S. Korea Demands Heavy Penalties for Rev. Han Sang Ryol
Pyongyang, December 25 (KCNA) -- The puppet Seoul District Prosecutor's Office demanded ten years in prison and ten years of suspension of qualifications for pro-reunification champion Rev. Hang Sang Ryol on charges of the violation of the notorious "National Security Law", according to MBC of south Korea.
The prosecutors charged that he visited the north without a prior consent of the "government" and praised the north while staying there and led the action for pulling down the statue of MacArthur in September 2005, sympathizing with the assertion of the north.
In this connection various organizations of south Korea accused the prosecutors of demanding ten years in prison for Rev. Han Sang Ryol, a penalty unprecedented in the past decade.
The prosecutors brought against him charges of what they called "reception of instructions," taking issue even with his anti-U.S. and anti-war activities in the past, they noted, adding this is arousing great concern
CPRK Accuses S. Korea of Demanding Penalties for Rev. Han Sang Ryol
Pyongyang, December 25 (KCNA) -- The Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea in information bulletin No. 970 Saturday blasted the south Korean regime for demanding heavy penalties for Rev. Han Sang Ryol who visited the DPRK on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration
The prosecution demanded 10 years in prison and 10 years of suspension of qualifications for him on charges of violation of the "National Security Law," the bulletin said, and continued:
This action is a wanton violation of justice and conscience and an intolerable challenge to the desire of the Koreans for reunification.
Han's visit to the DPRK was a patriotic deed prompted by his ardent desire and strong will for national harmony and reunification.
During his stay in the DPRK he met northerners of various circles, sharing compatriotic feelings. He ardently called on the Koreans to pool efforts to reject outside domination and moves for aggression and anti-reunification forces' sycophancy and treachery and confrontation with fellow countrymen. He also urged them to defend peace and achieve independent reunification under the banner of the north-south joint declaration.
This being a hard reality, the south Korean regime arrested him soon after he crossed Panmunjom on the charge that he visited the DPRK without its consent to conduct "illegal" and "enemy-benefiting" activities. It has put him to unbearable persecution for a long period.
The south Korean regime's recent action disclosed its intention to opt for confrontation with the DPRK and war contrary to the desire of all the Koreans and the world public to see the north-south relations improved.
It should stand trial for its acts of division, confrontation and war.
The bulletin called upon the south Koreans and all other Koreans to strongly denounce the puppet forces for their suppression of pro-reunification forces, escalation of the confrontation with the DPRK and moves to launch a war.
It demanded the forces stop at once their actions to punish Rev. Han on groundless charges
---------------------------------------------------
SEOUL'S SLUM DWELLINGS
http://www.demotix.com/news/512876/seoul-forgotten-shantytowns
http://seoulsouthkorea.jimdo.com/slums-shantytowns/
Despite the efforts of the conservative Government of South Korea to show off the City of Seoul during the G20 summit as a shiny and prosperous capital there are still plenty of shantytown areas in and around Seoul. Many of the people living there can’t afford the immense costs for renting a room in the more modern tower blocks.
Many shantytowns got evicted in the last years and the people where forced out of their living places. 2009 six squatters died in an fire when special forces stormed their squatted building.
One of the biggest slums is found next to the business district of Gangnam-gu and has around 1.300 inhabitants, no real water connection, no post boxes and the energy is tapped illegal.
Actual statistics show that the urban poverty in Seoul is still high – 14% of the urban population (1.5 Million people or 500.000 households) are living beneath the poverty line. There are around 60 squatter communities with minimum 10.000 people living in Seoul.
The ACHR (Asian Coalition for Housing Rights) writes about the Public housing project from the South Korean Government: “In the past 20 years, poor communities have campaigned for access to subsidized public housing in these redevelopment areas, and some of them have got it. But this public housing is managed entirely by the government, which has the right to determine who will and won’’t get it. And people who used to stay together in lively and interlinked communities find themselves flung widely apart, living in isolation behind locked doors in their box-like units, in different high-rises and on different floors. Their connections with each other are lost, there is no more community. They have to pay a high rent also, and if they can’’t pay, they’’re kicked out.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 27 December 2010
Tuesday 21 December 2010
INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS' DAY- STOP THE CRACKDOWN!
The organizers and participants of yesterday's migrant workers rally (to mark the "Int'l Migrants Day") in Seoul adopted the following "2010 Declaration of the Human Rights of Migrants":
Towards a New World without Discrimination and Exploitation!
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
① In this country we have been given the name 'migrant'. This word has many meanings, which we did not choose ourselves. In addition to signifying someone who lived in another place and then migrated to South Korea, 'migrant' refers to someone who is the object of repression and exploitation in the workplace and discrimination and rejection in everyday life. Even worse, 'migrant' connotes a latent criminal and the target of policing, control and expulsion in the eyes of the South Korean government. In the past, we fought against these chains that bind us with our whole bodies and spirits. The more we looked for the key to unlock the lock on the chains, however, the deeper the key ring grasped in the hand of our oppressor became hidden in a maze.
20 years laced with discrimination and exploitation have now passed. After all of our resistance we have realized something. That only we, and no one else, can achieve our own freedom. That the key that can unlock the chains that bind us is not in the oppressors hand but in ours. That we can rewrite the meaning that Korean society has given to the name 'migrant'. This means that we can rewrite 'migrant' as beautiful.
② We firmly reject the idea that we must endure repression and exploitation. We reject the Employment Permit System (EPS), which gives power to the government and employers to grant us jobs but refuses us the rights to association, bargaining and collective action that in fact belong to all workers. As members of the Korean working class who know the value of our sweat and our labor, we declare our right to live as workers who freely choose their jobs. Short-term rotation policies, like the EPS, fail to take into account that migrants are people and are the origins of discrimination and human rights abuses. These policies treat migrants as tools of profit but denied us the right to live as human beings. The EPS is a barometer that reflects the perspective and atmosphere of South Korean society. We are already living in this land. The EPS, which denies this fact while also denying justice and the needs of Korean society must be abolished immediately.
③ We refuse to be the targets of policing and expulsion. We are not latent criminals. We are merely people seeking happiness for ourselves and our families. We have no intentions to cause harm to anyone. All human beings have the right to physical freedom and the right to defend that freedom. These rights must be protected. As such, we firmly reject the government's labeling of as us latent criminals. The government uses this label to justify its brutal crackdown against us, which it claims is necessary to maintain the safety of South Korean society and even to protect our human rights. We recognize, however, that these claims are simply a means to hide the fact that the government's actions are illegal and violate human rights. The indiscriminate, inhumane and life-threatening raids and deportations must stop immediately.
④ In the name of 3 million overseas Koreans we firmly reject discrimination against overseas Koreans from less-developed countries, which has become an absolute yardstick by which to measure South Korean. Some 350 thousand overseas Koreans from China and the countries of the former Soviet Union are living as migrants in South Korean society. Despite the fact that are all overseas Koreans, in South Korean society, the Act on Overseas Koreans applies fully to overseas Koreans from rich countries and only partially to those who come from poorer countries. The South Korean governments attempt to broaden the field of discrimination, which arises from its fixation on economic capacity, cannot but be an indicator of the state of society. As overseas Koreans and migrants we reject all efforts to keep us in field of discrimination and firmly demand our rights.
⑤ We demand our rights as workers and has women who have come to this country to live as members of families. We should not be denied rights as women and as workers because we are migrants. Women migrant workers must be allowed to reside safely in this country. Our rights must not be violated due to abuse of authority at the workplace or any other criminal designs. Protection of and redress for the violation of women migrant workers rights must be swift. The essential dignity of women who have migrated through marriage must be respected. We reject all attitudes that reduce women to a form of exchange value and reaffirm the fact that proper family life begins with respect for one's partner's culture. Marriage migrants have the right to respect and happiness based on true multiculturalism, not a false multiculturalism that means unilateral imposition of Korean culture.
We assert that all children in the country have equal rights. The government's attitude of singling out the children of multicultural families and refusing to recognize the children born of undocumented migrants equals discrimination against children. All children have the right to registration based on birth and to attain nationality, and these rights must not be violated simply because of the residence status of their parents. In fact, children should be given more protection and attention in the event that they lack a nationality. In particular, no child should be denied heath and education rights on the basis that he/she does not have a nationality. We also affirm that all children have the right to be raised in a healthy manner by their families, in particular their parents. All provisions that discrimination against children are illegal and must be abolished.
⑥ We demand that the government give immediate attention and protection to refugees and asylum seekers. We are concerned that applications for asylum are proceeded in a manner aimed at administrative ease rather than being based on rationality and fairness. The current system of reviewing applications is carried out in a manner overly dependent on international politics and the easy management of visas without consideration for human beings' basic right to life. We demand that the system be revised and ask that more visas be granted for humanitarian reasons. We wish to see South Korea become a place where individuals who flee persecution and discrimination can live with their rights respected. We also demand that the South Korean government ratify the International Convention on Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. We stress that equal protection of the rights of migrants and their families through the ratification of the Convention, which outlines concrete practices, is necessary if the advent of the age of muliculturalism is to be more than simply a noisy event.
We believe that our declaration is not only meaningful for us migrant workers, but will also help to make South Korean society more just, more fee and more beautiful. Our declaration is a dignified call to break the chains of discrimination and exploitation and build a new world through social solidarity.
● Stop discrimination against migrant workers and abolish restrictions on workplace transfers!
● Stop the crackdown and deportations and legalize all undocumented migrant workers
● Stop criminalization of migrant workers!
● Protect the rights of migrant women!
● Protect migrant children's health and education rights!
● Increase recognition of refugee status and protect refugees' rights!
● Fully implement the Act on Overseas Koreans and protect overseas Koreans' right to travel freely!
● Ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrants!
Towards a New World without Discrimination and Exploitation!
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
① In this country we have been given the name 'migrant'. This word has many meanings, which we did not choose ourselves. In addition to signifying someone who lived in another place and then migrated to South Korea, 'migrant' refers to someone who is the object of repression and exploitation in the workplace and discrimination and rejection in everyday life. Even worse, 'migrant' connotes a latent criminal and the target of policing, control and expulsion in the eyes of the South Korean government. In the past, we fought against these chains that bind us with our whole bodies and spirits. The more we looked for the key to unlock the lock on the chains, however, the deeper the key ring grasped in the hand of our oppressor became hidden in a maze.
20 years laced with discrimination and exploitation have now passed. After all of our resistance we have realized something. That only we, and no one else, can achieve our own freedom. That the key that can unlock the chains that bind us is not in the oppressors hand but in ours. That we can rewrite the meaning that Korean society has given to the name 'migrant'. This means that we can rewrite 'migrant' as beautiful.
② We firmly reject the idea that we must endure repression and exploitation. We reject the Employment Permit System (EPS), which gives power to the government and employers to grant us jobs but refuses us the rights to association, bargaining and collective action that in fact belong to all workers. As members of the Korean working class who know the value of our sweat and our labor, we declare our right to live as workers who freely choose their jobs. Short-term rotation policies, like the EPS, fail to take into account that migrants are people and are the origins of discrimination and human rights abuses. These policies treat migrants as tools of profit but denied us the right to live as human beings. The EPS is a barometer that reflects the perspective and atmosphere of South Korean society. We are already living in this land. The EPS, which denies this fact while also denying justice and the needs of Korean society must be abolished immediately.
③ We refuse to be the targets of policing and expulsion. We are not latent criminals. We are merely people seeking happiness for ourselves and our families. We have no intentions to cause harm to anyone. All human beings have the right to physical freedom and the right to defend that freedom. These rights must be protected. As such, we firmly reject the government's labeling of as us latent criminals. The government uses this label to justify its brutal crackdown against us, which it claims is necessary to maintain the safety of South Korean society and even to protect our human rights. We recognize, however, that these claims are simply a means to hide the fact that the government's actions are illegal and violate human rights. The indiscriminate, inhumane and life-threatening raids and deportations must stop immediately.
④ In the name of 3 million overseas Koreans we firmly reject discrimination against overseas Koreans from less-developed countries, which has become an absolute yardstick by which to measure South Korean. Some 350 thousand overseas Koreans from China and the countries of the former Soviet Union are living as migrants in South Korean society. Despite the fact that are all overseas Koreans, in South Korean society, the Act on Overseas Koreans applies fully to overseas Koreans from rich countries and only partially to those who come from poorer countries. The South Korean governments attempt to broaden the field of discrimination, which arises from its fixation on economic capacity, cannot but be an indicator of the state of society. As overseas Koreans and migrants we reject all efforts to keep us in field of discrimination and firmly demand our rights.
⑤ We demand our rights as workers and has women who have come to this country to live as members of families. We should not be denied rights as women and as workers because we are migrants. Women migrant workers must be allowed to reside safely in this country. Our rights must not be violated due to abuse of authority at the workplace or any other criminal designs. Protection of and redress for the violation of women migrant workers rights must be swift. The essential dignity of women who have migrated through marriage must be respected. We reject all attitudes that reduce women to a form of exchange value and reaffirm the fact that proper family life begins with respect for one's partner's culture. Marriage migrants have the right to respect and happiness based on true multiculturalism, not a false multiculturalism that means unilateral imposition of Korean culture.
We assert that all children in the country have equal rights. The government's attitude of singling out the children of multicultural families and refusing to recognize the children born of undocumented migrants equals discrimination against children. All children have the right to registration based on birth and to attain nationality, and these rights must not be violated simply because of the residence status of their parents. In fact, children should be given more protection and attention in the event that they lack a nationality. In particular, no child should be denied heath and education rights on the basis that he/she does not have a nationality. We also affirm that all children have the right to be raised in a healthy manner by their families, in particular their parents. All provisions that discrimination against children are illegal and must be abolished.
⑥ We demand that the government give immediate attention and protection to refugees and asylum seekers. We are concerned that applications for asylum are proceeded in a manner aimed at administrative ease rather than being based on rationality and fairness. The current system of reviewing applications is carried out in a manner overly dependent on international politics and the easy management of visas without consideration for human beings' basic right to life. We demand that the system be revised and ask that more visas be granted for humanitarian reasons. We wish to see South Korea become a place where individuals who flee persecution and discrimination can live with their rights respected. We also demand that the South Korean government ratify the International Convention on Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. We stress that equal protection of the rights of migrants and their families through the ratification of the Convention, which outlines concrete practices, is necessary if the advent of the age of muliculturalism is to be more than simply a noisy event.
We believe that our declaration is not only meaningful for us migrant workers, but will also help to make South Korean society more just, more fee and more beautiful. Our declaration is a dignified call to break the chains of discrimination and exploitation and build a new world through social solidarity.
● Stop discrimination against migrant workers and abolish restrictions on workplace transfers!
● Stop the crackdown and deportations and legalize all undocumented migrant workers
● Stop criminalization of migrant workers!
● Protect the rights of migrant women!
● Protect migrant children's health and education rights!
● Increase recognition of refugee status and protect refugees' rights!
● Fully implement the Act on Overseas Koreans and protect overseas Koreans' right to travel freely!
● Ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrants!
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Deadly clash at S.Korean-owned factory
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
South Korean-owned garment factory workers demanding the implementation of a new minimum wage clashed with police at an industrial zone in Chittagong, southeastern Bangladesh, on Sunday, leaving up to four people dead and some 150 hurt, the Associated Press reported.
Police fired live bullets and tear gas shells at the protestors after thousands of workers attacked factories and smashed vehicles at the Chittagong Export Processing Zone that houses about 70 foreign companies that mainly manufacture garments, shoes and bicycles, and employ about 150,000 workers.
Sunday‘s clashes came out as a South Korean company YoungOne shut down all 17 of its factories in the country late Saturday after workers attacked the facilities. YoungOne employees have argued that the government’s hike in wages that was supposed to come last month has not been implemented.
YoungOne is the largest garment maker in Bangladesh and a leading outdoor garment and equipment maker in Korea.
Related articles (in the bourgeois media):
☞ CEPZ erupts in violence, 4 workers killed (The Daily Star, 12.12)
☞ Six Korean firms hit by Bangladesh protests (K. Herald, 12.13)
Saturday 11 December 2010
Actions against Conclusion of FTA Declared in S. Korea
The south Korean Headquarters of the All-People Movement for Checking the Conclusion of the south Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement held a press conference in Seoul on December 6 declaring actions against the puppet group's conclusion of the south Korea-U.S. FTA.
Speakers there accused the authorities of clinching the additional negotiations with the U.S. for the conclusion of FTA, ignoring the desire of the people.
Charging that FTA would bring unilateral benefits to the U.S. only, they questioned the authorities why did they need to have such negotiations for drain on resources.
They accused the "government" of concealing particularly the fact that it had even the negotiations on the import of U.S. beef infected with mad cow disease.
Terming the recent negotiations a fraudulent farce jointly orchestrated by Lee Myung Bak and the U.S. chief executive, they declared they would stage widespread actions against the conclusion of FTA in solidarity with the people from all walks of life.
Speakers there accused the authorities of clinching the additional negotiations with the U.S. for the conclusion of FTA, ignoring the desire of the people.
Charging that FTA would bring unilateral benefits to the U.S. only, they questioned the authorities why did they need to have such negotiations for drain on resources.
They accused the "government" of concealing particularly the fact that it had even the negotiations on the import of U.S. beef infected with mad cow disease.
Terming the recent negotiations a fraudulent farce jointly orchestrated by Lee Myung Bak and the U.S. chief executive, they declared they would stage widespread actions against the conclusion of FTA in solidarity with the people from all walks of life.
Hyundai Irregular Workers' Factory Occupation Ends after 25 Days
(by Wol-san Liem/Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements, 12.10)
Yesterday (December 9), members of the Hyundai Motors Irregular Workers Chapter of the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU) left factory 1 of the Hyundai Plant in Ulsan. Their departure marked the end of a 25-day long occupation, which they had endured without adequate food, water or bedding.
Today, representatives from the Hyundai Motors Irregular Workers Chapter, the Hyundai Motors Local Branch (regular workers), and the KMWU sat down with representatives from Hyundai Motors and its in-house subcontractors. In accordance with an agreement reached between the President of the Irregular Workers Chapter, Lee Sang-su, President of the Local Branch, Lee Gyeong-hun and President of the KMWU, they presented the following 4 demands: 1) Cancellation of damage suits and charges against workers who participated in the occupation, and payment of medical bills; 2) guarantee of reinstatement for those who participated in the occupation, 3) protection for strike leaders, and 4) a plan for negotiations concerning the regularization of illegal dispatch workers.
While negotiations have begun, it will be an uphill battle to get demands met, and take even more determination before the ultimate goal of regularization for illegal dispatch workers is achieved. Past experience including a similar struggle in 2005, has shown that without the pressure of a factory occupation it is not likely that Hyundai Motors will yield much ground. For this reason many of the striking workers had not wanted to leave factory 1 until after their demands were met in full, and originally pledge to continue the occupation until Hyundai agreed to employ them directly as regular workers.
In reality, however, the striking irregular workers have faced increasingly difficult conditions in the last several days. In addition to repression at the hands of Hyundai Motors, they have been put under growing pressure by the leadership of the Hyundai Local Branch to bring their struggle to a speedy conclusion. While the KMWU Delegates Assembly voted in favor of a general strike in support of the irregular workers struggle on December 22, it had not set a firm date. Meanwhile, President Lee Gyeong-hun of the Hyundai Motors Local Branch determined to put the general strike to a second vote at a Branch general assembly, despite the fact that the KMWU Constitution gives the delegates assembly the right to call for a general strike. When the Hyundai Motors Local Branch leadership could have been educating its members on the importance of regular-irregular workers solidarity and preparing for the general strike, it was instead suggesting to its members that it was time for struggle to be over.
With knowledge of the negative result of the Branch general assembly, and the reality that the second vote signified the cancellation of general strike plans and the loss of support from the Branch, the irregular workers set to heated debate within the factory about whether to go one with their occupation or agree to leave and begin negotiations with a set of less than satisfactory demands. In the end, they chose to accept the demands listed above as a basis for negotiation and entrusted the decision to continue or end the occupation to the Chapter leadership. After meeting with the KMWU and Branch presidents, Lee Sang-su declared an end to the occupation.
Sadly, the conclusion of the occupation demonstrates clearly the limits of the solidarity between regular and irregular workers developed in the beginning of the strike and, even more so, the lack of will on the part of the Hyundai Motors Branch’s leadership to support a strike that it should have recognized as the struggle of all Hyundai workers.
Nonetheless, there have been important victories through this struggle. The consciousness and daring of a few irregular workers quickly spread throughout the Irregular Workers Chapter and from Ulsan to Asan to Jeonju. The hundreds who participated in the strike have been transformed through the experience, coming to recognizing their common cause and developing the power and courage to demand their right to be treated equally. They constructed and made use of democratic decision-making structures even in the midst of the cruel conditions of their factory occupation, and formed a still growing sense of class-consciousness. Despite the fact that they will return to work on December 13, Hyundai irregular workers have vowed to continue organizing among their colleagues and preparing for the next phase of the struggle for regularization. As one reporter commented, the end of the factory occupation at the Ulsan Plan represents, "a victory for the Hyundai irregular workers themselves, but a loss for the labor movement as a whole."
It is the power of class-consciousness and unity that makes struggle possible. The struggle, therefore, will surely go on.
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Yesterday (December 9), members of the Hyundai Motors Irregular Workers Chapter of the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU) left factory 1 of the Hyundai Plant in Ulsan. Their departure marked the end of a 25-day long occupation, which they had endured without adequate food, water or bedding.
Today, representatives from the Hyundai Motors Irregular Workers Chapter, the Hyundai Motors Local Branch (regular workers), and the KMWU sat down with representatives from Hyundai Motors and its in-house subcontractors. In accordance with an agreement reached between the President of the Irregular Workers Chapter, Lee Sang-su, President of the Local Branch, Lee Gyeong-hun and President of the KMWU, they presented the following 4 demands: 1) Cancellation of damage suits and charges against workers who participated in the occupation, and payment of medical bills; 2) guarantee of reinstatement for those who participated in the occupation, 3) protection for strike leaders, and 4) a plan for negotiations concerning the regularization of illegal dispatch workers.
While negotiations have begun, it will be an uphill battle to get demands met, and take even more determination before the ultimate goal of regularization for illegal dispatch workers is achieved. Past experience including a similar struggle in 2005, has shown that without the pressure of a factory occupation it is not likely that Hyundai Motors will yield much ground. For this reason many of the striking workers had not wanted to leave factory 1 until after their demands were met in full, and originally pledge to continue the occupation until Hyundai agreed to employ them directly as regular workers.
In reality, however, the striking irregular workers have faced increasingly difficult conditions in the last several days. In addition to repression at the hands of Hyundai Motors, they have been put under growing pressure by the leadership of the Hyundai Local Branch to bring their struggle to a speedy conclusion. While the KMWU Delegates Assembly voted in favor of a general strike in support of the irregular workers struggle on December 22, it had not set a firm date. Meanwhile, President Lee Gyeong-hun of the Hyundai Motors Local Branch determined to put the general strike to a second vote at a Branch general assembly, despite the fact that the KMWU Constitution gives the delegates assembly the right to call for a general strike. When the Hyundai Motors Local Branch leadership could have been educating its members on the importance of regular-irregular workers solidarity and preparing for the general strike, it was instead suggesting to its members that it was time for struggle to be over.
With knowledge of the negative result of the Branch general assembly, and the reality that the second vote signified the cancellation of general strike plans and the loss of support from the Branch, the irregular workers set to heated debate within the factory about whether to go one with their occupation or agree to leave and begin negotiations with a set of less than satisfactory demands. In the end, they chose to accept the demands listed above as a basis for negotiation and entrusted the decision to continue or end the occupation to the Chapter leadership. After meeting with the KMWU and Branch presidents, Lee Sang-su declared an end to the occupation.
Sadly, the conclusion of the occupation demonstrates clearly the limits of the solidarity between regular and irregular workers developed in the beginning of the strike and, even more so, the lack of will on the part of the Hyundai Motors Branch’s leadership to support a strike that it should have recognized as the struggle of all Hyundai workers.
Nonetheless, there have been important victories through this struggle. The consciousness and daring of a few irregular workers quickly spread throughout the Irregular Workers Chapter and from Ulsan to Asan to Jeonju. The hundreds who participated in the strike have been transformed through the experience, coming to recognizing their common cause and developing the power and courage to demand their right to be treated equally. They constructed and made use of democratic decision-making structures even in the midst of the cruel conditions of their factory occupation, and formed a still growing sense of class-consciousness. Despite the fact that they will return to work on December 13, Hyundai irregular workers have vowed to continue organizing among their colleagues and preparing for the next phase of the struggle for regularization. As one reporter commented, the end of the factory occupation at the Ulsan Plan represents, "a victory for the Hyundai irregular workers themselves, but a loss for the labor movement as a whole."
It is the power of class-consciousness and unity that makes struggle possible. The struggle, therefore, will surely go on.
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Tuesday 7 December 2010
South Korea, Human Rights Desert
South Korea has turned into a human rights desert and a place devoid of democracy where fascist dictatorship reigns.
Democracy and fascism, human rights and dictatorship are incompatible with each other. The south Korean people have been long struggling to restore social democracy and true human rights.
However, their struggle fizzled out after the conservative group came to power.
Talking about the “lost decade”, the present south Korean authorities crushed the bud of democracy that had sprouted in the period of the preceding “government”, further increased the mechanisms for repressing human rights including the intelligence agency and security organs and revived all sorts of fascist evil laws and systems as a whole.
In the “government”, organs, enterprises and schools at all levels conscientious democratic figures were branded as the “leftists” and dismissed. Organizations from all strata of society and politicians who participated in the candlelight demonstration against the pro-US sycophantic acts of the conservative “government” suffered political retaliation and the professors who published declarations of the situation were dismissed or taken into custody.
Last year the two former presidents, who spoke for the democratic reformist force, died due to the political plot and retaliation of the fascist authorities. The tragedy unprecedented in history shows the poor human rights situation of south Korea.
The number of political parties and organizations that were labeled as “illegal organizations” by the conservative authorities amounted to over 1 840 in one year and a half.
Political inspection and surveillance are openly conducted and religious organizations are under repression.
Police rummaged a car of the leader of a Buddhist organization in broad daylight and Buddhist and Catholic priests suffered massive violence.
Last summer Rev. Han Sang Ryol was repressed on a charge of having visited the DPRK.
What is more astonishing is that the south Korean authorities attempt to place the press under their control.
They replaced officials at the important posts of the press organs and revised various laws on the press for the worse and trade unions, journalists and men of the press who were opposed to this suffered repression.
Freedom of holding a rally or demonstration and forming an association has been already banned. Due to the atrocities of policemen equipped with electric guns and water cannons the demonstrators became blinded and deafened and the heads of schoolboys were broken. The tear-gas liquid was thrown even on babies in perambulators.
Torture, harsh atrocities and unethical insults go unchecked.
A university professor in south Korea deplored, “In one year and a half after the advent of the present government the value of human existence was stifled and the fascist era arrived in the south Korean society”. This tells that basic democratic right and freedom and human rights vanished in south Korea.
The crime against human rights committed by the conservative authorities that have turned south Korea into a human rights desert can never be tolerated and will get the stern punishment of the nation.
Article: Choe Kwang
-------------------------------------------
Member of S. Headquarters of Pomminryon Arrested
The south Korean puppet police on Dec. 1 arrested the chief editor of the organ of the South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea′s Reunification (Pomminryon).
The fascists committed such action after issuing summons to him to appear at the police station on charges of the violation of the "Law on Assembly and Demonstration" several times for the mere reason that he attended a press conference denouncing the puppet police for forcibly searching the office of the South Headquarters of Pomminryon, etc. and walking off its leading members last year.
Not content with prosecuting him on charges of the violation of the notorious "National Security Law," asserting that he praised the north at rallies and conducted propaganda about the validity of the organization, the puppet police threw him into prison, calling into question his participation in the press conference.
Democracy and fascism, human rights and dictatorship are incompatible with each other. The south Korean people have been long struggling to restore social democracy and true human rights.
However, their struggle fizzled out after the conservative group came to power.
Talking about the “lost decade”, the present south Korean authorities crushed the bud of democracy that had sprouted in the period of the preceding “government”, further increased the mechanisms for repressing human rights including the intelligence agency and security organs and revived all sorts of fascist evil laws and systems as a whole.
In the “government”, organs, enterprises and schools at all levels conscientious democratic figures were branded as the “leftists” and dismissed. Organizations from all strata of society and politicians who participated in the candlelight demonstration against the pro-US sycophantic acts of the conservative “government” suffered political retaliation and the professors who published declarations of the situation were dismissed or taken into custody.
Last year the two former presidents, who spoke for the democratic reformist force, died due to the political plot and retaliation of the fascist authorities. The tragedy unprecedented in history shows the poor human rights situation of south Korea.
The number of political parties and organizations that were labeled as “illegal organizations” by the conservative authorities amounted to over 1 840 in one year and a half.
Political inspection and surveillance are openly conducted and religious organizations are under repression.
Police rummaged a car of the leader of a Buddhist organization in broad daylight and Buddhist and Catholic priests suffered massive violence.
Last summer Rev. Han Sang Ryol was repressed on a charge of having visited the DPRK.
What is more astonishing is that the south Korean authorities attempt to place the press under their control.
They replaced officials at the important posts of the press organs and revised various laws on the press for the worse and trade unions, journalists and men of the press who were opposed to this suffered repression.
Freedom of holding a rally or demonstration and forming an association has been already banned. Due to the atrocities of policemen equipped with electric guns and water cannons the demonstrators became blinded and deafened and the heads of schoolboys were broken. The tear-gas liquid was thrown even on babies in perambulators.
Torture, harsh atrocities and unethical insults go unchecked.
A university professor in south Korea deplored, “In one year and a half after the advent of the present government the value of human existence was stifled and the fascist era arrived in the south Korean society”. This tells that basic democratic right and freedom and human rights vanished in south Korea.
The crime against human rights committed by the conservative authorities that have turned south Korea into a human rights desert can never be tolerated and will get the stern punishment of the nation.
Article: Choe Kwang
-------------------------------------------
Member of S. Headquarters of Pomminryon Arrested
The south Korean puppet police on Dec. 1 arrested the chief editor of the organ of the South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea′s Reunification (Pomminryon).
The fascists committed such action after issuing summons to him to appear at the police station on charges of the violation of the "Law on Assembly and Demonstration" several times for the mere reason that he attended a press conference denouncing the puppet police for forcibly searching the office of the South Headquarters of Pomminryon, etc. and walking off its leading members last year.
Not content with prosecuting him on charges of the violation of the notorious "National Security Law," asserting that he praised the north at rallies and conducted propaganda about the validity of the organization, the puppet police threw him into prison, calling into question his participation in the press conference.
Thursday 2 December 2010
17th day of Hyundai Motor's irregular workers (sit-in)strike!
Today is the 17th day of Hyundai Motor's irregular workers (sit-in)strike!
Yesterday's (bourgeois newspaper) Korea Times reported the following about the current situation at the "front line":
Hyundai’s temporary workers cornered
Hyundai Motor’s contract workers have continued striking and protesting for 16 days, but they are gradually losing ground, cornered by the hostile government, the rock-ribbed Hyundai Motor and the permanent employees’ union that still hasn’t decided on its full support for their non-regular counterparts.
The latest blow comes from the local police force, Ulsan Dongbu Police Station, which requested arrest warrants for seven leaders in the contract workers’ strike including Lee Sang-soo, the temporary workers’ union leader.
The police said that Hyundai Motor sued the leaders for obstruction of work, and they have been ordered to appear at the police station. As they haven’t, the police are now seeking to arrest them.
On Tuesday, some 30 members of the contract workers’ union were taken to the police station for trying to occupy the second assembly line of the automaker, which produces the Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.
The government is yet to exercise its power to stop the strike, and there has continued tense confrontation between contract workers and Hyundai Motor’s security guards and managers with both parties claiming they have been physically assaulted.
Bahk Jae-wan, the employment and labor minister, said Monday in a meeting with journalists that the strike by contract workers is illegal and called for them to stop striking as of Monday. The Korean labor law prohibits temporary workers from going on strike to win permanent jobs.
Bahk’s remark was interpreted by the local media as an ultimatum before the government exercises its authority.
Hyundai Motor also hasn’t become any more lenient on the contract workers’ demand. The automaker’s Vice President Kang Ho-don refused Sunday to negotiate directly with non-regular workers, but said the firm will hold talks if non-regular workers stop the strike and occupation of the assembly line. He said that the talks should involve the company, the permanent employees’ union, subcontractors and the labor union of contract workers.
On Kang’s request, the non-regular workers’ union said officially Monday that it would continue occupying the plants and striking until the automaker comes up with a realistic plan to give them permanent jobs.
Contract workers’ occupation of the plant has given them some leverage in voicing their demands because it has completely stopped the production of the newly-unveiled, much anticipated Accent. Hyundai Motor says that it has so far been unable to produce about 18,700 vehicles and therefore lost 208 billion won.
Furthermore, contract workers’ relationship with the permanent employees’ union began showing some strain after the latter’s leader Lee Kyung-hoon was allegedly grabbed by the collar by a former contract worker who remains a member of the non-regular workers’ union.
The permanent employees’ union said Monday in a newsletter it is tragic that Lee was stopped when he tried to enter the sit-in site at the first assembly line to discuss solutions and supply contract workers with food. The newsletter called for contract workers to regain their countenance and for trust to come first.
On the official website of the non-regular workers’ union, several postings claimed that Lee had not been physically threatened and complained that the Lee’s union isn’t supportive enough.
The permanent employees’ union has given moral support and provided food to the isolated contract workers on strike, but hasn’t promised to go on strike along with the umbrella labor union the Korea Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU).
The KMWU declared on Nov. 22 that it would go on a nationwide strike in early December if Hyundai Motor doesn’t start negotiating with non-regular workers by the end of November.
Although the permanent employees’ union belongs to the KMWU, it decided Monday that all members will vote on whether or not they would go on strike.
In such a situation, the strike isn’t expected to end in the near future. Hyundai Motor and the contract workers have completely different views that they are unwilling to adjust...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/11/123_77249.html
CINA
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Yesterday's (bourgeois newspaper) Korea Times reported the following about the current situation at the "front line":
Hyundai’s temporary workers cornered
Hyundai Motor’s contract workers have continued striking and protesting for 16 days, but they are gradually losing ground, cornered by the hostile government, the rock-ribbed Hyundai Motor and the permanent employees’ union that still hasn’t decided on its full support for their non-regular counterparts.
The latest blow comes from the local police force, Ulsan Dongbu Police Station, which requested arrest warrants for seven leaders in the contract workers’ strike including Lee Sang-soo, the temporary workers’ union leader.
The police said that Hyundai Motor sued the leaders for obstruction of work, and they have been ordered to appear at the police station. As they haven’t, the police are now seeking to arrest them.
On Tuesday, some 30 members of the contract workers’ union were taken to the police station for trying to occupy the second assembly line of the automaker, which produces the Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.
The government is yet to exercise its power to stop the strike, and there has continued tense confrontation between contract workers and Hyundai Motor’s security guards and managers with both parties claiming they have been physically assaulted.
Bahk Jae-wan, the employment and labor minister, said Monday in a meeting with journalists that the strike by contract workers is illegal and called for them to stop striking as of Monday. The Korean labor law prohibits temporary workers from going on strike to win permanent jobs.
Bahk’s remark was interpreted by the local media as an ultimatum before the government exercises its authority.
Hyundai Motor also hasn’t become any more lenient on the contract workers’ demand. The automaker’s Vice President Kang Ho-don refused Sunday to negotiate directly with non-regular workers, but said the firm will hold talks if non-regular workers stop the strike and occupation of the assembly line. He said that the talks should involve the company, the permanent employees’ union, subcontractors and the labor union of contract workers.
On Kang’s request, the non-regular workers’ union said officially Monday that it would continue occupying the plants and striking until the automaker comes up with a realistic plan to give them permanent jobs.
Contract workers’ occupation of the plant has given them some leverage in voicing their demands because it has completely stopped the production of the newly-unveiled, much anticipated Accent. Hyundai Motor says that it has so far been unable to produce about 18,700 vehicles and therefore lost 208 billion won.
Furthermore, contract workers’ relationship with the permanent employees’ union began showing some strain after the latter’s leader Lee Kyung-hoon was allegedly grabbed by the collar by a former contract worker who remains a member of the non-regular workers’ union.
The permanent employees’ union said Monday in a newsletter it is tragic that Lee was stopped when he tried to enter the sit-in site at the first assembly line to discuss solutions and supply contract workers with food. The newsletter called for contract workers to regain their countenance and for trust to come first.
On the official website of the non-regular workers’ union, several postings claimed that Lee had not been physically threatened and complained that the Lee’s union isn’t supportive enough.
The permanent employees’ union has given moral support and provided food to the isolated contract workers on strike, but hasn’t promised to go on strike along with the umbrella labor union the Korea Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU).
The KMWU declared on Nov. 22 that it would go on a nationwide strike in early December if Hyundai Motor doesn’t start negotiating with non-regular workers by the end of November.
Although the permanent employees’ union belongs to the KMWU, it decided Monday that all members will vote on whether or not they would go on strike.
In such a situation, the strike isn’t expected to end in the near future. Hyundai Motor and the contract workers have completely different views that they are unwilling to adjust...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/11/123_77249.html
CINA
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Monday 29 November 2010
Police probing Internet cafe praising North Korea
http://redantliberationarmy.wordpress.com/
November 26, 2010 BJ Murphy Leave a comment Go to comments
The significance of this article is to clearly point out the fact that it’s not the North who’s the police state. As we can clearly see here, if any of the two are a police state, it’s the South. Yet Western media wants us to believe that it’s a democracy? All I can say is good luck.
By Kang Shin-who
November 26, 2010
More alert than ever before, police have began investigating an Internet cafe for praising North Korea after the communist state committed a ruthless attack by shelling Yeonpyeong Island.
A number of compliments to North Korea were posted on the online community named “Cyber headquarters for people’s defense,” on Naver, the country’s No. 1 portal site. Members of the community have immediately drawn huge criticism online. A lot of angered netizens attacked the community with postings denouncing the cafe members. In response, the cafe manager removed all the critical postings.
According to the National Police Agency, the site is under investigation for violating the National Security Law, which prohibits praising or sympathizing with the communist state.
The cafe manager, “Hwang Gil-gyeong,” wrote, “The commander Kim Jung-un is doing it. You need wisdom to be always be alert and prepared,” under the title of “Everybody, you were very nervous yesterday?”
The message was echoed by other postings written by the online community members. One of them reads, “The general in command will proceed without the slightest glitch in full accordance with the North’s timeline.” Another posting said, “Do not mind the lives of hostages. We are confident that you will achieve your great feat.”
Police will punish Internet community members who wrote postings praising North Korea with the purpose of benefiting the North. A police officer said the Internet cafe was first operated on another portal, Daum, and closed in 2002, but reopened in 2007 at the current portal site. It has about 6,500 members. One of the members is in his 40s and was indicted last month on charges of spreading pro-North Korea propaganda.
North Korea’s attack on the island, Tuesday, the first of its kind targeting civilians since the Korean War, killed two marines and two civilians and wounded 18 others. The Korean War ended in 1953 in a truce, without a peace treaty and the two Koreas are still technically at war.
--------------------------------------------
South Korean Worker arrested for "highly praising" North Korea
According to the south Korean media including “ChungAng Ilbo”, “Money Today” and Ryunhap News, a south Korean worker surnamed Kim (45 years) who was arrested on charges of violating the “National Security Law” on October 14 highly praised President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il during a trial at the Seoul district court.
He was reported to have carried on the Internet website “Cyber National Defense Command” on several occasions since last June articles praising President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and north Korea .
It was said that the Internet website “Cyber National Defense Command” was established around 2000 and operated by progressive figures of different circles in south Korea. It was coercively closed in late July by the suppression of the government and resumed its activity from August this year. And its members increased to 6,100 in October from 5,500 in June this year.
The security authorities arrested Kim on charges of violating the NSL for mere reason that he posted articles praising President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and north Korea .
Before the arrest he posted on the website “Cyber National Defense Command” the following article.
“My faith is as adamant as the steel and I will stand for trial with the same dauntless and dignified posture as was during the police investigation.
I will indomitably practice representing the brave ironclad cavalrymen.
In disregard of my detention I deem that a successor walked a small step, though meager, following the lofty acts of my preceding patriotic fighters and martyrs who devoted themselves for the national independence and the reunification by our nation itself against the foreign forces.
Dear patriotic ironclad cavalrymen!
You are proud and give me a great strength.
I love you.”
In the trial court he questioned how could it be a crime to praise the greatness of leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. He expressed his faith saying “leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are great men. I’m prepared to devote my whole life for them.”
He imposingly shouted that his determination to continue the posting of articles and photo editions in praise of the great men and north Korea in the future, too, is unshakable as the steel.
During the trial process that lasted over an hour he extolled the greatness of the two leaders and propagated the advantages of the socialist system in north Korea with so assertive and fluent expressions.
Astounded by his daring and faithful deed the prosecutors screamed saying “there are coming out more people who praise and follow the system of the DPRK by their firm faith.”
Meanwhile, many remarks in appreciation and inspiration of his valiant and righteous behavior are being carried on the Internet.
Posted on the websites including the “Surprise” were many articles condemning the NSL which bans any favorable sentiment or expression toward the north, saying “we all must feel shame before that dignified appearance toward the truth” and “we hardly repress the tears”.
In particular, an Internet user pen-named “Alive Child” said that the dignity of the Korean nation is shining thanks to the north which gains control of the imperialist forces headed by the US by dint of the Songun politics, holding that harboring the sentiment of following the north is a due truth.
November 26, 2010 BJ Murphy Leave a comment Go to comments
The significance of this article is to clearly point out the fact that it’s not the North who’s the police state. As we can clearly see here, if any of the two are a police state, it’s the South. Yet Western media wants us to believe that it’s a democracy? All I can say is good luck.
By Kang Shin-who
November 26, 2010
More alert than ever before, police have began investigating an Internet cafe for praising North Korea after the communist state committed a ruthless attack by shelling Yeonpyeong Island.
A number of compliments to North Korea were posted on the online community named “Cyber headquarters for people’s defense,” on Naver, the country’s No. 1 portal site. Members of the community have immediately drawn huge criticism online. A lot of angered netizens attacked the community with postings denouncing the cafe members. In response, the cafe manager removed all the critical postings.
According to the National Police Agency, the site is under investigation for violating the National Security Law, which prohibits praising or sympathizing with the communist state.
The cafe manager, “Hwang Gil-gyeong,” wrote, “The commander Kim Jung-un is doing it. You need wisdom to be always be alert and prepared,” under the title of “Everybody, you were very nervous yesterday?”
The message was echoed by other postings written by the online community members. One of them reads, “The general in command will proceed without the slightest glitch in full accordance with the North’s timeline.” Another posting said, “Do not mind the lives of hostages. We are confident that you will achieve your great feat.”
Police will punish Internet community members who wrote postings praising North Korea with the purpose of benefiting the North. A police officer said the Internet cafe was first operated on another portal, Daum, and closed in 2002, but reopened in 2007 at the current portal site. It has about 6,500 members. One of the members is in his 40s and was indicted last month on charges of spreading pro-North Korea propaganda.
North Korea’s attack on the island, Tuesday, the first of its kind targeting civilians since the Korean War, killed two marines and two civilians and wounded 18 others. The Korean War ended in 1953 in a truce, without a peace treaty and the two Koreas are still technically at war.
--------------------------------------------
South Korean Worker arrested for "highly praising" North Korea
According to the south Korean media including “ChungAng Ilbo”, “Money Today” and Ryunhap News, a south Korean worker surnamed Kim (45 years) who was arrested on charges of violating the “National Security Law” on October 14 highly praised President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il during a trial at the Seoul district court.
He was reported to have carried on the Internet website “Cyber National Defense Command” on several occasions since last June articles praising President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and north Korea .
It was said that the Internet website “Cyber National Defense Command” was established around 2000 and operated by progressive figures of different circles in south Korea. It was coercively closed in late July by the suppression of the government and resumed its activity from August this year. And its members increased to 6,100 in October from 5,500 in June this year.
The security authorities arrested Kim on charges of violating the NSL for mere reason that he posted articles praising President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and north Korea .
Before the arrest he posted on the website “Cyber National Defense Command” the following article.
“My faith is as adamant as the steel and I will stand for trial with the same dauntless and dignified posture as was during the police investigation.
I will indomitably practice representing the brave ironclad cavalrymen.
In disregard of my detention I deem that a successor walked a small step, though meager, following the lofty acts of my preceding patriotic fighters and martyrs who devoted themselves for the national independence and the reunification by our nation itself against the foreign forces.
Dear patriotic ironclad cavalrymen!
You are proud and give me a great strength.
I love you.”
In the trial court he questioned how could it be a crime to praise the greatness of leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. He expressed his faith saying “leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are great men. I’m prepared to devote my whole life for them.”
He imposingly shouted that his determination to continue the posting of articles and photo editions in praise of the great men and north Korea in the future, too, is unshakable as the steel.
During the trial process that lasted over an hour he extolled the greatness of the two leaders and propagated the advantages of the socialist system in north Korea with so assertive and fluent expressions.
Astounded by his daring and faithful deed the prosecutors screamed saying “there are coming out more people who praise and follow the system of the DPRK by their firm faith.”
Meanwhile, many remarks in appreciation and inspiration of his valiant and righteous behavior are being carried on the Internet.
Posted on the websites including the “Surprise” were many articles condemning the NSL which bans any favorable sentiment or expression toward the north, saying “we all must feel shame before that dignified appearance toward the truth” and “we hardly repress the tears”.
In particular, an Internet user pen-named “Alive Child” said that the dignity of the Korean nation is shining thanks to the north which gains control of the imperialist forces headed by the US by dint of the Songun politics, holding that harboring the sentiment of following the north is a due truth.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Temporary workers' strike at Hyundai Motor
Temporary workers' strike at Hyundai Motor gains steam with support from labor groups
ULSAN, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- A sit-in strike by temporary workers of Hyundai Motor, the nation's largest automaker, was gaining force as an umbrella union group with nearly 140,000 members pushed Monday for a general strike to join the protest in demanding formal employee status for the workers.
About 550 workers have taken over the automaker's main assembly line in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, since Nov. 15, clashing with riot police and partially crippling the factory's production. On Saturday, one worker tried to set himself on fire during a rally.
The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), the country's largest industrial union in the automobile, steel, machinery and shipping sectors, said after a meeting of representatives Monday that it will call a general strike in early December unless Hyundai Motor's management agrees to open negotiations with the striking workers.
A total of 401 KMWU representatives attended the meeting and 302 of them, or 75.3 percent, approved the general strike plan, union officials said.
"If the prolonged strike makes it impossible to operate manufacturing lines normally, the company has no option but to shorten the operation and close the factory," Hyundai Motor's Vice President Kang Ho-don said in a letter to employees.
With the strike gaining momentum, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office vowed to sternly act against the extended walkout.
"The strike by irregular workers of Ulsan factories is illegal," Lee Young-nam, senior prosecutor in charge of public safety, said, expressing concern that the labor dispute could grow into a full-blown and long-lasting one if the temporary workers form an alliance with other labor organizations.
He added that his office is currently preparing criminal proceedings to hold protesters responsible for the damage claimed by the company.
Hyundai Motor filed a suit last week against 27 workers who led the walkout, seeking 3 billion won for financial damage, and Monday filed another suit against them seeking an additional 3 billion won, doubling the compensation amount.
According to the company, the strike is expected to cause more than 100 billion won in production losses by Tuesday morning if the walkout continues throughout the day. It is the biggest loss caused by a non-regular workers' strike, the company noted.
"If the Korea Metal Workers' Union joins the strike, prosecutors will consider a response at a national level accordingly," Lee said.
The dispute began when the irregular workers, hired by a Hyundai Motor subcontractor, urged the automaker to abide by a Supreme Court ruling in July that contract employees who have worked for more than two years should be considered permanent workers. The case was remanded to the high court for further review.
The union of Hyundai Motor's formal employees remains undecided whether to join the irregular workers' move, according to union officials.
While the union of full-time workers at Hyundai Motor had gone on strike almost every year since its establishment in 1987, in 2009, it had a strike-free year after union leaders promised to cooperate to ride out a global financial crisis. The union also agreed to a wage deal in July this year, marking its second year without a strike.
Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors control more than 70 percent of the domestic auto market.
-----------------------------------
ULSAN, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- A sit-in strike by temporary workers of Hyundai Motor, the nation's largest automaker, was gaining force as an umbrella union group with nearly 140,000 members pushed Monday for a general strike to join the protest in demanding formal employee status for the workers.
About 550 workers have taken over the automaker's main assembly line in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, since Nov. 15, clashing with riot police and partially crippling the factory's production. On Saturday, one worker tried to set himself on fire during a rally.
The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), the country's largest industrial union in the automobile, steel, machinery and shipping sectors, said after a meeting of representatives Monday that it will call a general strike in early December unless Hyundai Motor's management agrees to open negotiations with the striking workers.
A total of 401 KMWU representatives attended the meeting and 302 of them, or 75.3 percent, approved the general strike plan, union officials said.
"If the prolonged strike makes it impossible to operate manufacturing lines normally, the company has no option but to shorten the operation and close the factory," Hyundai Motor's Vice President Kang Ho-don said in a letter to employees.
With the strike gaining momentum, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office vowed to sternly act against the extended walkout.
"The strike by irregular workers of Ulsan factories is illegal," Lee Young-nam, senior prosecutor in charge of public safety, said, expressing concern that the labor dispute could grow into a full-blown and long-lasting one if the temporary workers form an alliance with other labor organizations.
He added that his office is currently preparing criminal proceedings to hold protesters responsible for the damage claimed by the company.
Hyundai Motor filed a suit last week against 27 workers who led the walkout, seeking 3 billion won for financial damage, and Monday filed another suit against them seeking an additional 3 billion won, doubling the compensation amount.
According to the company, the strike is expected to cause more than 100 billion won in production losses by Tuesday morning if the walkout continues throughout the day. It is the biggest loss caused by a non-regular workers' strike, the company noted.
"If the Korea Metal Workers' Union joins the strike, prosecutors will consider a response at a national level accordingly," Lee said.
The dispute began when the irregular workers, hired by a Hyundai Motor subcontractor, urged the automaker to abide by a Supreme Court ruling in July that contract employees who have worked for more than two years should be considered permanent workers. The case was remanded to the high court for further review.
The union of Hyundai Motor's formal employees remains undecided whether to join the irregular workers' move, according to union officials.
While the union of full-time workers at Hyundai Motor had gone on strike almost every year since its establishment in 1987, in 2009, it had a strike-free year after union leaders promised to cooperate to ride out a global financial crisis. The union also agreed to a wage deal in July this year, marking its second year without a strike.
Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors control more than 70 percent of the domestic auto market.
-----------------------------------
Monday 22 November 2010
Since One Week: Hyundai Motor's Irregular Workers on Strike!
CINA
Yesterday's Yonhap reported the following: The non-regular workers union at Hyundai Motor's Co. clashed with management over employment conditions on Saturday, with one employee trying to set himself afire.
Company and police sources said 550 workers who have blockaded themselves at the company's main assembly line in Ulsan since Monday clashed with members of management who asked them to end the takeover.
"Vice President Kang Ho-dong tried to speak directly with workers and called for an end to the illegal strike, but union leaders blocked his entry, resulting in clashes and fights," a company source said.
The source said several non-regular workers were injured while others, who were dragged out by company employees...
Police also said 170 non-regular workers tried to enter another Hyundai assembly line but were dispersed by management using fire hoses, while a 33-year-old worker tried to set himself on fire (but escaped serious injury, according to K. Times, 11.21) during a separate rally at the front gate of the carmaker's factory arranged by the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)...
Meanwhile, according to KCTU, KMWU is calling for a 'General Strike'. "It can’t be ruled out that Hyundai Motor's militant trade union for regular workers take collective action", today's K. Times reported.
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Yesterday's Yonhap reported the following: The non-regular workers union at Hyundai Motor's Co. clashed with management over employment conditions on Saturday, with one employee trying to set himself afire.
Company and police sources said 550 workers who have blockaded themselves at the company's main assembly line in Ulsan since Monday clashed with members of management who asked them to end the takeover.
"Vice President Kang Ho-dong tried to speak directly with workers and called for an end to the illegal strike, but union leaders blocked his entry, resulting in clashes and fights," a company source said.
The source said several non-regular workers were injured while others, who were dragged out by company employees...
Police also said 170 non-regular workers tried to enter another Hyundai assembly line but were dispersed by management using fire hoses, while a 33-year-old worker tried to set himself on fire (but escaped serious injury, according to K. Times, 11.21) during a separate rally at the front gate of the carmaker's factory arranged by the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)...
Meanwhile, according to KCTU, KMWU is calling for a 'General Strike'. "It can’t be ruled out that Hyundai Motor's militant trade union for regular workers take collective action", today's K. Times reported.
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Friday 19 November 2010
MORE PHOTOS FROM G20 SUMMIT PROTEST
On Monday at least 400 "irregular" workers from a Hyundai subcontractor began a sit-in strike at the Ulsan plant demanding that they should be hired on regular contracts. Y'day the strike continued and expanded to assembly lines in Asan and Jeonju...
s1600/74507_130454370345171_100001418267150_174932_4991640_n.jpg">
Meanwhile the Hyundai management hired hundreds of mobsters to attack the struggling workers with the aim to break the strike as soon as possible!!!
See also related articles
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
http://worknworld.kctu.org/news/articleView.html?idxno=240001
Thursday 18 November 2010
END IMMIGRATION RAIDS!
Today's rally in front of Seoul's Immigration Office was organized in protest of the vicious crackdown that was held in preparation to the G-20 Summit which resulted in the death of a Vietnamese migrant worker(*).
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Demanding Compensation and an End to Immigration Raids
Protest statement concerning the death of a Vietnamese worker Trinh Cong Quan as a result of an immigration raid in South Korea.
On November 3, Trinh Cong Quan, a 35-year-old Vietnamese worker, tragically lost his life. His death was the result of the South Korean government's vicious crackdown on undocumented migrants. On October 29, immigration officers raided the factory where T was working in the Gasan district of Seoul. They entered the factory by surprise without presenting a warrant and Quan found himself trapped. With other pathways blocked, he tried to escape through a window and fell to his death.
Since his arrival in South Korea in 2002, Quan had worked diligently at small-scale factories. Only a little while ago he fell in love and began a family. He and his wife had a child who is now 4-months old. This newly born child has lost his father, and yet the South Korean government refuses to take responsibility.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that because there was no physical contact between Quan and the immigration officers, it is not at fault for his death. Similarly, the Seoul Immigration Service has made no official statement of apology and has not taken steps to compensate the family for their loss.
Sadly, the manner in which the raid on October 29 was carried out, with no due process or precautionary measures, was typical for South Korea. Immigration officers routinely chase down migrant workers without presenting warrants or giving prior notification. This is not the first time a worker has died or been injured in a raid. The cases are too numerous to count. Only a few weeks ago, another Vietnamese worker was indiscriminantly beaten after being caught by immigration officials. These facts demonstrate the racist and inhumane attitude of public officials towards migrant workers. Such attitudes have led to and are reproduced by South Korea's immigration law, which does not require the presentation of warrants or adequate safety procedures during raids and which contains no policy for dealing with undocumented migration other than indiscriminate crackdowns.
We wish to emphasize that the problem of undocumented migration cannot be solved though immigration raids. Undocumented migration arises from the lack of good jobs in home countries and the lack of sufficient legal pathways to enter and work in destination countries.
Undocumented migrant workers are not criminals, nor are the obstacle to the successful holding of the G20 Summit. Nonetheless, the government has been using the G20 as an excuse to intensify the immigration crackdown. We cannot help but believe that Quan's death is directly connected to this increased repression ahead of the G20 Summit. While the government believes the G20 Summit with enhance South Korea's international reputation, it is quickly falling far behind concerning international human rights standards.
We will not stand by while innocent people are abused and murdered simply because they do not have visas. We express our solidarity for migrant workers and their supporters in South Korea who struggling to win respect for their rights. Together with them, we make the following demands on the South Korean government:
1. We demand that the South Korean Ministry of Justice and the Seoul Immigration Service take moral and legal responsibility for Quan's death.
2. We demand a full investigation of the non-warranted invasion and improper safety procedures that lead to his death, and that those responsible are punished.
3. We demand that Quan's bereaved family be given proper emotional and financial compensation.
4. We demand that Ministry of Justice stop using the G20 Summit as an excuse to repress migrant workers and stop the crackdown immediately.
http://migrant.nodong.net/?document_srl=54504#2
--------------------------------------------------------
Struggle for the Labor Rights
Nowadays as the economy faces ever-serious crisis day by day and the toiling masses﹊ right to existence get worse more and more the struggle against the government﹊s anti-people misrule is intensifying among the south Korean labor circle.
On October 29 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions staged a struggle in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, denouncing the government﹊s moves to liquidate the trade unions.
They held a rally in front of the main gate of a factory, supporting the struggle of its women workers who continued the sit-in for several days to protest against the government﹊s suppression of their trade union.
As the puppet police mercilessly suppressed the rally blockading the factory﹊s gate and threatening with helicopters and water canons, the unionists took the streets and waged a violent demonstration shouting slogans such as ﹍Stop the suppression of workers!﹎, ﹍Let us defend the democratic trade unions!﹎, ﹍We want to work!﹎ and ﹍Let us overthrow the Lee Myung-bak government which kills workers and common people!﹎.
Then they held a rally in front of the Gumi Station, expressing their support to the struggle of the women workers fighting to frustrate the government﹊s moves for liquidating trade unions and to bring about a just world.
That day, various women organizations including the Women﹊s Committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Women﹊s Solidarity, the General Confederation of Women Peasants Associations and the Women﹊s Committee of the Democratic Labor Party called a press conference in front of the factory﹊s main entrance and strongly demanded the puppet authorities stop the suppression of the women workers and accept their demands.
On October 30 a rally was held in Seoul under the sponsorship of the ﹍Commemoration Committee for the 40th anniversary of the death of young Jeun Tae-il﹎ of south Korea. Jeun was a worker who burnt himself to death, protesting against the government﹊s suppression of workers in 1970.
Present there were some 6000 people including the members of different civic organizations including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Solidarity for Progress.
Speakers there indicated that the part-timers conducted the vigorous struggle against the government﹊s anti-worker policy. They expressed their will to actively struggle in unity for a world without the part-time job and discrimination of the workers. Then they watched a performance in commemoration of martyr Jeun Tae-il .
On the same day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a workers﹊ rally to abolish the part-time job.
It also held a national rally of workers with participation of over 40,000 unionists in front of the Seoul municipal office on November 7 and published a resolution in denunciation of the G-20 summit meeting.
The resolution noted that the G-20 summit meeting is a festival of the haves to ponder over a legal method of exploiting the workers and the authorities neglected the workers﹊ rights in the course of preparing the meeting. It called for the settlement of the part-timers﹊ issue and total revision of the labor law.
--------------------------------------------------
Opposing the Fascist Suppression
AINDF
The south Korean people﹊s struggle intensifies as the days go by against the government﹊s confrontation moves against the compatriots which get more undisguised with the ﹍Cheonan﹎ sinking case as a momentum and its fascists suppression of the democratic and progressive forces.
- Recently the Solidarity for Democracy, People's Life, Peaceful Reunification and Sovereignty published a statement under the title ﹍the Security authorities, stop the suppression overusing the National Security Law﹎.
It noted that the security investigation team of the Seoul District Police Office coercively searched the houses of chairman Kang Jin-gu, and other former leading members Choe Han-uk, Kim Ja-gyung and Song Hyun-a of the Organizational Development Committee of the Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration on charges of violating the NSL. It condemned that the government applies the evil law again to them who suffered the suppression ranging from search to detention for an allegedly fabricated case of the solidarity.
The solidarity will never tolerate the security authorities﹊ suppression, the statement asserted and stressed that they will struggle to the last together with all the people to abolish the anti-democratic, anti-human rights NSL.
- The media and academic headquarters under the South Side Committee for Realizing the June 15 joint Declaration made public a joint statement on October 29 in denunciation of the government﹊s suppression of the Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration. Lurking behind the continuous suppression by the security authorities is an impure intention to stir up a terrible atmosphere among the people so as to arrest the mounting mood for reunification, the statement asserted.
It condemned the Lee Myung-bak government for totally denying the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, stepping up the confrontation against the compatriots and driving the inter-Korean relations to a catastrophe.
It demanded the security authorities stop at once the suppression of the solidarity and apologize before the people.
- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country﹊s Reunification disclosed in a statement published on October 29 that the Defence Security Command forcefully searched the house of the vice-chairperson of the Ansan City Committee of the Democratic Labor Party on charge of violating the NSL finding fault with her husband record in pro-reunification movement organization.
It also divulged that the Security Investigation Corps investigated Lee Tae-hyung, co-executive chairman of the Incheon headquarters of the South Side Committee for Realizing the June 15 joint Declaration.
The government which sticks to the fascist suppression surpassing that of the preceding dictatorial regimes will sustain a terrible revenge of the people, the statement warned and stressed that the progressive forces and other people will judge the fascist government for sure by the concerted efforts of the nation.
- The Students Committee of the Youth and Students Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 Joint declaration released an appeal on November 3 to call on all the democratic forces to turn out in the struggle to frustrate the government﹊s suppression.
The appeal exposed that the present government enacted a special law to mercilessly suppress the people's rally and demonstration by mobilizing police and even army on the ground of holding an international meeting. It is little short of a martial law declared against the people, it criticized.
Illegal investigations of civilians, detentions and coercive searches of members of progressive organizations are conducted almost everyday by the government and the number of suicides protesting against suppression increases, the appeal clarified.
The appeal noted that democracy of the society is ruthlessly tramped down and the people's suffering ever grows daily due to the government﹊s dictatorial rule, and the people can no longer remain on-lookers to the anti-people acts of the government.
All the people should struggle against the government﹊s suppression in order to realize democratization of the society and achieve the right to existence, the appeal said.
- The Joint Conference of Human Rights Organizations and other civic organizations held a rally in Seoul on November 5 to denounce the group of traitors hell-bent on liquidating democracy.
Speakers there deplored that the people's rights are mercilessly violated due to the government﹊s repressive moves.
They noted that the repressive forces spread the horrific atmosphere where they can doubt and arrest the people at random. They stressed that they would dynamically struggle to frustrate the government﹊s suppression.
---------------------------------------------
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Demanding Compensation and an End to Immigration Raids
Protest statement concerning the death of a Vietnamese worker Trinh Cong Quan as a result of an immigration raid in South Korea.
On November 3, Trinh Cong Quan, a 35-year-old Vietnamese worker, tragically lost his life. His death was the result of the South Korean government's vicious crackdown on undocumented migrants. On October 29, immigration officers raided the factory where T was working in the Gasan district of Seoul. They entered the factory by surprise without presenting a warrant and Quan found himself trapped. With other pathways blocked, he tried to escape through a window and fell to his death.
Since his arrival in South Korea in 2002, Quan had worked diligently at small-scale factories. Only a little while ago he fell in love and began a family. He and his wife had a child who is now 4-months old. This newly born child has lost his father, and yet the South Korean government refuses to take responsibility.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that because there was no physical contact between Quan and the immigration officers, it is not at fault for his death. Similarly, the Seoul Immigration Service has made no official statement of apology and has not taken steps to compensate the family for their loss.
Sadly, the manner in which the raid on October 29 was carried out, with no due process or precautionary measures, was typical for South Korea. Immigration officers routinely chase down migrant workers without presenting warrants or giving prior notification. This is not the first time a worker has died or been injured in a raid. The cases are too numerous to count. Only a few weeks ago, another Vietnamese worker was indiscriminantly beaten after being caught by immigration officials. These facts demonstrate the racist and inhumane attitude of public officials towards migrant workers. Such attitudes have led to and are reproduced by South Korea's immigration law, which does not require the presentation of warrants or adequate safety procedures during raids and which contains no policy for dealing with undocumented migration other than indiscriminate crackdowns.
We wish to emphasize that the problem of undocumented migration cannot be solved though immigration raids. Undocumented migration arises from the lack of good jobs in home countries and the lack of sufficient legal pathways to enter and work in destination countries.
Undocumented migrant workers are not criminals, nor are the obstacle to the successful holding of the G20 Summit. Nonetheless, the government has been using the G20 as an excuse to intensify the immigration crackdown. We cannot help but believe that Quan's death is directly connected to this increased repression ahead of the G20 Summit. While the government believes the G20 Summit with enhance South Korea's international reputation, it is quickly falling far behind concerning international human rights standards.
We will not stand by while innocent people are abused and murdered simply because they do not have visas. We express our solidarity for migrant workers and their supporters in South Korea who struggling to win respect for their rights. Together with them, we make the following demands on the South Korean government:
1. We demand that the South Korean Ministry of Justice and the Seoul Immigration Service take moral and legal responsibility for Quan's death.
2. We demand a full investigation of the non-warranted invasion and improper safety procedures that lead to his death, and that those responsible are punished.
3. We demand that Quan's bereaved family be given proper emotional and financial compensation.
4. We demand that Ministry of Justice stop using the G20 Summit as an excuse to repress migrant workers and stop the crackdown immediately.
http://migrant.nodong.net/?document_srl=54504#2
--------------------------------------------------------
Struggle for the Labor Rights
Nowadays as the economy faces ever-serious crisis day by day and the toiling masses﹊ right to existence get worse more and more the struggle against the government﹊s anti-people misrule is intensifying among the south Korean labor circle.
On October 29 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions staged a struggle in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, denouncing the government﹊s moves to liquidate the trade unions.
They held a rally in front of the main gate of a factory, supporting the struggle of its women workers who continued the sit-in for several days to protest against the government﹊s suppression of their trade union.
As the puppet police mercilessly suppressed the rally blockading the factory﹊s gate and threatening with helicopters and water canons, the unionists took the streets and waged a violent demonstration shouting slogans such as ﹍Stop the suppression of workers!﹎, ﹍Let us defend the democratic trade unions!﹎, ﹍We want to work!﹎ and ﹍Let us overthrow the Lee Myung-bak government which kills workers and common people!﹎.
Then they held a rally in front of the Gumi Station, expressing their support to the struggle of the women workers fighting to frustrate the government﹊s moves for liquidating trade unions and to bring about a just world.
That day, various women organizations including the Women﹊s Committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Women﹊s Solidarity, the General Confederation of Women Peasants Associations and the Women﹊s Committee of the Democratic Labor Party called a press conference in front of the factory﹊s main entrance and strongly demanded the puppet authorities stop the suppression of the women workers and accept their demands.
On October 30 a rally was held in Seoul under the sponsorship of the ﹍Commemoration Committee for the 40th anniversary of the death of young Jeun Tae-il﹎ of south Korea. Jeun was a worker who burnt himself to death, protesting against the government﹊s suppression of workers in 1970.
Present there were some 6000 people including the members of different civic organizations including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Solidarity for Progress.
Speakers there indicated that the part-timers conducted the vigorous struggle against the government﹊s anti-worker policy. They expressed their will to actively struggle in unity for a world without the part-time job and discrimination of the workers. Then they watched a performance in commemoration of martyr Jeun Tae-il .
On the same day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a workers﹊ rally to abolish the part-time job.
It also held a national rally of workers with participation of over 40,000 unionists in front of the Seoul municipal office on November 7 and published a resolution in denunciation of the G-20 summit meeting.
The resolution noted that the G-20 summit meeting is a festival of the haves to ponder over a legal method of exploiting the workers and the authorities neglected the workers﹊ rights in the course of preparing the meeting. It called for the settlement of the part-timers﹊ issue and total revision of the labor law.
--------------------------------------------------
Opposing the Fascist Suppression
AINDF
The south Korean people﹊s struggle intensifies as the days go by against the government﹊s confrontation moves against the compatriots which get more undisguised with the ﹍Cheonan﹎ sinking case as a momentum and its fascists suppression of the democratic and progressive forces.
- Recently the Solidarity for Democracy, People's Life, Peaceful Reunification and Sovereignty published a statement under the title ﹍the Security authorities, stop the suppression overusing the National Security Law﹎.
It noted that the security investigation team of the Seoul District Police Office coercively searched the houses of chairman Kang Jin-gu, and other former leading members Choe Han-uk, Kim Ja-gyung and Song Hyun-a of the Organizational Development Committee of the Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration on charges of violating the NSL. It condemned that the government applies the evil law again to them who suffered the suppression ranging from search to detention for an allegedly fabricated case of the solidarity.
The solidarity will never tolerate the security authorities﹊ suppression, the statement asserted and stressed that they will struggle to the last together with all the people to abolish the anti-democratic, anti-human rights NSL.
- The media and academic headquarters under the South Side Committee for Realizing the June 15 joint Declaration made public a joint statement on October 29 in denunciation of the government﹊s suppression of the Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration. Lurking behind the continuous suppression by the security authorities is an impure intention to stir up a terrible atmosphere among the people so as to arrest the mounting mood for reunification, the statement asserted.
It condemned the Lee Myung-bak government for totally denying the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, stepping up the confrontation against the compatriots and driving the inter-Korean relations to a catastrophe.
It demanded the security authorities stop at once the suppression of the solidarity and apologize before the people.
- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country﹊s Reunification disclosed in a statement published on October 29 that the Defence Security Command forcefully searched the house of the vice-chairperson of the Ansan City Committee of the Democratic Labor Party on charge of violating the NSL finding fault with her husband record in pro-reunification movement organization.
It also divulged that the Security Investigation Corps investigated Lee Tae-hyung, co-executive chairman of the Incheon headquarters of the South Side Committee for Realizing the June 15 joint Declaration.
The government which sticks to the fascist suppression surpassing that of the preceding dictatorial regimes will sustain a terrible revenge of the people, the statement warned and stressed that the progressive forces and other people will judge the fascist government for sure by the concerted efforts of the nation.
- The Students Committee of the Youth and Students Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 Joint declaration released an appeal on November 3 to call on all the democratic forces to turn out in the struggle to frustrate the government﹊s suppression.
The appeal exposed that the present government enacted a special law to mercilessly suppress the people's rally and demonstration by mobilizing police and even army on the ground of holding an international meeting. It is little short of a martial law declared against the people, it criticized.
Illegal investigations of civilians, detentions and coercive searches of members of progressive organizations are conducted almost everyday by the government and the number of suicides protesting against suppression increases, the appeal clarified.
The appeal noted that democracy of the society is ruthlessly tramped down and the people's suffering ever grows daily due to the government﹊s dictatorial rule, and the people can no longer remain on-lookers to the anti-people acts of the government.
All the people should struggle against the government﹊s suppression in order to realize democratization of the society and achieve the right to existence, the appeal said.
- The Joint Conference of Human Rights Organizations and other civic organizations held a rally in Seoul on November 5 to denounce the group of traitors hell-bent on liquidating democracy.
Speakers there deplored that the people's rights are mercilessly violated due to the government﹊s repressive moves.
They noted that the repressive forces spread the horrific atmosphere where they can doubt and arrest the people at random. They stressed that they would dynamically struggle to frustrate the government﹊s suppression.
---------------------------------------------
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Seoul: Workers of 3M Factories (USA) rally against strike breakers
Media Summary
PHOTOS
http://www.demotix.com/news/510409/seoul-workers-3m-factories-usa-rally-against-strike-breakers
250 workers from a 3M (USA) Factory protested in Seoul against the use of strike breakers in their Factory as well as against payment cuts and violence of workers rights. Police forces kept them away from the US-Embassy. Seoul, Korea. 17/11/2010.
Today the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU) staged several demonstrations against their Employer 3M, an US-American multinational conglomerate which has several Factories in South Korea. 3M used strike breakers in the last months against striking workers and several workers got heavily wounded. Also there where cuts in payments and actions against Union Members. A branch leader of the KMWU set himself on fire two weeks before the G20 Summit in Seoul to protest against police arrests from striking 3M Workers.
Around 60 Protesters protested around noon at the Central Government Building in Seoul as well as near the US-Embassy. Heavy Police forces prevented around ten protesters to protest directly in front of the US-Embassy.
In the afternoon around 250 Workers protested directly in front of an 3M Business building against the Unions harassment as well as the high death tolls due to bad working conditions. Demonstrators threw eggs against the builduing, but the police did not intervene.
PHOTOS
http://www.demotix.com/news/510409/seoul-workers-3m-factories-usa-rally-against-strike-breakers
250 workers from a 3M (USA) Factory protested in Seoul against the use of strike breakers in their Factory as well as against payment cuts and violence of workers rights. Police forces kept them away from the US-Embassy. Seoul, Korea. 17/11/2010.
Today the Korean Metal Workers Union (KMWU) staged several demonstrations against their Employer 3M, an US-American multinational conglomerate which has several Factories in South Korea. 3M used strike breakers in the last months against striking workers and several workers got heavily wounded. Also there where cuts in payments and actions against Union Members. A branch leader of the KMWU set himself on fire two weeks before the G20 Summit in Seoul to protest against police arrests from striking 3M Workers.
Around 60 Protesters protested around noon at the Central Government Building in Seoul as well as near the US-Embassy. Heavy Police forces prevented around ten protesters to protest directly in front of the US-Embassy.
In the afternoon around 250 Workers protested directly in front of an 3M Business building against the Unions harassment as well as the high death tolls due to bad working conditions. Demonstrators threw eggs against the builduing, but the police did not intervene.
SOUTH KOREAN WORKERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE
Yesterday's Yonhap reported the following:
Hyundai Motor contract workers taken into custody...
see link CINA
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
Scores of non-regular workers of Hyundai Motor (factory in Ulsan) were taken into custody Monday during a heavy clash with riot police in a rally to demand formal employee status with the country's largest automaker.
More than 300 unionized contract workers were staging a protest in front of their factories in this city, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators after a series of physical confrontations, but the workers reassembled at another factory building and were continuing their protest, according to witnesses.
And here's yesterday's news report by AFP:
Twenty injured in clash at Hyundai car factory
South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor said Monday that 20 people were injured in a violent protest by hundreds of temporary workers.
The company said 20 of its permanent employees were injured in an attempt to drive out temporary workers who have occupied an auto plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan.
Riot police used tear gas to end a violent protest by hundreds of temporary workers inside and outside the factory and detained 50 demonstrators, Yonhap news agency said.
Some temporary workers were injured, it said.
The dispute began when a contractor took over the company's car seat production. Temporary workers have refused to sign contracts with the new company, demanding formal employee status.
South Korea has an estimated 5.3-million "non-regular" or temporary workers, whose bosses are unwilling to employ them on a permanent basis, which would give them greater rights.
The union of Hyundai Motor's full-time workers has a history of militancy, going on strike almost every year since its establishment in 1987.
But in 2009 it had its strike-free year in a decade and a half after union leaders promised to help it ride out the global downturn. The union also agreed a wage deal in July 2010, marking its second year without a strike...
-------------------------
TRAGETY OF YONGSAN
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/2330
Jeon Jae-sook, 68, third from right, cries out in grief after hearing the verdict of the Yongsan redevelopment tragedy and hugs her daughter-in-law Jeong Young-shin in front of the Supreme Court in Seoul’s Seocho District, Nov. 11. Jeon lost husband Lee Sang-lim and the government imprisoned her son Lee Chung-yeon due to the Yongsan Tragedy in 2009 that took the lives of five civilians and one police officer.
The Yongsan area was designated a redevelopment zone by the Lee Myung-bak administration, and many of the area’s poor residents were forcibly evicted and received paltry compensation.
Finalizing 22 months of disputes over a major fire that broke out during the police crackdown on the residents’ protest, the Supreme Court upheld Thursday the Court of Appeals verdict which pronounced nine protesters guilty, saying, “they illegally occupied a building’s rooftop in Yongsan to protest Seoul City’s urban redevelopment project.”
“The original verdict was correct in stating that the police’s operations to quell the protest were not conducting their duties improperly,” the top court said. “Molotov cocktails thrown by the protesters caused the fires at the guard tower.”
As a result, two protesters, including Lee Chung-yeon, 37-years-old and a leader of an association of Yongsan residents who were refused eviction, were sentenced five years in prison. Other five protesters, including a Mr. Kim, were founded in four years, while another defendant were found three years in prison with a four year suspended sentence and the last one two years in prison with a three year suspended sentence. The prosecutors previously cleared police officers of wrongdoing in an investigation marred by fair trial violations.
In response, the defendants said they will appeal the case to the United Nations in regard to human rights violations. Park Rae-goon, an advocate of the convicted protesters, said a group of lawyers would file a complaint with the UN Human Rights Commission.
“I believe the UN will take it differently,” Park told reporters after the ruling. “The police did not operate by the rules during the suppression. But the court ruled the protestors were fully liable for the incident. It is unfair.”
Meanwhile, the case against the police officers including then-Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Seok-ki is on trial at the Supreme Court. Evicted Yongsan residents filed the case, arguing that the police’s crackdown was improper.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) issued an opinion in February confirming that the behavior of the police during the crackdown was illegal, and recommended indicting members of the police leadership, SMPA Commissioner Kim.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/448409.html
* The report has been filed under "Entertainment"(sic)!
Ermm, entertainment...?? Yeah, of course it's "entertainment"!! But only for the S. Korean ruling class, especially the Construction Mafia!!!
-----------------------
Sentence is upheld in Yongsan fire
November 12, 2010
Finalizing 22 months of disputes over a major fire in Yongsan District - in which one SWAT officer and five squatters were killed - the Supreme Court upheld a sentence that convicted nine protesters on charges of setting fires at a building there in 2009.
The Supreme Court confirmed yesterday that Molotov cocktails thrown by the nine protesters caused the fires at the building and that operations by the SWAT officers were legally appropriate.
“The original verdict is right in that the defendants’ acts prevented SWAT officers from conducting their duties,” the court said. Seven protesters were given four to five years in prison. The other two were also involved in the incident, but the court determined that their role in setting the fire was less significant than that of the other seven protesters and they were given two and three year sentences, respectively.
Residents evicted from a redevelopment site in Yongsan took over the five-story Namildang Building on Jan. 19, 2009, demanding higher compensation for properties they owned that were to be demolished by a government-led redevelopment project.
When police dropped out of a helicopter and onto the roof of the building to eject the squatters on Jan. 20, a fire broke out. Prosecutors said on Feb. 9 last year that the squatters threw paint thinner and Molotov cocktails at the building. Initially, there was no decision in the first trial, which started on April 22, 2009, because lawyers and defendants repeatedly argued that prosecutors did not open the fire investigation records. Eventually though, the court convicted the squatters on Oct. 28, 2009. A second trial this May confirmed the first decision.
The defendants said they will appeal the case to the United Nations in regard to human rights violations.
By Kim Hee-jin [heejin@joongang.co.kr]
--------------------------------------
Monday 15 November 2010
REPORT ON SMASH SEOUL, SMASH G20 PROTEST IN LONDON
SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY MADCAP SECURITY OFFICIALS’ FIREARMS AT THE READY DURING THE SMASH SEOUL, SMASH THE G20 PROTEST ON FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2010
On Friday 12 November, people from various leftist groups and organizations turned up at the south Korean embassy in London to stand in solidarity with south Korean workers, G20 protestors, prisoners and all anti-G20 activists from across the globe who took part in the G20-protests in Seoul, south Korea on 11-12 November and condemn the Lee Myung Bak fascist style puppet regime of south Korea for it brutal onslaught on south Korean workers and their rights.
Protestors handed out anti-G20 fliers to the passing public highlighting the issues.
However from the very start of the protest, south Korean officials of the embassy took a hostile stance towards the protest being held outside the front door of their embassy. Their armed security personnel immediately came out of the embassy and stood at the front of the entrance looking very uneasy and brandishing firearms in full view of the people lawfully protesting. Thus it appears they are so very worried about protestors handing out a few fliers, they now feel the urgent need to brandish firearms about the place to try and intimidate protestors and keep them away from the puppet embassy.
The British diplomatic police (also armed), as usual, were called in and were soon lording it over the protestors and throwing their weight about in less than 10 minutes, by ordering people to move to the other side of the road to their ‘designated’ protest area (10 metres away). The recent Millbank Tower Tory HQ riots are still fresh in the minds of the UK police force. Hence their fear of a possible repeat of those events at the south Korean embassy had enough people turned up. The police told us that the south Korean puppet officials had said that they were feeling very intimidated and harassed by our presence outside the embassy. That was the UK cops’ pretext to get us all arrested if we didn’t move. Is that also the reason why the south Korean embassy security felt the need to brandish firearms at the protestors? That they felt intimidated by people handing out fliers outside their front door? No, it is because they want to frighten us from protesting in larger numbers outside their puppet embassy in future. They think they can use the same vicious underhanded gangster-style tricks that they use against their own people of south Korean against protestors in Britain. A far cry when one considers how the south Korean puppet authorities use their tried and tested method of tear gas and brutal crackdowns and repressions against south Korean labour activists, civic organisations, or anyone who dare utter a word of sympathy in relation to North Korea. One south Korean member of the organisation ‘Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Declaration’ was inflicted with a 2 year prison term on November 8, on the charge of violating the draconian National Security Law of south Korea. He was sentenced for two years behind bars, charged with possession of ‘enemy-benefiting’ music CD-s praising the North of Korea (DPRK).
We initially refused to move and remained standing right outside the entrance of the embassy on the pavement (public highway) until the very last minute, when we were almost certain we were all going to get arrested under Section 14 (5) of the Public Order Act. At that point, we decided we would shift slowly over to the other side of the road and begin condemning the south Korean regime via a large megaphone so that the embassy staff could hear us loud and clear. Better to be there and piss off the south Koreans for a few hours, rather then give them the full satisfaction of having us removed completely from the embassy area in the back of a police van to the delight of those inside the puppet embassy.
One courageous protestor decided to remain defiant and risking arrest and receiving a Level 3 fine of maximum of 1000 pounds as punishment, refused to obey police orders and continued to stand right outside the embassy and continue handing out anti-G20 fliers. He was being harassed by the cops as usual and threatened with arrest if he did not move to the other side of the road to join the rest of us. But he remained defiant
The protestors condemned the UK cops for their own behavior in general, as well as the government agencies of south Korea for conducting crackdowns on undocumented migrants, during which migrants are brutally arrested, illegally imprisoned and then deported. The authorities of south Korea were also condemned for the detention and expulsion of several Philipino G20 activists. South Korean Police had been carrying out illegal and racist stop and search procedures just before the G20 Summit on whoever they think looked ‘suspicious’ or had ‘dark skin’. The government at the same time is continuing to carry out devastating attacks on south Korean workers, activists, labour unions and civic organisations
The demo called for the release of all south Korean prisoners, jailed under the draconian National Security Law. They condemned the south Korean embassy staff in London for brandishing firearms at the protestors who had the lawful right to be there outside the embassy, and demanded the dissolution of the brutal NIS (south Korean Secret Police) of south Korea. The G20 was condemned by the protestors as a bunch of crooks, by accusing them of attempting to make the world ‘safe’ for neo-liberal capitalism by forcing emerging economies to shoulder part of the burden of the crisis, promoting trade and investment liberalization dressed up in ‘new robes’, negotiating weak financial reforms that largely allow financial speculation to on unchecked and reviving the ailing IMF and other IFI-s, and this agenda being pursued despite the fact that neo-liberal capitalism is clearly a failed model, which only increases poverty and inequality around the globe.
Whilst this was going on, the courageous and defiant protestor handing out fliers and refusing to move to the “designated” protest area on the other side of the road and under threat of arrest or even worse (had south Korean security staff at the embassy opened fire on the protestor), was indeed arrested under section 14(5) of the Public Order Act (causing harassment, alarm or distress) ….i.e. and in this case, also for disobeying a legal order made by a senior police officer. He was driven off in the back of a cop car under the loud megaphone chants of “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, - FUCK THE POLICE!
At the police station, the police initially told the arrestee that he could be held until Monday 15 Nov if they could not have got him into court on Saturday 13 Nov. At midnight on Friday 12, luckily, he was released after been cautioned. Whilst being held for nearly 10 hours, he was also quizzed by the cops in an interview room, and asked about what happened outside the embassy and who the organizers of the event were in the interests of information gathering.
“NO COMMENT” was the response given to all questions by the brave and trusted comrade.
Well done to everyone who turned up on the day!
GLOBALISE RESISTANCE!
SMASH THE G20!
CAPITAL KNOW NO BOUNDARIES, SO WHY SHOULD WE.
SMASH THE LEE MYUNG BAK REGIME OF SOUTH KOREA!
FREEDOM TO ALL LABOUR ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH KOREA AND ACROSS THE GLOBE!!
And finally,
TO ALL SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY PUPPET SECURITY PERSONNEL AND THEIR SOUTH KOREAN NIS AGENTS IN LONDON!
We say,
IN THE INTERESTS OF NOT TURNING UP THE HEAT AND AVOIDING A FLARE UP IN YOUR EMBASSY AREA, YOU HAD BETTER KEEP ALL YOUR FIREARMS AT BAY AND OFF THE STREETS OF LONDON, AND STOP BRANDISHING THEM AT PEOPLE WHO LAWFULLY PROTEST THE FASCIST-STYLE BRUTAL LEE MYUNG BAK REGIME OUTSIDE YOUR PUPPET SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY!
WE ARE NOT INTIMITATED AND WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY FIREARMS BEING BRANDISHED BY A BUNCH OF THIRD RATE CROOKS AND AGENTS OF THE TREACHEROUS LEE MYUNG BAK PUPPET REGIME OF SOUTH KOREA RESIDING IN THE SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY IN LONDON!
SMASH SEOUL, SMASH THE G20
smashg20.blogspot.com
On Friday 12 November, people from various leftist groups and organizations turned up at the south Korean embassy in London to stand in solidarity with south Korean workers, G20 protestors, prisoners and all anti-G20 activists from across the globe who took part in the G20-protests in Seoul, south Korea on 11-12 November and condemn the Lee Myung Bak fascist style puppet regime of south Korea for it brutal onslaught on south Korean workers and their rights.
Protestors handed out anti-G20 fliers to the passing public highlighting the issues.
However from the very start of the protest, south Korean officials of the embassy took a hostile stance towards the protest being held outside the front door of their embassy. Their armed security personnel immediately came out of the embassy and stood at the front of the entrance looking very uneasy and brandishing firearms in full view of the people lawfully protesting. Thus it appears they are so very worried about protestors handing out a few fliers, they now feel the urgent need to brandish firearms about the place to try and intimidate protestors and keep them away from the puppet embassy.
The British diplomatic police (also armed), as usual, were called in and were soon lording it over the protestors and throwing their weight about in less than 10 minutes, by ordering people to move to the other side of the road to their ‘designated’ protest area (10 metres away). The recent Millbank Tower Tory HQ riots are still fresh in the minds of the UK police force. Hence their fear of a possible repeat of those events at the south Korean embassy had enough people turned up. The police told us that the south Korean puppet officials had said that they were feeling very intimidated and harassed by our presence outside the embassy. That was the UK cops’ pretext to get us all arrested if we didn’t move. Is that also the reason why the south Korean embassy security felt the need to brandish firearms at the protestors? That they felt intimidated by people handing out fliers outside their front door? No, it is because they want to frighten us from protesting in larger numbers outside their puppet embassy in future. They think they can use the same vicious underhanded gangster-style tricks that they use against their own people of south Korean against protestors in Britain. A far cry when one considers how the south Korean puppet authorities use their tried and tested method of tear gas and brutal crackdowns and repressions against south Korean labour activists, civic organisations, or anyone who dare utter a word of sympathy in relation to North Korea. One south Korean member of the organisation ‘Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Declaration’ was inflicted with a 2 year prison term on November 8, on the charge of violating the draconian National Security Law of south Korea. He was sentenced for two years behind bars, charged with possession of ‘enemy-benefiting’ music CD-s praising the North of Korea (DPRK).
We initially refused to move and remained standing right outside the entrance of the embassy on the pavement (public highway) until the very last minute, when we were almost certain we were all going to get arrested under Section 14 (5) of the Public Order Act. At that point, we decided we would shift slowly over to the other side of the road and begin condemning the south Korean regime via a large megaphone so that the embassy staff could hear us loud and clear. Better to be there and piss off the south Koreans for a few hours, rather then give them the full satisfaction of having us removed completely from the embassy area in the back of a police van to the delight of those inside the puppet embassy.
One courageous protestor decided to remain defiant and risking arrest and receiving a Level 3 fine of maximum of 1000 pounds as punishment, refused to obey police orders and continued to stand right outside the embassy and continue handing out anti-G20 fliers. He was being harassed by the cops as usual and threatened with arrest if he did not move to the other side of the road to join the rest of us. But he remained defiant
The protestors condemned the UK cops for their own behavior in general, as well as the government agencies of south Korea for conducting crackdowns on undocumented migrants, during which migrants are brutally arrested, illegally imprisoned and then deported. The authorities of south Korea were also condemned for the detention and expulsion of several Philipino G20 activists. South Korean Police had been carrying out illegal and racist stop and search procedures just before the G20 Summit on whoever they think looked ‘suspicious’ or had ‘dark skin’. The government at the same time is continuing to carry out devastating attacks on south Korean workers, activists, labour unions and civic organisations
The demo called for the release of all south Korean prisoners, jailed under the draconian National Security Law. They condemned the south Korean embassy staff in London for brandishing firearms at the protestors who had the lawful right to be there outside the embassy, and demanded the dissolution of the brutal NIS (south Korean Secret Police) of south Korea. The G20 was condemned by the protestors as a bunch of crooks, by accusing them of attempting to make the world ‘safe’ for neo-liberal capitalism by forcing emerging economies to shoulder part of the burden of the crisis, promoting trade and investment liberalization dressed up in ‘new robes’, negotiating weak financial reforms that largely allow financial speculation to on unchecked and reviving the ailing IMF and other IFI-s, and this agenda being pursued despite the fact that neo-liberal capitalism is clearly a failed model, which only increases poverty and inequality around the globe.
Whilst this was going on, the courageous and defiant protestor handing out fliers and refusing to move to the “designated” protest area on the other side of the road and under threat of arrest or even worse (had south Korean security staff at the embassy opened fire on the protestor), was indeed arrested under section 14(5) of the Public Order Act (causing harassment, alarm or distress) ….i.e. and in this case, also for disobeying a legal order made by a senior police officer. He was driven off in the back of a cop car under the loud megaphone chants of “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, - FUCK THE POLICE!
At the police station, the police initially told the arrestee that he could be held until Monday 15 Nov if they could not have got him into court on Saturday 13 Nov. At midnight on Friday 12, luckily, he was released after been cautioned. Whilst being held for nearly 10 hours, he was also quizzed by the cops in an interview room, and asked about what happened outside the embassy and who the organizers of the event were in the interests of information gathering.
“NO COMMENT” was the response given to all questions by the brave and trusted comrade.
Well done to everyone who turned up on the day!
GLOBALISE RESISTANCE!
SMASH THE G20!
CAPITAL KNOW NO BOUNDARIES, SO WHY SHOULD WE.
SMASH THE LEE MYUNG BAK REGIME OF SOUTH KOREA!
FREEDOM TO ALL LABOUR ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH KOREA AND ACROSS THE GLOBE!!
And finally,
TO ALL SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY PUPPET SECURITY PERSONNEL AND THEIR SOUTH KOREAN NIS AGENTS IN LONDON!
We say,
IN THE INTERESTS OF NOT TURNING UP THE HEAT AND AVOIDING A FLARE UP IN YOUR EMBASSY AREA, YOU HAD BETTER KEEP ALL YOUR FIREARMS AT BAY AND OFF THE STREETS OF LONDON, AND STOP BRANDISHING THEM AT PEOPLE WHO LAWFULLY PROTEST THE FASCIST-STYLE BRUTAL LEE MYUNG BAK REGIME OUTSIDE YOUR PUPPET SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY!
WE ARE NOT INTIMITATED AND WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY FIREARMS BEING BRANDISHED BY A BUNCH OF THIRD RATE CROOKS AND AGENTS OF THE TREACHEROUS LEE MYUNG BAK PUPPET REGIME OF SOUTH KOREA RESIDING IN THE SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY IN LONDON!
SMASH SEOUL, SMASH THE G20
smashg20.blogspot.com
G20-SUMMIT PHOTOS
Latest post g20
CINA
1. Surprise, surprise: All the various anti-G20 activities (conferences, rallies and demonstrations) in Seoul were complete ignored in/by the int'l media!!(*)
2. Even the South Korean "left-liberal" newspaper Hankyoreh mentioned yesterday's "Int'l Day of Collective People’s Action" demo only with some few words: "Domestic and international activists hold a protest near Seoul Station and march to the Namyeong Station under the banner, 'Responsibility before the economic crisis: We denounce the G-20! The International People’s Cooperative Action Day' Nov. 11."
3. But today's Korea Times, one of the mouthpieces of the South Korean ruling class, noticed with satisfaction "G20 summit unmarred by violent rallies" !!!
Anyway, here two snapshots from yesterday's protests against the G-20 Summit during the so-called "Int'l Day of Collective People’s Action":
CINA
1. Surprise, surprise: All the various anti-G20 activities (conferences, rallies and demonstrations) in Seoul were complete ignored in/by the int'l media!!(*)
2. Even the South Korean "left-liberal" newspaper Hankyoreh mentioned yesterday's "Int'l Day of Collective People’s Action" demo only with some few words: "Domestic and international activists hold a protest near Seoul Station and march to the Namyeong Station under the banner, 'Responsibility before the economic crisis: We denounce the G-20! The International People’s Cooperative Action Day' Nov. 11."
3. But today's Korea Times, one of the mouthpieces of the South Korean ruling class, noticed with satisfaction "G20 summit unmarred by violent rallies" !!!
Anyway, here two snapshots from yesterday's protests against the G-20 Summit during the so-called "Int'l Day of Collective People’s Action":
Thursday 11 November 2010
ANTI-G20 PROTEST IN SEOUL 11 NOV
ANTI-G20 PROTEST IN SEOUL 11 NOV
SEE LINKS
CINA
Today afternoon the final ('official') protest against the G-20 Summit, the "Int'l Day of Collective People’s Action" under the slogan "Put People First! G20, Stop Making Common People Pay for the Crisis!" took place in downtown Seoul.
After the opening rally and a culture program thousands (5000 according to Voice of People, 6000 according to NewsCham) of demonstrators took the streets and marched until they were stopped only few hundred meters afterwards (just two subway stations) by thousands of riot cops...(*)
A few hours ago Yonhap news agency reported the following about the event:
Activists, laborers stage anti-G20 protests in Seoul
South Korean labor and civic groups joined with international activists Thursday to stage protests to raise their voice against this week's G-20 summit in Seoul.
The rally ended without anyone being arrested or taken into custody, despite scuffles with the police as the protesters marched through downtown.
Organized by a confederation of 83 civic groups calling itself "Put People First! Korean People's G-20 Response Action," the rally began in front of the Seoul Station. Organizers claimed some 10,000 people showed up, but the police said it counted about 3,500.
The protest, also backed by political campaigners, college students, human rights activists and interest groups, was one of several planned in the city to coincide with the gathering of world leaders for the G-20 summit on Thursday and Friday. Heads of governments and financial chiefs along with leaders from non-G-20 nations have come to Seoul to attend the global economic forum.
Over 3,000 riot police stood guard with water cannons and other protest-quelling equipment.
The protesters scuffled their way past the police to march through downtown, arriving an hour later at a city intersection where they burned a coffin marked as symbolizing G-20 and free trade agreements, causing another physical clash.
Protesters' demands varied from job stability, fair distribution of wealth and scrapping of free trade agreements to the withdrawal of South Korean troops from Afghanistan. Placards read, "G20, Stop making people pay for the crisis," "STOP G20," "Withdraw troops from Afghanistan" and "No FTA."
A South Korean college student, waving a picket that said "G20 chairman = Labor repression champion," told Yonhap that he was protesting against the government's excessive crackdown on migrant workers and labor unions under the guise of the G-20.
Organizers said some 100 international activists also joined Thursday's rally.
Toshsiko Sogame, 64, from Japan, was among those who flew to Seoul to join the anti-20 events.
"I'm here to raise the voice for revision of immigration laws that discriminate against foreigners," Sogame said, flying flags written in Japanese...
---------------------------------------------------------
DEMOTIX
http://www.demotix.com/g20-summit
http://www.demotix.com/news/504453/g20-seoul-10000-rally-against-g20-summit-only-minor-scuffles
G20 Seoul: 10.000 rally against G20 Summit. Only minor scuffles.
Media Summary
Today around 10'000 Demonstrators protested against the G20 Summit held in Seoul. In the beginning they breached through a police line to start their march and in the end there where some further scuffles. Seoul, Korea. 11/11/2010.
Today around 10.000 Demonstrators protested against the G20 Summit held in Seoul.
After international activists and union leaders held speeches at the Seoul Station in the core of the city the demonstrators breached through a police line to start their march.
After around one hour the march stopped an an further police barrier. Their it came again to some minor scuffles and a small fire.
The police was with several thousand men in the area present, as well as with heavy gear.
----------------------------------------
LATEST POST 11 NOV
TENSE CLIMATE IN THE STREETS OF SEOUL
SEE LINKS HERE AND ON RIGHT
INDYMEDIA UK
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/467750.html
G20 Seoul: Breaking News/Links
cimc | 10.11.2010 22:59 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
G20 Seoul, South Korea UPDATE
Breaking News, Articles, Links, Videos
G20: SOUTH KOREA
Thursday afternoon and evening (late Wednesday night Western Hemisphere time) thousands of demonstrators will gather in front of Seoul Station and then try to march several miles to the National Museum where the G20 leaders will be attending a reception and dinner. This march will likely end in a serious confrontation between several thousand demonstrators and another several thousand well-armed police force, backed by trucks with water cannons.
The tense climate in the streets is being compounded by the local police state which has enacted laws specifically to suppress the freedom to dissent during the G20 summit in Seoul. The security chief has been given a green-light to mobilize the military against protesters if needed. The security chief can also designate some areas as a security zone and ban any activity or gatherings that they think are dangerous to the G20 summit. Furthermore, no information of the security zone is easily accessible to people, that means, the police can do anything everywhere. Gatherings and demonstrations where the government has a clear expectation of violence, threats, property destruction, or arson may be banned from being held. All outdoor gatherings must be reported forty-eight hours before they take place. During any outdoor gatherings, the boundaries of the assembly can be designated and enforced by the police. The police may take action to stop any noise if the organizers or participants of an assembly cause serious harm to non-participants.
As other international activists have already witnessed first-hand at G20 summits across the western hemisphere, the police, politicians, and CEO's will do everything in their power to systematically silence opposition to its destructive policies. From creating draconian laws to utilizing the latest in totalitarian technologies such as the LRAD, it always becomes clear during these summits just how despotic the collusion of international states, multinational corporations, and central banks can be. As for the citizens of the world, we see just how much control over our own lives we truly don't have.
SEE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFO or GO TO:
KOREA INDYMEDIA – Breaking News/Action Alerts
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
BREAKING NEWS:
Progressive international activists who had been granted visas denied entry into South Korea and expelled without explanation
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
What is the Special Security Law for the G20?
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
Main demo against G20 summit on Nov 11th will be held 2pm at Seoul Station
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
Temporary Media Center opened for the G20
メディアセンターについて | 인디미디어 Korea Indymedia
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
[Solidarity Action Appeal] Help us fight the oppressive G20 regime right now!!
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
OTHER ARTICLES:
The G20 Summit is NO EXCUSE for Repression!
kctu.org/9842
KCTU Calls for international participation in People’s Week of Collective Action protesting G20 Seoul Summit
kctu.org/9845
Labour Assembly: Southern Trade Unions’ Voice on Global Economic & Social Crisis
www.rinoceros.org/article9756.html
LATEST VIDEOS (as of 11/10/10):
Two PETA activists arrested in South Korea - no comment
www.youtube.com/watch
20,000 Protesters Clash With Police As Seoul, South Korea Gears Up For G20
www.youtube.com/watch
South Korea Prepares to host G20 SUMMIT - Seoul
www.youtube.com/watch
CALENDAR:
November 11th, (Opening Day of G20 summit)
Action Day protesting G20
Organizer: G20 People’s Response Preparation Committee
November 10th~11th
G20 Trade Union Summit
Organizer: ITUC, OECD TUAC, GUFs
RECENT NEWS ABOUT PAST G20 SUMMITS:
Toronto Police Rearrest Activist
toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101025/g20-court-appearance-101025/20101025/
Ian Tomlinson death: senior judge appointed to oversee inquest
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/10/ian-tomlinson-inquest-thornton
ACLU Sues City Of Pittsburgh Over G-20 Mass Arrests
twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/aclu-sues-city-pittsburgh-over-g-20-mass-arrests
Democracy 101: Pittsburgh G20 Protests and the Police Occupation of Pitt University
www.youtube.com/watch
Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) G20 Pittsburgh
www.youtube.com/watch
The G-20 Song
www.youtube.com/watch
cimc
The G20 and its global economic agenda are an affront and a threat to people’s rights and welfare.
The detention and deportation of Filipino activists from Seoul and the harassment and intimidation of a number of other activists at the hands of Korean immigration authorities are manifestations of the undemocratic and anti-people nature of the G20 and further exposed the illegitimacy of this group of self-proclaimed caretakers of the global economy.
The protests and mobilizations in Korea of tens of thousands of people in clear defiance of the Korean governments security measures, is an indication of a clear disconnect between the agenda of the governments of the G20 countries and the interests and aspirations of their people.
The G20 Summit in Korea was supposed to address the issue of the growing gap between the rich and the poor in the wake of the global economic crisis. The G20’s prescriptions for economic recovery and development, however, anchored on the perpetuation of a flawed corporate driven, export-oriented development model would further exacerbate poverty and inequality and undermine social cohesion across the world.
The whole point of the Peoples Conference in Korea, and the reason why the deported Filipino activists came to Korea, is to articulate the peoples’ opposition and resistance to the G20 and to collectively discuss and put forward alternatives to the failed model of development that the G20 is so desperately trying to preserve.
We say NO to the G20 and the policies that continue to threaten jobs and peoples livelihoods, and erode workers’ rights and welfare;
We say NO to the G20 and policies that cause the expulsion and repatriation of migrants in the name of restrictive and Draconian migration policies and rules;
We say NO to the G20 and the policies that use women as safety nets in crisis, and is blind to the differential decision-making powers in the household and economy in general;
We speak out against the free trade agenda and the push of the G20 governments for more ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreements disguised as economic partnerships but are really instruments of economic domination and control by the rich over the poor within and across countries and regions;
We speak out against the development agenda of the G20 which threatens peoples’ right to food, destroys the environment, and perpetuates unequal access and control over natural resources in support of the profit-driven motives of corporations;
We say NO to the G20. It does not represent the interests of the peoples of the world and it cannot speak on our behalf.
We call on the peoples of the world to come together against the G20 and to intensify the struggle for a better and more just and peaceful world.
-----------------------------
CINA
Today's Korea Times reported(*): "With South Korea gearing up to host the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies, a security fence has been set up on the roads surrounding Coex, the main venue for the Nov. 11 and 12 G20 Seoul Summit, to protect participants from possible terrorist attacks and protests..."
Well, almost 5 years ago the APEC Summit took place in Busan and the (very special^^) measures to prevent so-called "violent" protests by thousands of workers, peasants and resistance activists...
...ultimately failed(!!), as you can see here:
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
--------------------------------------------------
DEMOTIX
http://www.demotix.com/news/503233/korean-confederation-trade-unions-hold-protest
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions hold a Protest
Media Summary
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Candlelight Cultural Event with international activists and representatives at Boshingak, Jongno street. 10/11/2010
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is a national trade union centre officially established in 1995. Its predecessor was the National Council of Trade Unions (NCTU), established in 1990 as an independent alternative to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. With 682,418 members in 2007, the KCTU accounted for 40.6% of trade union members in South Korea.
In 2008, during massive "mad cow protests" the KCTU declared a general strike to protest the import of US beef on grounds that consuming the allegedly tainted beef could damage worker productivity
The KCTU has more than 1,200 affiliated enterprise-level trade unions. It is the second largest trade union national center in South Korea, following the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). On 1 April 2009, KCTU delegates at a special session elected Lim Seong-kyu as President. Of the two, the KCTU is generally considered to be the more militant.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Candlelight Cultural Event with international activists and representatives at Boshingak, Jongno street.
---------------------------------------------------
Police stop FTA protests in Seoul
http://www.demotix.com/news/502934/police-stop-fta-protests-seoul
Media Summary
Police stopped protests and dispersed a small group of individuals this morning from central Seoul. The demonstration by Labour Union JEI against the G20 was quickly broken up by police and people were moved on. Seoul, South Korea. 10/11/2010
------------------------------------------
G20 Seoul: Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rally
http://www.demotix.com/news/503271/g20-seoul-korean-confederation-trade-unions-rally
Media Summary
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rallied today near the Soul City Hall against the G20 Summit starting tomorrow as well as against the FTA agreement. Around 300 people participated at the rally. Seoul, Korea. 10/11/2010.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rallied today near the Soul City Hall against the G20 Summit starting tomorrow as well as against the FTA agreement.
Around 300 people participated at the rally; there where activists from the Democratic Labor Party Sit In as well as foreign activist, which arrived in the last day. Charles Santigo from the Malaysia Parliament held also an speech.
Several hundred Riot Cops where in guard in the surrounding streets.
-----------------------------
SEE LINKS HERE AND ON RIGHT
INDYMEDIA UK
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/467750.html
G20 Seoul: Breaking News/Links
cimc | 10.11.2010 22:59 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
G20 Seoul, South Korea UPDATE
Breaking News, Articles, Links, Videos
G20: SOUTH KOREA
Thursday afternoon and evening (late Wednesday night Western Hemisphere time) thousands of demonstrators will gather in front of Seoul Station and then try to march several miles to the National Museum where the G20 leaders will be attending a reception and dinner. This march will likely end in a serious confrontation between several thousand demonstrators and another several thousand well-armed police force, backed by trucks with water cannons.
The tense climate in the streets is being compounded by the local police state which has enacted laws specifically to suppress the freedom to dissent during the G20 summit in Seoul. The security chief has been given a green-light to mobilize the military against protesters if needed. The security chief can also designate some areas as a security zone and ban any activity or gatherings that they think are dangerous to the G20 summit. Furthermore, no information of the security zone is easily accessible to people, that means, the police can do anything everywhere. Gatherings and demonstrations where the government has a clear expectation of violence, threats, property destruction, or arson may be banned from being held. All outdoor gatherings must be reported forty-eight hours before they take place. During any outdoor gatherings, the boundaries of the assembly can be designated and enforced by the police. The police may take action to stop any noise if the organizers or participants of an assembly cause serious harm to non-participants.
As other international activists have already witnessed first-hand at G20 summits across the western hemisphere, the police, politicians, and CEO's will do everything in their power to systematically silence opposition to its destructive policies. From creating draconian laws to utilizing the latest in totalitarian technologies such as the LRAD, it always becomes clear during these summits just how despotic the collusion of international states, multinational corporations, and central banks can be. As for the citizens of the world, we see just how much control over our own lives we truly don't have.
SEE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFO or GO TO:
KOREA INDYMEDIA – Breaking News/Action Alerts
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
BREAKING NEWS:
Progressive international activists who had been granted visas denied entry into South Korea and expelled without explanation
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
What is the Special Security Law for the G20?
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
Main demo against G20 summit on Nov 11th will be held 2pm at Seoul Station
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
Temporary Media Center opened for the G20
メディアセンターについて | 인디미디어 Korea Indymedia
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
[Solidarity Action Appeal] Help us fight the oppressive G20 regime right now!!
korea.indymedia.org/drupal/
OTHER ARTICLES:
The G20 Summit is NO EXCUSE for Repression!
kctu.org/9842
KCTU Calls for international participation in People’s Week of Collective Action protesting G20 Seoul Summit
kctu.org/9845
Labour Assembly: Southern Trade Unions’ Voice on Global Economic & Social Crisis
www.rinoceros.org/article9756.html
LATEST VIDEOS (as of 11/10/10):
Two PETA activists arrested in South Korea - no comment
www.youtube.com/watch
20,000 Protesters Clash With Police As Seoul, South Korea Gears Up For G20
www.youtube.com/watch
South Korea Prepares to host G20 SUMMIT - Seoul
www.youtube.com/watch
CALENDAR:
November 11th, (Opening Day of G20 summit)
Action Day protesting G20
Organizer: G20 People’s Response Preparation Committee
November 10th~11th
G20 Trade Union Summit
Organizer: ITUC, OECD TUAC, GUFs
RECENT NEWS ABOUT PAST G20 SUMMITS:
Toronto Police Rearrest Activist
toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101025/g20-court-appearance-101025/20101025/
Ian Tomlinson death: senior judge appointed to oversee inquest
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/10/ian-tomlinson-inquest-thornton
ACLU Sues City Of Pittsburgh Over G-20 Mass Arrests
twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/aclu-sues-city-pittsburgh-over-g-20-mass-arrests
Democracy 101: Pittsburgh G20 Protests and the Police Occupation of Pitt University
www.youtube.com/watch
Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) G20 Pittsburgh
www.youtube.com/watch
The G-20 Song
www.youtube.com/watch
cimc
The G20 and its global economic agenda are an affront and a threat to people’s rights and welfare.
The detention and deportation of Filipino activists from Seoul and the harassment and intimidation of a number of other activists at the hands of Korean immigration authorities are manifestations of the undemocratic and anti-people nature of the G20 and further exposed the illegitimacy of this group of self-proclaimed caretakers of the global economy.
The protests and mobilizations in Korea of tens of thousands of people in clear defiance of the Korean governments security measures, is an indication of a clear disconnect between the agenda of the governments of the G20 countries and the interests and aspirations of their people.
The G20 Summit in Korea was supposed to address the issue of the growing gap between the rich and the poor in the wake of the global economic crisis. The G20’s prescriptions for economic recovery and development, however, anchored on the perpetuation of a flawed corporate driven, export-oriented development model would further exacerbate poverty and inequality and undermine social cohesion across the world.
The whole point of the Peoples Conference in Korea, and the reason why the deported Filipino activists came to Korea, is to articulate the peoples’ opposition and resistance to the G20 and to collectively discuss and put forward alternatives to the failed model of development that the G20 is so desperately trying to preserve.
We say NO to the G20 and the policies that continue to threaten jobs and peoples livelihoods, and erode workers’ rights and welfare;
We say NO to the G20 and policies that cause the expulsion and repatriation of migrants in the name of restrictive and Draconian migration policies and rules;
We say NO to the G20 and the policies that use women as safety nets in crisis, and is blind to the differential decision-making powers in the household and economy in general;
We speak out against the free trade agenda and the push of the G20 governments for more ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreements disguised as economic partnerships but are really instruments of economic domination and control by the rich over the poor within and across countries and regions;
We speak out against the development agenda of the G20 which threatens peoples’ right to food, destroys the environment, and perpetuates unequal access and control over natural resources in support of the profit-driven motives of corporations;
We say NO to the G20. It does not represent the interests of the peoples of the world and it cannot speak on our behalf.
We call on the peoples of the world to come together against the G20 and to intensify the struggle for a better and more just and peaceful world.
-----------------------------
CINA
Today's Korea Times reported(*): "With South Korea gearing up to host the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies, a security fence has been set up on the roads surrounding Coex, the main venue for the Nov. 11 and 12 G20 Seoul Summit, to protect participants from possible terrorist attacks and protests..."
Well, almost 5 years ago the APEC Summit took place in Busan and the (very special^^) measures to prevent so-called "violent" protests by thousands of workers, peasants and resistance activists...
...ultimately failed(!!), as you can see here:
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02
--------------------------------------------------
DEMOTIX
http://www.demotix.com/news/503233/korean-confederation-trade-unions-hold-protest
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions hold a Protest
Media Summary
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Candlelight Cultural Event with international activists and representatives at Boshingak, Jongno street. 10/11/2010
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is a national trade union centre officially established in 1995. Its predecessor was the National Council of Trade Unions (NCTU), established in 1990 as an independent alternative to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. With 682,418 members in 2007, the KCTU accounted for 40.6% of trade union members in South Korea.
In 2008, during massive "mad cow protests" the KCTU declared a general strike to protest the import of US beef on grounds that consuming the allegedly tainted beef could damage worker productivity
The KCTU has more than 1,200 affiliated enterprise-level trade unions. It is the second largest trade union national center in South Korea, following the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). On 1 April 2009, KCTU delegates at a special session elected Lim Seong-kyu as President. Of the two, the KCTU is generally considered to be the more militant.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Candlelight Cultural Event with international activists and representatives at Boshingak, Jongno street.
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Police stop FTA protests in Seoul
http://www.demotix.com/news/502934/police-stop-fta-protests-seoul
Media Summary
Police stopped protests and dispersed a small group of individuals this morning from central Seoul. The demonstration by Labour Union JEI against the G20 was quickly broken up by police and people were moved on. Seoul, South Korea. 10/11/2010
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G20 Seoul: Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rally
http://www.demotix.com/news/503271/g20-seoul-korean-confederation-trade-unions-rally
Media Summary
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rallied today near the Soul City Hall against the G20 Summit starting tomorrow as well as against the FTA agreement. Around 300 people participated at the rally. Seoul, Korea. 10/11/2010.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rallied today near the Soul City Hall against the G20 Summit starting tomorrow as well as against the FTA agreement.
Around 300 people participated at the rally; there where activists from the Democratic Labor Party Sit In as well as foreign activist, which arrived in the last day. Charles Santigo from the Malaysia Parliament held also an speech.
Several hundred Riot Cops where in guard in the surrounding streets.
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