CINA

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Yesterday the main rally/demonstration on the occasion of the first anniversary of the fire disaster in the Yeosu Deportation Center took place in the S.K. capital Seoul. At least 600 people (according to VoP) - organized migrant workers, members of several KCTU branches, activists of  solidarity and restistance groups/organisations... - gathered for a mass rally in Seoul's University District Deahang-no and marched later through downtown Seoul to protest against the ongoing (and likely soon - after the Lee Myung-bak administration took today the "power" - increasing) oppression against "un-documented" migrant workers in general, and the MTU and its activists in particular.

source of the pics: VoP

To support the struggle of MTU in general and y'day's demo in particular an American-Korean group (Nodutdol) delivered following solidarity letter:

"To the workers of Migrants Trade Union,

We at Nodutdol for Korean Community Development write this letter to express solidarity with migrant workers in South Korea.

We are an organization based in Queens, NY, working towards the unification of the Korean peninsula, as well end to imperialist policies of the US.

It has been one year since the tragedy at Yeosu detention center took lives of detained migrant workers in South Korea. 
Instead of showing remorse and taking responsibility for what happened, the South Korean state has instead increased repression of migrant workers' rights, signified in imprisonment and deportation of elected leaders of MTU.

As South Korean economy grows and attracts more migrant workers to do its dirty work, the South Korean state should do its best to protect the workers that are traveling from far away to take on the work that Koreans are not willing to.  Instead it has reinforced and even created racist attitudes towards migrant workers, and also violated international standards for basic human rights.

We have held a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Yeosu fire tragedy in Queens, NY.  As part of diasporic and transnational Korean community, we also call on the Korean government to own up to the responsibility of protecting ALL WORKERS in South Korea, especially those of migrant workers who in the past have been made vulnerable by racist policies of South Korea.  The malice and negligence displayed by the South Korean government towards migrant workers is not acceptable anywhere, and is a shameful disgrace to Korean communities abroad.

Organizers Committee
Nodutdol for Korean Community Development"

Related: 

☞ "Stop Crackdown!! Win Win Labor Right!!" (VoP, article)

☞ 여수 화재 참사 1주년 이주노동자 결의대회 열려 (IBMK, article)

☞ 여수외국인보호소 화재참사 1주기 2.24 추모대회 (pictures)

And finally some more pics (by Yonhap) you can see..

☞ ..here