The Veteran’s Call: Grant Conditional Bail to 95-Year-Old Chairman ManHee Lee
 |
| Han-su Kim, Chairman of the Gyeongnam Jinhae Branch of the Korea Vietnam War Veterans Association |
Han-su Kim, Chairman of the Gyeongnam Jinhae Branch of the Korea Vietnam War Veterans Association, has appealed for bail for ManHee Lee, chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and a fellow Korean War veteran. Here is a condensed version of that appeal, as published in the Op-Ed of the Insider People.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a Vietnam War veteran, I risked my life defending the Republic of Korea, believing in a nation founded on the rule of law, freedom, and human dignity. I am therefore deeply concerned that ManHee Lee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, is being held in custody while facing investigation and trial.
I believe the charges against Chairman Lee must be determined impartially, based on evidence and legal principles. However, determining guilt and deciding whether continued detention is necessary are separate matters. Given the progress of the investigation and questioning of relevant parties, I urge the authorities to reconsider whether detaining a 95-year-old man remains necessary.
My experience of war has taught me that a strong nation exercises its authority with fairness and restraint. I have also witnessed the effects of ageing among my former comrades. Prolonged detention, stress, sleep deprivation, and unfamiliar surroundings can seriously affect an elderly person's health, sometimes irreversibly. The state has a duty to protect the lives and dignity of its citizens.
I believe conditional bail, with appropriate restrictions, regular court appearances, and medical monitoring, could safeguard Chairman Lee's health and right to a fair defence without compromising the trial. Release on bail is not an exemption from justice, just as a trial without detention is not a retreat from the rule of law.
The nation we fought to defend must uphold human rights regardless of religious beliefs or social controversy. I respectfully urge the authorities to reconsider continued detention and allow the proceedings to continue under appropriate bail conditions, safeguarding justice, human dignity, and the values for which we fought.
Source: https://tinyurl.com/3becj8cz
0 comments