- The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji continues to engage in long-term protests, despite the COVID-19 pandemic
- Residents and store owners: “We're losing our daily peace”
- Refusal to cease acts of ding-dong ditch
- Dissatisfaction towards police's lukewarm response
- Runaway children reveal reality of 'forced conversion'
- Case of forced conversion in Busan last month brought to light
- “Shock of kidnap and forced confinement involving a pastor and victim's family”
[Cheonji Ilbo = Correspondent Won Min-eum] Despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March last year, nationwide protests by the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji (anti-Shincheonji coalition/Representative Jang-sik Shin) that began outside an apartment complex in Gyeonggi province have now spread and are being met with hostility by citizens. According to interviews made with local residents by Cheonji Ilbo reporters on the 8th July, members of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji refuse to vacate apartment dwellings where they carry out their protest, and persist in ringing the doorbell of a resident's home before fleeing (an act known as ding-dong ditch).
This protest, which has lasted more than one year, has led to troubling complaints by nearby residents and store owners who say, “We have lost peace in our daily lives due to this noise disturbance. It's really hard - I'm ready to move out.”
◆Reckless protest: “Ring the doorbell and run”
On that day, the security guard at the apartment complex received a report from one resident who said, “Someone has been repeatedly ringing the doorbell only then to run off.” After checking CCTV surveillance, the property management director confirmed that a member of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji had in fact entered the apartment without permission with a protest sign, taken the lift up to the top and come back down via the stairs. The security guard reported this to the police. On the very day Cheonji Ilbo reported this account, another member of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji had broken into the apartment complex with a sign around his neck, and had refused to respond to the security guard's request to 'leave'.
Meanwhile, a police official from Cheonggye Police Station in Uiwang, who was dispatched to the scene after receiving a report from residents said (in reference to the act of ringing the doorbell and running off): "We have taken sanctions at the police station and will strengthen our patrol unit so that this does not happen again. The police will work hard to prevent this from happening.” However, no action was taken to secure CCTV footage to identify and punish the perpetrators.
Under current law, the act of ringing the doorbell and running off - also known as 'ding-dong ditch' - is a crime. Anyone can see that it is an intentional act which pressures and interferes in the peace of another party. Such an act can be seriously classified as an 'assault'. Any act that inflicts emotional or psychological pain is an assault. However, the police has found no reason to investigate or take legal action. Moreover, if a third party enters the common space of an apartment building without consent - in violation of the regulations of residential property law - the crime of 'trespassing' can be established. Refusal to leave a site, even when requested by the apartment manager, constitutes the crime of non-compliance.
◆“I've lost my daily peace, and the police refuse to address this protest”
Residents have complained, "We've been losing peace in our daily lives for over a year due to noise disturbances resulting from these protests, and the police are barely addressing the issue despite our hurt."
Resident B said, “I have filed and reported complaints, and the police have come and stopped the protester, but the same thing happens the next day.” Raising their voice, this resident went on to say, “I don't understand why the police is refusing to address these protests, even though, as residents and store owners, we're losing our peace and suffering harm."
A male resident in his 20s, who lives on the 10th floor of an apartment where the protest has been ongoing, said, “(The protest) is very loud and I can hear it clearly, even when I am at home. I don't want to hear it, but it keeps going on and on." In a state of pain, he insists, "I have to move out because of these protests."
◆The true nature of protests by the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji is rooted in 'forced conversion'
The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji is known as a group that, for several years, has been holding single-person protests filled with profanities, between Shincheonji Church and the Zion Christian Mission Center, thereby angering local residents.
The majority of members of The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji belong to the established, mainstream Church and denominations and are parents of adult children who attend Shincheonji Church. They have continued to protest, saying, “Please return my child who has fallen victim to Shincheonji". However, the consistent assertion by the children of members of The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji is that the purpose of their demonstration, is, in reality, not to 'return their child' but to 'take them to a conversion pastor'. It is a fact that most members of The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji, including its head representative, have a history of forcibly abducting, detaining and assaulting adult children who attend Shincheonji Church in an attempt to force them to convert.
It has been confirmed through a report by Cheonji Ilbo that The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji has forged a close alliance with Rev. Shin, who runs the Guri Cult Counselling Center - an 'agency for forced conversion'. Pastor Shin had been expelled from Shincheonji after causing a scandal where he taught unbiblical doctrines such as, “You must pray in the name of Chairman Man-hee Lee”.
The 'cause of Shincheonji youth running away from home' is forced conversion pastors and parents, as evidenced through the case of forced conversion in Busan last month, as reported by Cheonji Ilbo.
According to police investigations, on May 24th, the victim, Mr. Seon, was told by his parents, 'Granddad is in critical condition; let's go to hospital together". This was a lie. Mr. Seon, who was preparing for a new job, was lured into the apartment underground parking lot into a car, and kidnapped. He was then imprisoned for 19 days until June 11, during which time he was forced to convert upon the instructions of a heresy counsellor.
In Korea, where religious freedom is enshrined within the constitution, the reason why human rights violations such as forced conversion - which is targeted solely against Shincheonji members - continues unabated is because of the 'anti-Shincheonji cult-framing' forged by pastors of the established Church. It has been well-documented that conversion pastors, who run cult counselling centres, play on social prejudices to instil anxiety in the hearts and minds of parents of Shincheonji children. They seek to justify their human rights violations while also 'making money'.
However, as the perception of 'Shincheonji being a political scapegoat' since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year has spread, some commentators maintain that 'Shincheonji members are being passed off as the devil'. In addition, there are growing calls for harsh punishment of the established Church and conversion pastors who abuse social prejudices.
◆Reporters' Eyes: "Cult counselling centre is not fit to judge"
Reporter Mo Kim, who appeared on YouTube's 'Reporters' Eyes' last May, emphasised, "As a result of comprehensive coverage of Shincheonji, Shincheonji members can be said to be living respectable lives within society." He also stressed, “Is it right to pass Shincheonji off as the Devil?”
In reference to the act of direct slander against the main Shincheonji representative, who is over 90 years old, Reporter Kim said, “The Cult Counselling Centre is not fit to judge." "Regardless of religion, Man-hee Lee is a 90-year-old man. I wonder if they are children of Satan, as they repugnantly spit out curse after curse. Regrettably, I am confident that their words of evil will create a boomerang effect and backfire on them.”
◆Shincheonji's “Legal action following accusations by former victims”
Shincheonji is planning to take strong legal action against a series of behaviours that go beyond acceptable norms. One Shincheonji official said, "We no longer condone the behaviour of The National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji, who are trampling on the human rights of Shincheonji members with false allegations and abusive language. We plan to take strong legal action." The official also said, “Even though freedom of religion is enshrined within the constitution in Korea, judicial institutions are neglecting it, and politicians are ignoring acts of human rights violations. Police who turn a blind eye will also be held accountable.”
Source: http://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=878167
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