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Call for the release of the Korean hostages
in Afghanistan and the immediate withdrawal of the Korean troops
¡â On July 21, in front of the Blue House
1. 23 Korean civilians are being held
in captivity since their abduction by the Taliban on the 19th of
July. The Taliban has threatened to execute the hostages unless
the Korean government agrees to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan
and also makewith their demand to free 23 Taliban prisoners. We
are deeply distressed by this incident and hope that the 23 civilians
will return safely.
2. The practice of abducting and threatening
to execute innocent civilians only induces a vicious cycle of violence.
The Korean people are equally mourning for the countless war victims
killed inAfghanistan and believe that there should be no additional
victims of similar tragedies. We request a safe release of the hostages.
3. We condemn the Korean government
for supporting the U.S. government's Global War on Terror and participating
as part of the coalition. The Korean government did not inform its
people of the underlying purpose and role of the dispatch nor of
the actual situation in Afghanistan. We strongly urge the government
to withdraw the troops immediately.
4. We clearly state that we understand
this situation is part of the disaster caused by the U.S. government's
Global War on Terror. The U.S. invasion following other foreign
invasions and internal warfare has ravaged the land of Afghanistan
and devastated the lives of the Afghans. The armed resistance of
the Taliban against the U.S. occupation is escalating,
resulting in frequent abductions and
terrorist attacks. The war and occupation in Afghanistan must come
to an immediate end and the international community is obliged to
strive to eradicate such ruthless violence.
5. Our wish is an end to the foreign
occupation in Afghanistan and the restoration of peace by its own
people. The Korean anti-war and peace movement has been exerting
a collective effort for this purpose, and will continue to do so.
We appeal to the international community for unreserved efforts
and support for the safe release of the Korean nationals in captivity.
2007. 7. 25
The Korean Action against
the Dispatch of Troops is a coalition of 351 peace and human rights
NGOs working against the dispatch of Korean troops in Iraq
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