The Human Rights Commission of Korea
E-mail: nhrc@humanrights.go.kr

Dear Sir/Madame,

Greetings from Migrant Forum in Asia.

Migrant Forum in Asia applauds the Seoul High Court ruling (date) allowing migrant workers, regardless of their status to join and form trade unions in Korea. This unprecedented move of the High Court is a victory in our long struggle to protect and promote the rights and well being of all migrant workers, irrespective of their documentary status.

Migrant Forum in Asia is a non-profit regional network formally organised in 1994. MFA currently has more than 260 official members from 14 Asian countries with its secretariat based in the Philippines. Some of the members are themselves national networks representing large number of local organizations (e.g. the network members from Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China.) In addition to its formal members, MFA has close working relations with more than 50 other migrant related groups and networks in Asia (South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and West Asia) and other regions of the world.

While applauding the groundbreaking decision of the High Court, we however note that this is only one step in our fight for the rights and well being of migrant workers and their families, and that much remains to be done in terms of implementation and practice of sound human rights policies.

We draw your attention to the recent fire at the Immigration Detention Center in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province on the 11th of February 2007 which killed 8 Chinese and 1 Uzbek, and left 18 other foreigners injured.

The Korea times reported: “The fire started at around 4 a.m. and most of the victims are believed to have suffocated from the fumes. About 55 foreigners were detained in the facility, including 42 Chinese, four Uzbeks, two from Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka, and one each from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Vietnam and Iran.”

MFA believes that no human being is illegal and that all migrant workers irregardless of their status have rights. We therefore call for a thorough investigation of the incident at the Immigration Detention Center in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province and a public presentation of the report of the investigation.

Courage Peace, Power,

William Gois
Regional Coordinator
The Migrant Forum in Asia

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