CINA

본문

While the anti-FTA movement, KCTU, DLP and many different civic and (left) political groups since weeks were/are preparing for today's 3rd Struggle Day Against U.S.-ROK FTA the government is "presenting" its own (f.. stupid) "plan" for today:

S. Korean police ban anti-FTA protests (Yonhap)

South Korean police said no anti-FTA protests will be permitted on Wednesday and warned the nation's civic groups to obey the law.

Police refused to approve the protests against free trade agreement talks between South Korea and the United States out of fear they could spiral into violence.

Officers said they will quell any illegal rallies and punish violent agitators.

Anti-FTA rallies organized by the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA turned violent last Wednesday, leaving 63 people injured, including 35 police officers, and caused 670 million won (US$720,250) in property damage, according to police estimates.

Police have filed four suits against the protest leaders, demanding compensation for the property damage, including police buses and buildings.

Farmers and supporters vowed Monday to go ahead with their large-scale street protests this week in defiance of the government's disapproval.

The National Human Rights Commission recommended Tuesday that the National Police Agency (NPA) allow the civic groups to proceed with the planned rallies in expression of their democratic rights.
 

The commission received appeals from the protest leaders last week calling for the freedom to hold rallies in public places, it said.

"We are going to review the recommendation by the commission," an officer at the NPA said.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20061205/610000000020061205165801E2.html

Anti-FTA rally planned tomorrow, in defiance of ban (JoongAng Ilbo)
 
Despite a police ban, the Korea Alliance Against KorUs FTA vowed to hold a rally it has planned for tomorrow, the group said at a press conference yesterday. The group opposing the trade deal also said it had submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission, arguing that its members' rights were infringed on due to a police crackdown on the rally on Nov. 29 and asking not to stop them from attending the rally.

"The United States is expected to impose strong pressure on South Korea to import its beef at the fifth round of negotiations on the U.S.-South Korean free trade agreement, which starts today," said an official of the group yesterday morning in front of the Central Government Complex building in Gwanghwamun.
 
"The humiliating negotiations, which have been going on despite the people's concerns, should be stopped," the official urged. The group said that Wednesday's rally would be attended by up to 50,000 people.
 
Meanwhile, at a forum yesterday, an association of 10 civic groups, including Liberty Union and a group of parents of riot policemen, asked the government to deal harshly with illegal rallies. They demanded an increase in the fines levied on organizeers of such rallies by five to 10 times from the current 3 million won ($3,200). The city council of the Gwangju Metropolitan Government also said yesterday it would try to pass an ordinance to suspend municipal subsidies for any group staging a violent rally.
 
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200612/04/200612042213282409900090409041.html

Anyway, the preparations for today's rallies and demonstrations are still continuing, despite of the planned STATE TERROR!

Here's the (perhaps just provisional) schedule for today's struggle events in Seoul:

14:00 민주노동당 집회 / 대학로 마로니에공원

16:00 한미FTA저지 3차 범국민 총궐기대회 / 종묘->광화문까지 행진

19:00 촛불 문화제 / 종각