Buddhist Conscientious Objectors

I blogged the other day about attending services in Daniel Seeger's church. His name doesn't exactly resonate through the ages. He was the defendant in a case that reached the Supreme Court, The United States of America vs. Daniel Seeger, which eventually allowed him to claim conscientious objector status due to his religion, even though he wasn't sure he believed in God. The court decided that his agnosticism was still "religious" in the eyes of the law. This kept him out of the Korean War.

Well, South Koreans are now mounting their legal front to keep from fighting in the same war - which is technically still being fought. This piece in the Korea Times says that military objectors of many stripes, including Buddhists and Jehovah's Witnesses, are bringing their claims to the United Nations.

The lengthy debate over the right of Korean citizens to refuse mandatory military service will now be heard at the United Nations (U.N.).

Oh Tae-yang, a 30-year-old who became a public figure in 2002 when he was indicted for refusing the draft citing his Buddhist beliefs, will join 10 other Koreans in submitting a complaint to the U.N.'s Human Rights Committee that deals with the Korean government's alleged discrimination against military objectors.

"Oh and the other military objectors will argue on the international stage that the Korean government's decision to punish them under criminal law violate their basic human rights to freedom of thought and religion that should be protected by law," said Choi Jung-min, secretary general of a coalition of 36 activist groups and religious organizations advocating the rights of military objectors.

The article goes on to say that of the 3,655 Koreans who have claimed objector status since 2001, more than 3,000 were sentenced to at least 18 months in prison. At least 900 are currently serving time for their beliefs.

The problem, of course - applying to the UN. What are they going to do? Pass a resolution? Look sternly across the room at the Korean delegate? Anyone who is savvy to the actual power of this organization in this case, please feel free to comment.

It's important to remember that the basis for military objection in this country is still religious, by law, Daniel Seeger nonwithstanding. Young objectors are required to show a substantial paper trail documenting their moral beliefs, which needs to add up to a "religious" conviction. Until Seeger, the US government asked the following questions of potential objectors:

Give the name and present address of the individual upon whom you rely most for religious guidance.

Are you a member of a religious sect or organization? Describe carefully the creed or official statements of said religious sect or organization as it relates to participation in war.

Describe the actions and behavior in your life which in your opinion most conspicuously demonstrate the consistency and depth of your religious convictions.

It's one of the instances where the US government can still pass judgment on the depths and reach of a citizen's religious belief. Unreal. Our best wishes to the Buddhists Over There.