Letters from prison: supporting conscientious objectors

When I checked my Facebook account early this morning, I was startled to see that my first two messages were from people currently being held in prison. (Or, more precisely, they were from people writing on their behalf.) Since both persons are being incarcerated for acts of conscience, and since tomorrow is International Conscientious Objectors Day, I want to lift up their witness.

One of the posts was about the lead story in today's news: yesterday's incarceration of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese military government. I find the headline at the top of today's online global edition of The New York Times (and International Herald Tribune) somewhat comedic. It says:

Burmese Nobel Laureate to Face Trial Under Junta

BANGKOK ”” An intrusion by an American man into the home of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could give the authorities in Myanmar a pretext to extend her detention.

The humorous part, to my reading, is the last few words: "... a pretext to extend her detention." It seems ridiculous, since Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest for most of the past two decades. Why do they need any additional "pretext" to incarcerate her? Nevertheless, the stakes are high for her, her doctor and personal assistants, and the U.S. citizen whose visit to Suu Kyi's home sparked this series of arrests. According to reports, she is in poor health, so more severe restrictions on her mobility — including being held in prison, rather than house arrest — could cause further damage to her well being. She is scheduled to stand trial on Monday, May 18th. Please join me in taking action to support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by visiting this web site and/or becoming a supporter of her on Facebook.

The other message was on behalf of Martin Smedjeback in Sweden. Martin — who worked for the Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation for several years, and visited the U.S. two years ago to spend time with FOR-USA and other peace activists — is now in prison for five months. On April 14, 2009, Martin and two other anti-war activists were sentenced for "attempting to sabotage" weapons at a Saab military plant in Linkoping on March 22nd. In the mode of the Ploughshares actions here in the U.S., these courageous members of the OFOG disarmament network are working to stop militarism with their bodies, and far from being deterred by prison, Martin's message today is that he is "thinking about how to stop Swedish weapons export."

Finally, War Resisters International sent out this message yesterday about International C.O. Day:

International Conscientious Objectors' Day is observed around the world on 15th of May. It has been observed with nonviolent actions since 1986. This year the focus of the day is on South Korean conscientious objectors' (CO) poor human rights situation. International Conscientious Objectors' Day is organized by War Resisters' International (WRI) and its affiliated organizations.? South Korea does not recognise the right to conscientious objection. Objectors to military service are sentenced to 18 months in prison. On March 31st , 458 COs were serving their sentences.?

In 2006 the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) recommended that South Korea introduces the right to conscientious objection. In the case of two Korean conscientious objectors the UNHRC has clearly pointed out that the South Korean sentences violate article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

WRI and Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection (KSCO) will mark International Conscientious Objectors' Day with a nonviolent demonstration in Seoul. The demonstration will take place between 12 and 2 pm at Insadong Bukinsamadang, and is a street theatre act. The performance displays the South Korean government's inaction on improving the situation of COs.

Members of the international CO movements will be partaking in the performance as a show of solidarity. People from Europe, Africa and Americas have arrived to South Korea for The Conscientious Objectors' Day.? The previous South Korean government had announced preparations for a law recognising conscientious objection. After taking office in 2008, the new government abandoned the plans for a law.

Amnesty International, WRI and other human rights and peace organisations are demanding from South Korea to recognise the right to conscientious objection. In 2007 at least 936 and in 2008 at least 733 objectors were sentenced in the country. In total over 13000 COs have been imprisoned since 1939.

Despite the heavy international condemnation, South Korea continuously sentences all COs to prison. WRI and KSCO stress that COs are not criminals. The South Korean government violates international law and human rights by imprisoning conscientious objectors.?