14

THE CHURCH IN SOLIDARITY

Churches and Christians in Korea are actively engaged in human rights activities. They have become subjects of government harassments. There has been an instance of thugs (believed to be organized by military) disturbing Sunday worship services of a church where a pastor has taken a bold stance on human rights and a truly courageous and prophetic role in the community. It is encouraging to note that the Human Rights Committee of the National Council of Churches of Korea (NCCK) consisting of representatives from all the member-denominations have taken a firm position for human rights. Suppression of the church's involvement in the human rights movement is a clear indication of how religious freedom of mission is stifled in Korea. Constant surveillance by the KCIA at the gates of NCCK is a regular disturbing scene. Church youth movements who have played avant garde role in the student movement are themselves systematically suppressed for their concrete acts of faith and witness in Korean society. Some of their members have already been detained. Many ecumenical leaders active in the human rights struggle have been denied the freedom of movement, particularly traveling outside of their country, as the government's retaliation on their political stance and for its fear that their trip abroad becomes an occasion to reveal the truth about the Korean situation.