25개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
Well, we should keep in mind that the DLP is the "sole legitimate child" of KCTU (DLP was created by KCTU for to have a political "representative" in election campaigns/if possible in the S.K. parliament)! But now.. (surprise, surprise!!) the "revolution" is - likely - disowning its child..
Members Require KCTU to Withdraw Exclusive Support for the DLP (newscham, 2.13/26)
As the outlook for a split of the DLP has become a reality, some unions under the KCTU are starting officially to criticize the political line of exclusive support for the DLP.
Korean Federation of Clerical & Financial Labor Unions (KFCFLU) Political Bureau had a meeting on the 12th February to decide that the union would not follow the KCTU’s official line of exclusive support for the DLP. In addition to that the political bureau members unanimously decided to defect from the DLP, if the KCTU does not change the policy.
The decision seems to have some influences, because it is the first official resolution ever made among political bureaus of unions under the KCTU and, moreover, threatening collective defection. The political bureau’s resolution would be ratified and activated by central board and representatives’ conference. The bureau is also known to prepare for discussion with the KCTU.
Lee Doo-hun, the director of KFCFLU‘s political bureau said “The resolution is not necessarily linked to the process that will divide the DLP, but it’s intended to make the KCTU admit a variety of political opinions within the union,” and “plethora of those orienting toward labor politics (parties, groups and individuals) should have right to serve the front.”
Pouring out Claims to Abandon the Policy
When, late January, the prospect over split of the DLP became concrete, Lee Suk-hang, the President of KCTU, declared in a press conference that the KCTU would deal with the general election in partnership with the DLP, and try to achieve the goal of labor politics only through the party.
“The KCTU has only coerced members into obeying its unilateral policy, rather than harmonizing various opinions to play the role of locomotive in handling the party,” added Lee Doo-hun and “if the KCTU is to make truly progressive party, it should be opened to different opinions.”
The exclusive support policy has been caught in a political crossfire.
Some candidates running for the president of KCTU last year even promised withdrawal of the policy as a main campaign pledge. Last May Hyundai Motors union political bureau demand abandonment, saying “If the KCTU remains unchanged in forcing its affiliates to be rubber-stamp, the official presidential election strategy, organizing votes based on the cause of the labor class, will lose its meaning.”
http://www.newscham.net/news/view.php?board=news_E&nid=46512
And in the occasion of the - likely - next important change in the KCTU - now in the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union - the S.K. (bourgeois) media reported today (with great satisfaction) following:
☞ Teachers Union to Shed Radical Image (K. Times)
☞ Teachers' union is taking a hit (JoongAng Ilbo)
☞ No wage demands, labor boss promises (JoongAng Ilbo)
Before y'day(2.25) in Montreal/CN..
..a delegation representing the following migrant justice groups:
- Coalition In Support of Agricultural Workers-Quebec
- Immigrant Workers Center of Montreal
- Migrant Agricultural Workers Support Centre-Quebec
- No One Is Illegal-Montreal
- PINAY, the Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec
- Solidarity Across Borders
delivered a protest letter to the S. Korean consulate in Montreal:
"Once again, concerned members of the Montreal community are making direct contact with your consular officials, to bring to your attention the injustices and abuses faced by migrant workers in South Korea. We would like you to bring these concerns to the immediate attention of officials at the highest levels of the Korean government.
This month marks the first anniversary of the tragic fire at the Yeosu Foreigners' Detention Center (February 11, 2007), which killed ten migrant workers and wounded dozens more. This event was a direct result of the South Korean government's policy of crackdown and deportation of undocumented migrant workers and the poor conditions in detention centers.
A year later nothing has changed and repression against migrant workers and migrant workers' organizing continues. The government has carried out a severe attack against the Migrants' Trade Union (MTU), a union built by and for migrant workers, arresting and deporting its leadership in a targeted crackdown at the end of last year. It is also attempting to change South Korean immigration law to make it legal to enter buildings without warrants during immigration raids and stop anyone on the street "suspected of being an undocumented migrant."
We support the main demands of self-organized migrant justice groups in South Korea: stop the crackdown and deportations; legalize all undocumented migrant workers; stop the repression against MTU and migrant workers' organizing; & stop the worsening of immigration law.
Yesterday, on February 24, a nationwide rally was held in South Korea in support of these demands. We visit your offices today to re-iterate those just demands, and to stand in solidarity with the demonstrators on the streets of South Korea's cities and towns.
The migrant workers of South Korea are not alone. Locally, we struggle too against deportations and detentions, against exploitive "temporary work" programs and employers, and for workers democracy and dignity in the workplace.
We will continue to visit your office in protest until the demands of self-organized workers in South Korea and met.
An injury to one is an injury to all.
Signed,
Coalition In Support of Agricultural Workers-Quebec
Immigrant Workers Center of Montreal
Migrant Agricultural Workers Support Centre-Quebec
No One Is Illegal-Montreal
PINAY, the Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec
Solidarity Across Borders"
For more pics, please see also:
*****
Already Feb. 16 there was a Candle Light Protest in NYC/U.S.A.:
And last but not least.. here you can read
☞ KASAMMAKO's protest message ..for last Sunday's MTU rally!
While the NY Philharmonic is performing in Pyeongyang the rulers (i.e. Kim Jong-il and his gang) of NK are surprising the world with new ideas of cultural "exchange". Today's Korea Times reported that the "DPRK" is inviting Eric Clapton to Perform in NK. But why Clapton? Of course he was one of the most important musicians (Yardbirds, Cream, ..) in the last century... But why he will be invited?
After a while of thinking about it I remembered that there were about two years ago some "news" about Kim Jong-chol, one of Kim Jong-il's sons.. Just check out following:
☞ N. Korea’s heir apparent follows Eric Clapton on tour in Germany
Well, it seems that the rulers in PY are thinking: "Why we need to travel around the world just to enjoy our favourite musicians? We just have to invite them - someone, whereever in the world will pay for it (just to support our "policy of detente" - haha, a f.. stupid idea of the imperialism^^) - and they will playing for us, i.e. will pay tribute to the Great Leader, aka the Sun of the 21st Century.. (the German "socialist" daily newspaper Junge Welt today called the concert of the NY Philharmonic a "belated birthday present to Kim Jong-il"/"sozusagen ein verspätetes Ständchen zum 66. Geburtstag des »Geliebten Führers« Kim Jong-Il").
Related:
☞ 'Americans in Pyongyang' (CNN)
☞ NY Philharmonic launches music diplomacy in N.Korea (IHT)
☞ Pyongyang Residents' Reactions to Philharmonic Performance (DailyNK)
☞ Harmony across the axis of evil.. (Guardian)
☞ NY Phil. Comes and Goes, But All Remains the Same (Marmot's Hole)
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
Create one, two, three new "progressive" parties!! (following Che's : "Create two, three, many Vietnams!"^^)
Well, when you read the following reports likely you'll come to the conclusion that - still - the most effective enemy of the political "left" is... the political "left"! (hmm, in my opinion..)
A new progressive party.. (newscham, 2.17/22)
On February 17th, the Democratic Labor Party’s lawmaker Shim Sang-jung officially declared her defection from the party and proposed the formation of a new progressive political party, vowing “to pursue a new path of a truly progressive party.”
Shim held a press conference at the National Assembly and said “I have to confess the dismal fact that the DLP has hit the ceiling that makes it hard to pursue a truly progressive political party and to make the future of progressive politics hopeful.”
About the schedule of the new party, she commented “At first, I suggest a coalition named ‘Solidarity for Building a New Progressive Party’ as a base camp against the Lee Government.” and “It is to be registered before the general election, and the substantial steps towards the formation of the party might be taken after the election.”
In a meeting with key figures of the Equality faction including lawmaker Noh Hoi-chan held on February 13th, a definite timetable of promoting the new party was set up; temporary formation before the general election, then official inauguration. With the timetable, the efforts towards new party would shift into high gear.
“The DLP is not one to defeat, we should reflect on ourselves”
Shim told the reporters “All we need is not a hut. Of course, that might be for the present a shelter from rain and wind but we need a firm house that may takes time and can endure test of the time,” and “this is the only steps we should take, for not repeating the mistakes committed before by the DLP.”
And she added “I’m not scrapping the core of the progressive party, outcomes of the past and passion for the new world, I’m scrapping the old structure of the DLP,” and “I’m not concerned with confrontation against and defeating the DLP.” She seems to want the formation of new party to avoid being seen as a factional scandal.
Shim also leaves open the possibility of coalition with Movement to New Progressive Party led by former DLP lawmaker Cho Seung-soo, saying “We’re ready to be with everyone who seceded from DLP and wants to join a new movement.” But she also added “The failure of the DLP is not committed exclusively by the NL faction. Those who are leaving the party now might not feel free form the failure of DLP. In that sense Equality faction should take their responsibility in not repeating the mistakes by reflecting on the DLP’s experiences.”
She stressed “New party we are to make should overcome the era of DLP and be responsible and accountable for the vision of lone term. Pragmatic approach to the general election cannot be allowed,” and “we have to have discussion with civic movement groups and progressive political groups over such subjects as the value, subjects and practices of progressive politics for equipping us with wider reflections than the DLP.” These might be some of the new party’s foundation statement, which has the new one distinctive from the old one.
Shim also said “I will run as a candidate of the Solidarity for Building a New Progressive Party in general election in April. Principles and directions guiding the party’s nomination for proportional representative will be what I should have applied to the DLP as the chairwoman of the emergency committee.” That is, the new party would woo well-known figures outside the party. She negated the possibility of being nominated for proportional representative herself, pointing out “I consider running as a candidate in my district as the first option.”
Shim plans to determine the party’s frameworks in detail with lawmaker Noh and announce it on February 20th, and officially propose the formation in an open forum.
If the party gets less than 2% of votes and is deregistered, it might suffer a severe political blow. “I have no idea about what result the party will get. Time is not on our side. All I can do is doing my best. That’s what I can say.” said Shim.
The split prompting the KCTU to divide
On February 16, Jun-jin (means ‘forward’), the biggest group in Equality faction, held a general meeting and decided ‘to defect from the DLP and make a new progressive party before April election through building regional committees.’ Defector group Movement to New Progressive is also known to join the Shim’s party, if Shim and Noh agree on founding a new party before the general election.
As Shim has revealed her plan of establishing the new party before the election, the leftist groups would be rapidly reorganized. Since the Jun-jin group has many union members in KCTU, which is so-called Centralists, the conflicts in KCTU between NL faction-inclined group and the Centralists inclined to Equality faction will be fuelled. Former and present leaders of KCTU including vice president Kim Eun-joo, who is known to be Centralist, are reported to declare secession from the DLP. If the KCTU divides, KCTU’s political directive of exclusive support for the DLP loses its substantial meaning.
Responding to that, Shim said “The KCTU’s line of exclusive support for the DLP has already been practically denied by union members in the last election. DLP got only about 3% of all votes,” and “withdrawal of the unilateral political line doesn’t mean negation of progressive labor politics, but that workers should participate in labor politics by themselves.”
Shim is reportedly going to bolt after extraordinary session of the National Assembly in February to deal with the immediate issues like ratification of FTA and special legislation for Tae-an residents. Shim added “Noh would keep steps with me.”
http://www.newscham.net/news/view.php?board=news_E&nid=46468
Related articles:
☞ Division of Democratic Labor Party (Hankyoreh, 2.18)
☞ DLP Destruction is Fault of Pro-N.Korea Faction (Chosun Ilbo, 2.19)
☞ Labor party moderates set to create a new party (Yonhap, 2.21)
☞ 진보신당, 3월 16일 창당대회 개최 (VoP, 2.24)
Since 79 days, if my "counter" is correct, MTU's leading activists are in sit-in strike!
The sit-in collective's daily "struggle plan"
More impressions(pics) you can see here:
As you - likely - know, since the end of last year MTU activists and their supporters are protesting against the ongoing crackdown/manhunt against "un-documented" migrant workers in general and the former and present leadership of MTU in particular (among other forms of protest) with weekly candle light rallies ("culture festivals") in the center of the S.K. capital Seoul (every Thursday evening, 6:30pm, in front of Kyobo Building).
Last week's rally was a memorial "festival" for the 1st anniversary of
the fire disaster in Yeosu Deportation Center.
[The video, produced by MWTV, gives you a few impressions about the event.]
*****
2월 14일, 광화문 교보문고 앞에서 여수 외국인보호소 화재 참사 1주년 기념 촛불집회가 열렸다.
10명의 이주노동자들의 목숨을 앗아간 여수보호소화재사건은 이주노동자를 필요에 따라 쓰고 버리는 소모품쯤으로 생각하는 정부의 태도가 만들어낸 참사였다. 그러나 이주 노동자를 대하는 한국 정부의 태도는 참사 이후 1여년의 시간이 지났음에도 변함이 없다.
이에 여수 화재 참사가 단지 지나간 사건만이 아님을 확인하고, 더 이상의 차별과 죽음을 끊어내기 위해 투쟁 결의를 모아내는 자리를 가졌다. 이 날 토르나 이주노조 위원장 직무대행은 노조지도부 표적단속, 출입국 관리법 개악 등과 같이 주노동자를 벼랑 끝으로 내모는 억압과 폭력에 맞서 더 힘차게 싸워나가겠다는 의지를 보였다.
이후 집회에 모인 이주 노동자, 한국 노동자, 노동․인권단체, 학생들은 비인간적인 단속추방의 현장을 담은 영상과 문화노동자들의 공연을 통해 추모와 결의의 장을 가져나갔다.
제작: 이주노동자의 방송국/MWTV
Related:
☞ [2.14]여수화재참사 1주기 추모문화제의 불을 밝히다!! (MTU)
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