CINA

Activists to hold rally despite police ban (K. Herald, 11.06)   
  
Defying police disapproval, a coalition of activist groups plans to stage a massive protest in Seoul on Sunday against the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, labor polices, and the extension of troop deployment in Iraq.

More than 70,000 members of various progressive organizations, including Democratic Labor Party, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and Jinbo Corea, will participate the rally in front of City Hall, the groups said.

However, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency issued a notice that prohibited the protest to the related groups on Monday.. Police said they informed the members that the meeting will be considered illegal if pushed forward.

The protest groups oppose the ratification of the government's free trade agreement with the United States and press for the removal of irregular or temporary workers. The group members will also call for the withdrawal of Korean troops stationed in Iraq and Lebanon.

About 70,000 to 200,000 people are expected to join the gathering, according to the police.

Korea Times newest edition reports following:

Labor Unions Snub Government's Move
 

Labor unions defied a government warning against massive rallies..

The Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements, an association of labor and farmers' groups, criticized the government’s statement against collective action by labor groups during a press meeting in Seoul, Friday, and confirmed there ``will be no change’’ on a scheduled rally.

The progressive group plans to stage a rally on Sunday in downtown Seoul. The protest is for the abolishment of temporary worker status, and to oppose the Korea-U.S. FTA and the extension of Korean soldiers deployment to Iraq.

``The government doesn’t want to listen to why we are staging the protest and just regulates our rally as illegal. They distorted our true purpose of collective action,’’ said Lee Sok-haeng, the lead organizer of the protest.

``We organized 200,000 protesters when President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached. At that time, the government allowed our rallies but now they say `no’ to our action for laborers' rights. They have double standards,’’ Lee added. (*)

Earlier in the day, four ministries - justice, labor, construction and transportation, and government administration and home affairs - warned against the rally..
The statement said the police ordered the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions not to hold the rally on Sunday..

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/11/113_13458.html

* Wow, it's always funny (actually not really) how the Roh gov't can "surprise" the progressive movement in S.K...^^
But already during the days of the attempted impeachment of Roh Moo-hyun (spring 2004) there were enough voices, such as ETU-MB, who said that we never should trust (and fight for) Roh and his gang..:

☞ MSSC.. thoughts about the present political situation (ETU-MB, 2004.3.14)

☞ leaflet for 탄핵무효"activists" (MSSC, 2004.3.31/"flugi반전.doc")

Related (MUST SEE!!): 

2003.11.09 Nat'l Workers Rally:

Police terror and workers' resistance led to massive street battles in downtown Seoul..

☞ 국민을 개패듯 패는 참여정부 (video docu by comrade Hong Gil-dong..)

Anyway, the "event" on Sunday will start with the KCTU rally, 1 pm in front of City Hall..