Truth and Reconciliation Commission Decides to Investigate Human Rights Violations in the '3.15 Uprising' Case

Many Jinhae High School Students Illegally Detained
Truth Investigation Also Needed for Ahn Ki-bu's Harsh Treatment

The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) has decided to investigate the truth regarding the '3.15 Uprising Assault and Other Human Rights Violations'.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced on the 12th that it held the 80th plenary session on the 11th and decided to investigate the truth concerning nine victims who suffered human rights violations during the protest against the 3.15 fraudulent election. With this decision, the number of individuals subject to truth investigation related to the 3.15 Uprising increased from the previous 344 to 353.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission confirmed circumstances in which nine people, including Kim, were detained or assaulted by the police while participating in protests against the 3.15 fraudulent election under the Syngman Rhee regime in 1960.

According to the victims' testimonies, about 100 students from Jinhae High School in Gyeongnam participated in the protest against the fraudulent election on March 17, 1960, and many of them were arrested by the police. One of the subjects of the truth investigation, Choi, who was an elementary school student at the time, testified that he was also arrested by the police in connection with a fire at a police substation and was assaulted.

Among those subject to the truth investigation was also a member of the Democratic Party Masan City Party. According to their testimonies, the police raided the Democratic Party Masan City Party building on March 14, 1960, one day before the election, assaulted party officials, and damaged property.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended local governments and the Gyeongnam Office of Education to promote educational projects for restoring the victims' honor and commemorative projects for participants of the 3.15 Uprising.

In addition, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission decided to investigate the truth regarding cases in which the National Security Planning Agency (NSPA) committed harsh acts against victims on the grounds of violating the Anti-Communist Law.

According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, victim Park was taken by the NSPA in February 1981 for allegedly praising North Korea and was illegally detained without a warrant for 27 days. It was also confirmed that the NSPA tortured Park during the investigation by preventing him from sleeping.

Furthermore, the truth investigation was decided for victims who suffered at the hands of the Army Military Police for allegedly violating the Coastal Guard Law. Victim Lee was arrested on charges of joining the Maritime People's Army and receiving secret letters in 1948, and was taken by the Army Military Police in July 1950 and executed by shooting.

The investigation revealed that Lee was illegally detained for 79 days until just before prosecution in February 1949, and that torture and other harsh acts occurred during the investigation. It was also confirmed that there were errors in the victim's work history and other criminal facts.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended that the state apologize to victims whose human rights were violated by unlawful exercise of public authority and undertake retrials to restore their honor.