Democracy Deferred . . .

by R. Elgin on September 18, 2009

According to UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin the image of “South Korea as a lodestar for democracy” in Asia is in danger.

Why would he say such a thing?

Well, South Korean Immigration has detained Dolkun Isa, an ethnic Uighar — now a German citizen, who came to Seoul to attend the World Forum for Democratization in Asia, which started Wednesday. Per the article:

The statement urged South Korea to reject what it called “completely … fabricated accusations leveled against him by Chinese authorities” and not to extradite him to China where it said he would be certain to face summary execution.

Here is another article regarding the story.

{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

1 SomeguyinKorea September 18, 2009 at 5:04 pm: It’s not the first time the South Korean government has used this method to censor a ‘Chinese’ dissident.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/998143.stm
2 R. Elgin September 18, 2009 at 5:24 pm: You forgot to mention the two Falun Gong practitioners that the supreme court here recently deported to China, after both had petitioned the government for asylum due to persecution back in China.

I wonder if the South Korean Government will ever be able to function without debasing itself or the spirit of its own constitution.
3 mkaplan September 18, 2009 at 5:25 pm: Hey, at least Korea doesn’t have a ZOG.
4 Brendon Carr September 18, 2009 at 5:30 pm: Well, but come on, R. — nobody gets asylum in the Republic of Korea. And I’m not sure anyone should want it. Even the co-ethnic “brothers” from North Korea who find resettled life in South Korea to be a little harsh get harassed on their way out.

The linked story quotes a North Korean defector complaining about South Korean “racism” against him. Which, when you think about it, puts the lie to the notion that Koreans’ mistreatment of foreign residents is racism — perhaps the problem is not that they’re racist, but rather just horrible monsters to all strangers.
5 R. Elgin September 18, 2009 at 5:31 pm: Zionist Occupation Government or Zionist Occupied Government (abbreviated as ZOG) is an antisemitic conspiracy theory which holds that Jews secretly control a given country, while the formal government is a puppet regime.
The expression is used by anti-semitic groups such as White Supremacists in the United States and Europe, ultra-nationalists such as Pamyat in Russia, and various far-right groups, including some in Poland and Sweden . . .

If you need to mention such a cock-eyed, racist notion “plan”, then you don’t have a clue. Why don’t you post something that actually makes sense to the topic instead?
6 R. Elgin September 18, 2009 at 5:35 pm: . . . nobody gets asylum in the Republic of Korea.

. . . from the mouths of lawyers . . . *

* I mean that in a positive way. ^__^
7 mateomiguel September 18, 2009 at 6:08 pm: perhaps the problem is not that they’re racist, but rather just horrible monsters to all strangers.

Yeah, I’ve come to think that. Koreans aren’t exactly racist, or xenophobic, or any of these terms. They don’t hate one race, or outsiders, really. They just hate strangers. If you didn’t go to elementary school with them you might as well be monsters in sheep’s clothing.
8 mateomiguel September 18, 2009 at 6:12 pm: hmmm, latin for stranger is hospes. Hospephobic?
9 eujin September 18, 2009 at 7:26 pm: hmmm, latin for stranger is hospes. Hospephobic?

Whoa, flag on the play. Intentional mixture of Latin and Greek to coin neologism. Five yard penalty. Repeat comment 8.
10 Sperwer September 18, 2009 at 7:59 pm: The referee agrees; we already have a perfectly good Greek derived word available: xenophobic.
11 Mr. Myxlplyx September 18, 2009 at 10:49 pm: Yes, do not mix your Latin and Greek. I learned that from watching television (right after watching a program about dinosaurs).
12 R. Elgin September 19, 2009 at 12:01 am: This issue is not really an example of xenophobia or racism but of a lack of ethics and fortitude in Korea’s foreign policy, especially in regards to matters related to the PRC.

I thought the foolishness of Roh’s tenure was over but maybe it is perennial seeing how it continues.
13 DLBarch September 19, 2009 at 2:12 am: If Dolkun Isa has in fact done anything wrong, or even if Korea just dosn’t want him in the country, then he should simply be deported, but to Germany, not to China.

On the other hand, if Korea decides to deport him to China, then the debate will be over and Seoul will have firmly established itself very much as Beijing’s bitch.

DLB
14 Sonagi September 19, 2009 at 7:14 am: On the other hand, if Korea decides to deport him to China, then the debate will be over and Seoul will have firmly established itself very much as Beijing’s bitch.

I thought that the Korean government harassing that pet store owner into taking down his Tiananmen Gate parody sign would have erased any lingering doubts after Nobel Peace Prize ~~buyer~~ winner Kim Dae-jung’s government denied a visa to the Dalai Lama.
15 Koreansentry September 21, 2009 at 5:32 pm: Korea doesn’t want to be center of pro-democracy Chinese movement and these who oppose China’s policy on Uighur/Tibetan. South Korea is only democratic country that is very close to Beijing. If South Korea let these freedom fighters in, Seoul will easily become capital of freedom fighters from China. I don’t want to see bomb blowing up by Chinese agents trying to eliminate these separatist groups. South Korea isn’t interest in housing troubles. As much South Korea welcomes foreigners but they have to stay trouble free.
16 R. Elgin September 21, 2009 at 8:29 pm: . . . I don’t want to see bomb blowing up by Chinese agents trying to eliminate these separatist groups.

I think you are being a bit paranoid there. That would cause far more trouble for the PRC than you would imagine though they do have much sneaky thuggery to account for.