterans Association?s think-tank, echoed Kim?s opinion. He called for the scrapping of an alternative service to meet the demand for equality.
He added that the bill is viewed as granting an unfair privilege to members of a specific religion _ Jehovah?s Witnesses.
But the voices that support the revision bill were also strong mainly on the grounds of human rights.
Rep. Im Jong-in of the Uri Party, who submitted the revision bill, said it is time for the legislature to work out measures to tackle the human rights problem of conscientious objectors, citing the court rulings.
The Constitutional Court ruled that the current law that bans conscientious objection is constitutional from last August. But it added that legislators would be well aware of the social conflict on the matter, and therefore they must deliberate on avenues to supplement the legislation.
It said lawmakers must ``not turn a blind eye to the agonies of conscientious objectors.??
Hong Young-il, a Jehovah?s Witness who participated in the hearing, demanded that conscientious objection be allowed in light of the human resources available in society as well.
Hong, a graduate of Seoul National University, had to serve a two-year jail term as he refused to take part in the military?s basic training program. He said he could easily have served as an expertise staff member once he finished the training, but his religious beliefs wouldn?t allow it.
Hong said after serving the jail term, he cannot lead a normal life, especially in terms of getting a job because of his criminal record.
Some reform-minded ruling party lawmakers as well as those of the minor opposition Millennium Democratic Party and Democratic Labor Party look inclined to vote for the bill. But as lawmakers of the main opposition Grand National Party, backed by majority public opinion, are opposed to the bill, prospects for the bill to actually pass are not so bright, parliamentary sources said.
[email protected] 03-25-2005 17:54
Thx for the article!
This promises to be a touchy subject with the Korean government given the desired American Army reductions in the South Korean Peninsula.
W.
Interesting stuff there . So they have enough faith to go to jail but yet are concerned about what happens after ? I guess we will see how the church reacts with provisions . What are the odds and what's the sure thing they leave them high and dry ?
what help does the multi billion dollar religion (wtbs) offer their members after being incarcerated ? do they have anything set up to help their own members who go to prison because of their faith? how can the wtbs NOT help those who go to prison as cons. objectors? they're ruining their lives for a publishing company because a real charitable religion would have programs in place to ASSIST them when they are released.
my dad spent 4 yrs in prison as a cons . objector in the late 40s. a few years ago (he's elderly now) an elder told him to get to more meetings cuz they needed seat fillers... thats the thanks people get for sticking to the religion .
Yeah, my dad spent 4 years in a Canadian prison for the same thing. He was interested when he went in, and was baptized in a bathtub while inside.
The witnesses haven't treated him very well either.
J
If your father was in prison in the 40's how come he isn't an anointed one ? The cut off date is now 1935 . I bet they even tell him he's not worthy to eat and drink at the memorial . Considering what the so called "anointed" have done with the religion I would think it more likely that my little toe is more anointed than any of those bosos .
