|
Joongang Daily
Academics in Germany rally around a colleague
BERLIN. A group of German scholars yesterday sent a letter of appeal
to President Roh Moo-hyun on behalf of their colleague, Song Du-yul, a
sociology professor at Muenster University who has been detained on charges
of violating Korea’s National Security Act. In the letter, 17 professors
of Muenster University’s sociology institute asked that Mr. Song
be released immediately and the case be handled in a way that is favorable
to Mr. Song.
The professors also sent petitions to Germany’s Foreign Ministry,
the German Embassy in South Korea and German legislators, asking a pardon
for Mr. Song. He is currently under investigation by prosecutors here
for his alleged membership in the Politburo of North Korea’s Workers’
Party. A South Korean court recently ordered his detention for investigation
of those charges.
Mathias Grundmann, director of Muenster University’s sociology institute,
was among those who said in the letter that Mr. Song had returned to South
Korea to attend an academic event but had been investigated by prosecutors
and intelligence officials for 12 hours daily without the presence of
an attorney. Mr. Song’s human rights and dignity have been infringed
upon, the professors said.
“They have handcuffed and tied Mr. Song up while relocating him,
and human rights infringements are endless,” the professors argued,
quoting Mr. Song’s family. Professor Song is a German citizen, and
he has rights to be treated humanely based on international laws and traditions,
the professors stressed.
A naturalized German citizen, Mr. Song returned to South Korea after 36
years of exile. After his arrival, Mr. Song made public his intention
to give up his German citizenship and settle in South Korea.
“We are ready to send a representative from our institute to observe
the legal proceedings against Mr. Song,” Dr. Hans-Juergen Krysmanski,
a colleague of Mr. Song, said yesterday.
by Ryu Kwon-ha <myoja@joongang.co.kr>
2003.10.30
|