1.16 反FTA대회..

Thousands protest against FTA (Korea Herald)

Thousands of activists took to the streets in Seoul yesterday, protesting against the ongoing free trade negotiations between Korea and the United States as the sixth round of talks opened here Monday.

As police vowed to take stern action against protestors - in the wake of last year's violent anti-FTA rallies - physical confrontation and social unrest were feared.

Despite a police ban, over 10,000 farmers and workers gathered in Daehangno, Seoul for a massive rally, and marched through the city to the Shilla Hotel, causing severe traffic congestion. The Shilla Hotel is the venue for the free trade talks.

Authorities deployed a total of 15,000 police to shield the talks' venue from protesters and 2,000 riot police guarded the hotel to inspect all vehicles and individuals entering the building.

As police tried to block regional activists from entering Seoul to join in the rally, about 40 Jeju islanders clashed with riot police at Jeju International Airport.

"Because the anti-FTA protest led by the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA has not been permitted, we plan to block all regional protesters from entering Seoul in the first place," police said.

Last week, the police banned protest rallies organized by civic groups including the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA - a coalition of anti-FTA civic groups - citing turmoil caused by last year's protest led by the alliance.

The violent anti-FTA protest last December injured over 60 people, causing some 670 million won ($720,000) in property damage nationwide.

Attempting to dodge the authoritative measure, the radical Democratic Labor Party applied for a demonstration permit under its name.

Although it expects the party's demonstration to turn into a coordinated rally of all anti-FTA groups, as was the case last December, it cannot refuse the party's request to abide by the demonstration law, police said.

The police asked lawmakers to disband immediately after the party demonstration, warning stern action would be taken should last year's violent scenes be repeated.

Despite orders from police, anti-FTA activists joined with the DLP members in Daehangno in another massive protest against the negotiations.

Religious groups held a separate anti-FTA protest in front of the hotel yesterday, announcing a joint prayer meeting of Christians, Catholics and Buddhists that call for the halt of the talks. Leaders of the three religious groups including Pastor Lee Se-woo and Father Kim Si-young took part in the public action.

The anti-FTA demonstrations are to continue throughout the five-day negotiations as the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA said it would stage a series of demonstrations despite the police ban..

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2007/01/17/200701170005.asp