Probe of Teachers Starts
16 Teachers’ Union Members Rounded Up During Rally
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors launched an investigation Monday into unionized teachers who are accused of violating the Civil Servant's Law by announcing a joint statement complaining about the government.
The investigation came after the administration filed complaints with the prosecution against 88 teachers who allegedly led the anti-government petition. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has said it will dismiss or suspend teachers involved.
The Korean Teachers and Educational Workers Union (KTU) released a statement denouncing the Lee Myung-bak administration on June 18, with more than 17,000 teachers signing the document.
Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said its public security department will take charge of the case.
Separately, police apprehended 16 teachers who held a rally near Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Among them were KTU chief Jung Jin-hu and other leaders.
They were demanding the government withdraw its plan to sanction teachers who joined the anti-government campaign.
``It's an illegal rally. We ordered them to disperse three times but they ignored us. Therefore, we had to detain them,'' a police officer said.
Despite the government's warnings and the launch of an investigation, the progressive teachers' group said it will issue another joint statement and vowed to fight for freedom of expression, and against the government's attempt to oppress their campaign for democracy.
``The government abused their authority and their punitive actions are legally groundless. We will fight until the government withdraws the punishment imposed on our teachers,'' it said in a statement. It said it will form alliances with other civil servant unions.
The number of teachers to be punished is the highest since the progressive union group with 76,000 members was formed in 1999. The majority of the unionized teachers will face warnings or reprimands.