ANTI-G20 PROTEST IN SEOUL 11 NOV

ANTI-G20 PROTEST IN SEOUL 11 NOV

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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...

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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.


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