Not Welcome - #*@% Off!!!

So one of my mates here just went to Korea to watch the world cup.

As a wee bit of background he's one of the most peaceful and spiritual people that I know and does not have a violent bone in his body.

He was met at the airport on arrival in Korea (they knew when he was coming and were waiting for him) and was told "You are a known troublemaker and are not yet on Korean soil. You are not welcome in Korea - go back to Taiwan."

Apparently they had a photo of him at a legal demonstration against the WTO when he was in Prague and is now on some international database of "Known Troublemakers".

So now, aside from all the money he spent on tickets and accommodation and the loss of having a holiday that he'd been looking forward to, he has to face the fact that he might (who knows) get denied entry to some country he wishes to go and visit, and whatever anyone wants to do with this list of people.

Where is this world going to when peaceful participation in a legal demonstration which is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy, (which most people would agree is the best form of government we've stumbled across so far) gets you residence on an international database of known troublemakers.

Isn't this the sort of thing that we the (relatively) free world is supposedly fighting against in the oppressive regimes?

wanderinglinton

that is a really scarey story there. i feel for your friend. wondering what else my put you on this list? Democracy is a funny thing if you ask me. here in the states ours is being taken away from us slowly and very few see it. we have less and less say in what we do as a nation and shit we don't even get to elect our presidents anymore.

Really sorry to read about that !!!! I admit it ade me very angry : Big brother's watching you ... but not only is he watching but apparently not watching the right persons...

waht can I say that has not been said 10000 times. We all know of the problem ... so what are the solutions ? I don't know if you can legally sew them (pardon my spelling) and / or whatnot...

I am really sorry for your friend, sweet one !!! I think the Koreans / Japanses freaked out big time trying to protect their countries from hooligans (who, by the way DO exist and deserve to NOt be granted entrance in countries where soccer cups are held IMO)that they do silly paranoid things ... However, I would not stop calling them democracies for that matter... OR, I'd stop calling any ountry including my own a democracy.

shine on
Cass

[ 18 June 2002, 01:35: Message edited by: Cassandra ]

Is Korea a Democratic nation?

If it is, maybe they voted to keep him out? If he's not a citizen of Korea then Democracy worked perfectly in that situation. I don't want some foreigners in my country that are known for being trouble-makers.

Just a thought for perspective.

PWB, I understand your point, but then again, I don't think Wanderinglinton's friend is any troublemaker. I don't think going to a demonstration to word your opinion is trouble making at all... what do you think ?

shine on
Cass

That sucks!!
On the topic of Big Brother this is part of a news story Thistle sent me: affecting the UK

'From NHS executives to your local council, the Department of Work and Pensions to the Department for Transport; from the Home Office to the Post Office all could be getting the same powers of surveillance as the police... these organisations will be able to make telephone companies and internet service providers hand over detailed personal information on any of us - without a court order.'

When was the democratic vote to loose freedom? I must have slept thro that!!

I think that it is completely awful that your friend was denied access there buddy. IMO your friend should demand that the list be destroyed and/or all names on it removed.