Progressive groups stage protest against security law

SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- Progressive civic groups staged a protest in downtown Seoul on Sunday calling for the abolishment of the 60-year-old National Security Law.

The 500 demonstrators said the anti-communist law is anachronistic and has no
purpose in South Korea's democratic society.
The People's Solidarity for National Security Law Abolition, which organized the
rally, added that the law hinders freedom of expression, stifles democracy and
violates basic civil liberties.
Members of Lawyers for a Democratic Society and the Korean branch of Amnesty
International were also present.
Amnesty International has been calling for the revision or outright abolition of
the controversial law, arguing that it does not conform with international
accepted standards on human rights.
All seven people arrested this year for breaking the law could be classified as
"conscientious prisoners" under the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, according to the human rights body.
Other progressive groups said they plan to hold a press conference on Monday to
call on the Lee Myung-bak administration to halt investigations into alleged
pro-North Korean activities.
Progressive groups have complained that the conservative government has started
cracking down on progressive groups and derailed cooperation efforts with North
Korea.
Conservatives, however, argue that the past two administrations were too lenient
towards the North and failed to stop Pyongyang from acquiring nuclear weapons.
They have also speculated that aid in the form of cash and raw materials may have
in fact helped the communist country acquire weapons of mass destruction and
bolstered the Stalinist regime.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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