“A prominent human rights activist arrested today seems set to become the next prisoner of conscience in south Korea,” said Amnesty International in is report on Nov. 4.

His name is So Jun Sik, former prisoner of conscience held for 17 years on “spy” charges in 1971 and won freedom in 1988 without being “converted,” thus braving a series of torture and ill-treatment inflicted by south Korea's infamous intelligence agency known as Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP).

Mr. So is also director of prominent SARANGBANG human rights group, whose web site has been blocked by the government as “enemy-benefiting”: norm abused by the ANSP to justify its abnormal status or “puppet” north Korea likes to put it.

According to press report, So Jun Sik was arrested by riot police at around 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 for organizing a human rights film festival and showing a documentary film titled “Red Hunt.”

Mr. So was whisked away by riot police who stormed into the branch office of SARANBANG and confiscated more than 30 video tapes related to the festival.

The controversial “Red Hunt” depicted the 1948 civil uprising in Cheju Island who fought against the division of Korea and demanded US military pullout.

The police arrested more than 2,500 demonstrators and tortured several prisoners to death. Demonstrators organized guerrilla warfare and some 3,000 students joined in. The guerrilla war lasted nearly two years and left the island ruins. Some 20,000 homes are destroyed, 100,000 refugees are left homeless, and 30,000 were killed. The Cheju Incident will remain as one of the most hideous crimes committed by Syngman Rhee and U.S. GIs garrisoned in south Korea.

The draconian National Security Law provides long sentences including death penalty for “espionage” and passing “state secrets” to north Korea.

However, the term “espionage” is vaguely-defined in the NSL and has sometimes been used to imprison people who were exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. The definition of “state secrets” includes information which is publicly available in south Korea.

Mr. So's case, this time, fell on the category of passing “state secrets,” according to the ANSP. However, the film was already showed at the Pusan International Film Festival last October and currently touring nine other cities. Five people were arrested during the festival after the organizers refused to submit their films for government censorship

The police, however, did not raid Hani Picture, which aired the film.

Mr. So was also said to have been calling for the government of Kim Yong Sam stop clampdown on Hanchongryun, one-million-strong pro-democracy body made up of students across the nation.

“This latest arrest came as politicians argued over the exact definition of a prisoner of conscience and the government claimed there were none at all,” the Amnesty International said. The London-based human rights group also urged all presidential candidates to protect and respect the work of human rights defenders and to encourage efforts to promote human rights throughout the society.

The body also reiterated amendment of National Security Law in accordance with international standards.

“If people want to know what a prisoner of conscience is then look no further that So Jun Sik,” added the Amnesty International - a slap in the face of the government, pretentious to be an open, democratic and developed state.

Meanwhile, police on Nov. 7 arrested Kang Wi Won, fifth-term chairman of Hanchongryun, for organizing “anti-state” activities.