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The (South)Korean People’s G20 Response Action, "...a coalition of labour, social movement, and civil society organisations in South Korea, whom have come together to protest the Nov. 11-12 G20 Summit in Seoul and seek people-centered alternatives to neoliberal capitalism"(*), reported y'day the following:

From October 22 to 23, G20 financial ministers and central bank governors met in the ancient capital of Korea, Gyeongju, ahead of the up-coming G20 Summit. In the evening of the 22nd, delegates were taken to the famous Anapji River for a feast and celebration. Residents and everyday visitors were excluded from the popular area while the elite group partied. By the end of the meeting on October 23, the G20 delegates were claiming a victory in having staved off a currency war among themselves and agreed to measures to reform and strengthen the IMF, including doubling the quotas that determine the amount of money each member country has to contribute.

 
The G20 claims its is acting to shoring up global economic recovery. Korean people are not fooled however. They not that G20 has no intensions of truly reining finance capital, which is responsible for the economic crisis, or stopping the neoliberal polices that have created poverty and inequality around the world. They know that G20 countries are implementing severe austerity measures, the goal of which is to make common people pay for the economic crisis created by capital. They are aware that the G20 seeks to protect the existing world economic order, which profits corporations and a few powerful nations. This is why they did not let the meeting go by without expressing their displeasure. On Oct. 22, workers, students, activists and ordinary people rallied in front of Gyeongju station to condemn the G20’s attempts to act as the board of directors of the world economy in the interest of the rich. Some protesters came from as far a way as Seoul to participate in the protest.

 
Workers from the nearby Balaeo Jeonjang Systems Korea Co. lined the perimeter of the rally holding signs that condemned Balaeo management for illegal layoffs and other acts of labour repression being used in retaliation against union members at the factory. The workers’ troubles began in February of this year, when the company began outsourcing measures in violation of an agreement it had reached with the Korean Metal Workers Union Baleao Chapter that all workers would be directly employed and have regular, secure jobs. When the union protested the outsourcing with a work slowdown, the management retaliated with layoffs and other disciplinary actions against those who had participated in the job action. 
 

In his speech, which opened the day’s protest, KCTU Vice President Jeong Hui-seong explained the connection between the workers at Balaeo Jeongjang Systems and others like them and the G20. “G20 members, like the South Korea, are not embarrassed about repressing labour rights. They see labour flexibilisation and attacks on workers as a means to overcoming the economic crisis,” he commented. “We have to recognise that our struggle against the G20 is the same as the one taking place on shop floor,” he concluded. He also asked those gathered before him to prepare for mass protests on November 11, the day G20 Summit begins in Seoul.

 
Kim Eo-jin, Co-Chair of the Korean People’s G20 Response Action, exposed the truth about G20 efforts to stave off a currency war between member nations. “They say these measures are about harmonious coexistence,” she stated, “but the coexistence they want is not the one we want. We want a coexistence that includes equality and respect for common people’s and workers rights, not one that means inequality and poverty.” Like other speakers, she reminded rally participants to be prepared for November 11.

 
The program for the day included many other speeches, including those made by representatives of the Korean Democratic Labour Party and the Korean Clerical and Financial Workers Union. A performance was also given by the progressive singing group “Good Friends”. At the end of the rally a protest statement including the following slogans and demands was read out loud:

 
·      We condemn the G20 for trying to make common people pay for the economic crisis!
·      Stop austerity measures, which victimize workers and common people!
·      Stop using the G20 as an excuse for repressing human and labour rights!

 
Participants showed their support for these demands by committing to struggle up until, on and after November 11, their fists raised in the air.

http://en.putpeoplefirst.kr/101822

 
 * More info you can check out here!