5112개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
In sharp contrast to the (almost) complete absence of solidarity with the expolited and oppressed in North Korea (by the S.K. "left"/"progressive" movement) there has been - during the era of the dictatorships in South Korea - a broad international support for the S.K. struggle for democracy.
And it included solidarity activities with the struggling S.K. working class:
1987 in South Korea female textile workers were involved in a difficult and lengthy strike action against the Flair Fashion factories, owned by the German company ADLER. In solidarity with those women, Rote Zora (*) placed a bomb in the ADLER concern’s head office in Haiback and later followed a night of co-ordinated attacks on nine ADLER branches around Germany. The damages ran up around 35 million DM, i.e. 18 million Euros (**). The action had a crucial importance because the striking women in South Korea won their fight, in that all serious demands were met (in Documenta Magazines: "Feminisms of the times").
1987년 7월 2일, 독일 대사관에 들어간 이리 후레아 패션 노동자 일부가 대사관
현관에서 연좌시위를 벌였다. (Yonhap)
One of Rote Zora's most famous and successful actions came in 1987: While South Korean women workers were on strike against the German owned textile corporation Adler, which was boosting its production due to cheap labor prices in Korea, Rote Zora supported the efforts of the striking women. On one night in June 1987, there was a series of coordinated firebombings directed against Adler chain stores. The corporation soon gave in to the demands of the striking Korean women (in "Resistance Means Attack").
* From 1975 to 1988 within the context of the Revolutionary Cells (RZ), the autonomous women's organization called 'Rote Zora' developed. Although the Rote Zora followed the same fundamental concepts as the RZ, the group was also a radical feminist expression of the women's movement. But the group did not solely focus on women's issues, and the Rote Zora did carry out actions as part of RZ campaigns, for example against the NATO summit in 1982.
** 1 Euro = 1716.30 Won
About two weeks ago The Boston Globe published following "Recent scenes from North Korea" (for more pics and links to journey reports see below):
Related:
☞ 397 pics from N.K. (by Eric Lafforgue)
☞ My Excellent North Korean Adventure (WaPo, 9.14) MUST READ!!!
☞ A little taste of North Korea (Asia Times, 9.27)
The following article, published in today's (reactionary, anti-"DPR"K) DailyNK, is based on an interview (the complete version you can read below in Korean) with Joo Dae-hwan (former DLP representative, now active in the so-called "Social Democratic Solidarity").
Well, of course I've an (likely very controversial^^) opinion about the topic, but you've to wait (possibly until Sunday or so..) for my comment!
Leftists Should Support North Korean Human Rights
Since the late '90s.. North Korean human rights.. were considered as belonging to the conservative right wing. To the pro-North Korea left wing, which see North Korea's Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il regimes as more legitimate, 'North Korean human rights' was a taboo subject.
Even now, after North Korea's gruesome human rights record has been thoroughly exposed, the pro-North Korea leftists have kept silent on the human rights issue. However, a courageous person from the left recently rose up to announce, "We must now take an interest in the North Korean human rights issue." Some people even questioned whether or not he is truly of the left.
As a result, the left wingers have called him a "traitor." But regardless, he has spoken his mind at North Korea human rights-related talks without shrinking from the limelight.
Such a hero is joint representative of Social Democratic Solidarity Joo Dae Hwan, previously the party policy committee chair of the former Democratic Labor Party. Representative Joo met with Daily NK on the 1st.
For pro-North Korea leftist figures, an interview with the "Daily NK" is usually avoided at all costs. However, for Joo, the interview with a reporter from Daily NK did not differ much from interviews he has given to other media organizations.
Representative Joo said at a North Korean international conference called "2008 North Korean Human Rights Citizens' Campaign,” held on September 26 that "The left wing of Korean politics has to abandon its double standard regarding the North Korean human rights issue. Meanwhile, the conservatives have come under scrutiny for the possibility that their true purpose may be opposing the North rather than improving human rights."
He criticized further, saying, "The progressive camp has ignored the North Korea human rights issue using all kinds of excuses, while looking on North Koreans’ difficulties unconcernedly. Now, the North Korean human rights issue must go beyond the left and right to the issue of the universality of mankind by becoming less ideological and more depoliticized."
Joo, who acted as the brains of the People’s Democracy (PD) camp within the Democratic Labor Party, is a reproach to his fellow leftists with whom he has lived under the same roof like a family.
Representative Joo cited the reason for the disinterest of the leftists regarding North Korean human rights, "The leftist power was not free in its relationship with Kim Dae Jung. That administration could wait for a reaction from the North, but so did the progressive powers, even though they didn’t have to."
He evaluated this situation, saying, "This was because progressive powers ultimately played the role of assistant to the Kim Dae Jung administration. There was not so much a change in their ideology, but rather, an excess of politics was the issue."
Representative Joo said regarding the Sunshine Policy, "When considering the situation at the time, I do not think that the Sunshine Policy was appropriate. Actually, I'm not even saying that the Sunshine Policy was progressive. A progressive policy has to be one for the North Korean citizens, but Sunshine did not achieve this."
He added, "From a North Korean citizen's perspective, Kim Dae Jung and Roh Moo Hyun, people who could smile with the dictator without concern, are fundamentally unhelpful."
Also, he said, "Goods have been going into North Korea, which accounts for some of the recent changes. Commodities marked with the symbol of South Korea have circulated and businesses such as the Kaesong Complex show the potential of shaking the foundations of the North Korean regime's isolationism."
Regarding the New Left movement Social Democratic Solidarity, which is led by Joo, he said, "We are aiming for a welfare state. Activities will be centered on the perspective of universal human rights which do not get caught up in a nation, unification, and pro and anti-North Korea issues of the New Left movement."
Moreover, he said with regards to differentiating between leftist and rightist camps in the future, "The notion of 'pro-North' and 'anti-North' has to be separated. Only then can society and citizens become developed." He emphasized that "If many people in the progressive camp propose the North Korean human rights issue, it will pose a huge threat to the North Korean regime."
http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk02500&num=4130
[인터뷰] “진보진영도 술자리에선 김정일 비난”
주대환 “左는 北인권, 右는 南인권 관심가져야”
한국 사회에서 ‘북한인권’을 우려하는 목소리가 나오기 시작한 1990년대 후반부터 지금껏 이 문제는 오직 보수진영의 전유물로 여겨져 왔다.
더구나 북한 김일성·김정일 정권이 남한 정권보다 더 정통성이 있다고 보는 친북좌파 진영에게 ‘북한인권’에 대한 문제제기는 금기(禁忌)사항과도 같았다.
그러나 최근에 ‘좌파라면 북한인권 문제에 관심을 기울여야 한다’고 말하는 진짜 좌파가 등장했다. 전(前) 민주노동당 정책위원장을 역임했던 ‘사회민주주의연대’의 주대환 공동대표가 바로 그 주인공이다.
친북인사, 좌파인사들이라면 누구나 손사래를 치는 ‘데일리엔케이’와 주 대표가 마주 앉았다. 민주노동당 내 평등파(민중민주 진영)의 사상 이론적 브레인 역할인 해온 주 대표가 북한주민들의 ‘인권’에 대해 말문을 열었다.
좌파가 ‘인권’을 논하면 등 뒤에서 ‘변절자’라는 화살이 날아오는 기막힌 시대, 주 대표의 첫 마디는 의외로 담담했다.
“인권문제에 좌·우가 어디 있습니까?”
주 대표는 “진보진영은 북한인권문제에 대한 이중 잣대를 버려야 하고, 보수진영은 반북(反北)을 목적으로 북한 인권을 다루면 안된다”며 한국사회의 좌·우 모두를 향해 “이제 북한인권 문제는 좌우를 넘어선 인류 보편적 문제로 돌려놓아야 한다”고 주문했다.
현재 주 대표는 ‘북유럽형 복지국가’를 지향하는 사회민주주의연대를 이끌고 있다. 민족문제, 통일문제, 친북·반북문제에 얽매이지 않는 선진국형의 좌파 활동을 펼치는 것이 그의 계획이다.
그는 “앞으로 ‘좌파’와 ‘우파’를 구분하는 데 있어 ‘친북’이냐 ‘반북’이냐는 문제는 분리돼야 한다”며 “그래야 정치도, 사회도, 국가도 발전하고 선진국이 될 수 있다”고 말했다.
[다음은 주대환 사회민주주의연대 공동대표와의 인터뷰 전문]
-진보진영이 북한인권 문제에 침묵하는 이유는 무엇인가?
진보진영은 근본적으로 남한보다는 북한이 민족의 자주성 면에서 우월하다고 생각하는 경향이 있다. 그래서 북한의 웬만한 흠에 대해서는 눈감아 줘야 한다고 생각해왔다.
또, 지금까지 정치․사상적 구도의 문제도 있었다. 보수진영에서 ‘북한인권’이라는 이슈를 선점하면서 진보진영을 ‘친북 또는 반인권주의자’라고 몰아세우고, 진보·중도 연합진영은 ‘평화’라는 이슈를 선점하여 보수진영을 ‘냉전세력․전쟁세력․대결주의자’로 치부해왔다. 이러한 양 진영 간 대결이 북한인권 문제를 과잉 이념화, 과잉 정치화 했다고 본다.
그리고 지난 오랜 동안 진보세력이 김대중과의 관계에서 자유로울 수 없었던 것도 문제다. 진보세력이 김대중·노무현 세력의 2중대 역할을 했다고 해도 지나친 말이 아닐 것이다. 김대중·노무현 세력은 사회경제정책에서는 ‘우파’인데도 공조(共助)했다는 말이다.
정부 여당이야 북한을 직접 상대하는 입장에서 북한의 비위를 맞출 수 있다고 쳐도, 진보세력은 정권을 가진 것도 아니면서 북한에 대한 입장을 정부 여당과 같이 했다.
앞으로 좌파인가 우파인가를 구분하는 데 있어 친북이냐 반북이냐는 문제는 분리하고 떼어 내야 한다. 그래야 정치도, 사회도, 국가도 발전하고 선진국이 될 수 있다고 본다.
-좌파진영 내에서 북한인권 문제에 대한 인식 수준은 어느 정도인가?
진보진영에는 북한인권 개선활동의 필요성에 동의하는 사람이 많다고 본다. ‘사실(fact)’만큼 고집스러운 것이 세상에 어디 있겠나? 인권 상황이 참혹한 북한 현실을 우리 눈앞에서 거듭 확인할 수 있데 누가 뭐라고 할 것인가?
진보진영에서도 북한 현실에 괴로워하는 사람이 많다. 입 다물고 모른 체하는 것이 양심의 가책으로 남아 있다. 진보진영 친구들이 술자리에서는 ‘김정일이 빨리 죽어야 인민들이 사는데’라고 말을 하지만, 공개적인 자리에서는 딴소리를 한다.
현재 북한을 두고 진보와 보수진영의 국론 분열 상태에서 통일이 온다면 위험하다. 서로의 책임을 따질 것이고, ‘너는 그때 뭐했냐’며 서로의 흠을 들춰내는 일도 발생할 것이다.
앞으로 북한인권 문제를 탈이념화, 탈정치화해서 진보진영에서도 많은 사람들이 북한인권 문제를 제기한다면 지금의 북한 정권에게는 상당히 큰 압박이 될 것이다. 결국 보수는 남한인권에, 진보는 북한인권에 더 많은 관심을 가져야 한다.
-햇볕정책에 대한 우파진영의 평가가 야박하다고 생각하나?
햇볕정책도 일면으로는 타당성이 있었던 것은 아닌가 생각한다. 그렇다고 햇볕정책이 진보적인 정책이라는 것은 아니다. 진정한 진보라면 북한 인민을 위한 정책이어야 하지만, 햇볕정책은 그저 평화를 유지하자는 수준이었다. 북한 인민의 입장에서 바라보면 독재자와 손을 잡고 활짝 웃는 김대중, 노무현은 근본적으로 자기들 편이 아니었다.
그렇다고 해서 햇볕정책이 모든 면에서 잘못 됐다고 평가하는 것은 인색하다고 생각한다. 남북한의 체제경쟁이 끝난 이후부터 남한 정부는 북한을 관리하는 차원에서 접근해 왔는데, 지금까지 남한은 ‘주먹은 센데 주머니는 비어 있는 친구가 용돈 좀 나눠쓰자’는 식의 북한을 달래가면서 관리해 온 것이다.
햇볕으로 북한의 두꺼운 옷을 벗기지 못했다는 비판은 옳다. 북한 체제의 변화와 개방이라는 측면에서 보자면 DJ가 햇볕정책을 꺼낼 때 장담했던 것만큼 성과가 없는 것도 사실이다. 신뢰가 쌓이면 설득도 되고, 설득이 되면 요구도 해야 하는 것인데, 지금 그런 상황이거나 그런 방향으로 나가고 있다고 보진 않는다.
하지만, 북한에 꾸준히 물자가 들어갔으니 조금이라도 변하지 않았겠나? 대한민국 마크가 찍힌 물자가 돌아다니는데 변화가 일어나지 않을 수 없다. 또, 개성공단은 지금까지 문 닫고 살아 온 북한 체제의 근간을 흔드는 효과를 만들었을 것이다.
우리가 잊지 말아야 할 것은 북한의 현재 상황은 햇볕이든 햇볕이 아닌 다른 것이든 남한 정부, 정당의 탓이 아니라 근본적으로 김정일 정권의 책임이라는 사실이다.
북한에 대한 지원이 김정일 독재 체제 유지에 도움을 주고 인민에게는 아무런 도움을 주지 않았다는 비판에 대해서는 구체적으로 따져볼 필요가 충분히 있다고 본다. 사실 지금까지 통일부나 남한의 민간교류 단체들은 평양만 다녀오지 않았나? 북한은 철저한 계급 사회이고, 평양과 그 이외 지역은 천양지차(天壤之差), 전혀 딴판인데 그들은 평양의 모습에만 관심을 갖는다. 묘하게도 진보진영은 북한의 특권층과만 대화하고 보수진영이 인민들을 걱정하고 있는 상황이다.
-국보법 폐지를 우파가 주도해야 한다고 주장했는데?
남한에 위협을 가하는 (북한의) 공작, 침투 등에 대해서 국보법이 효과적인 방어수단이 되고 있는가를 따져 봤을 때 별로 그렇지 않다는 것이 첫 번째 이유다. 최근 몇 년 동안 국가보안법 위반으로 유죄판결 받은 사람 몇 사람이나 있는가? 거의 사문화되었다고 본다.
그리고 국보법이 폐지된다고 해도 형법의 ‘간첩죄’ 조항 등이 있어서 반국가적 범죄에 대해서는 얼마든지 대처가 가능하다. 그럼에도 국가보안법은 남한 인권 발전에 어두운 그림자를 지우고 있는 상징적인 존재다. 그러니까 실효는 없으면서 그 부정적 영향은 매우 크다는 것이다. 다른 모든 면에서 우리 사회가 발전한 만큼 이 방면에서도 변화가 있어야 한다.
진보진영 내에서는 국보법에 대한 반감이 상당하다. 뉴레프트(New-Left) 운동을 하는 우리가 진보진영 내에서 ‘우리도 이제 생각을 바꿔야 할 때’라고 말하면, 돌아오는 답은 ‘아직도 국보법이 시퍼렇게 살아 있다’는 말이다. 그들은 근본적으로 바뀐 것이 없다고 생각하고 있다.
그리고 사상의 자유는 원래 자유주의자들이 외쳐야 하는 것 아닌가? 특히 진정한 자유주의자라면 다른 사람의 사상의 자유를 위해 투쟁할 용기가 있어야 한다고 생각한다. 그래서 이미 그 의미를 상실한 국보법에 대해 폐지 목소리를 높여 줄 것을 기대하는 것이다.
국보법 폐지와 조봉암 선생의 복권을 보수진영이 동의한다면 정말 진보진영도 다시 생각할 마음의 여유를 가질 수 있다고 본다. 또, 뉴레프트 운동 세력의 입지가 넓어질 수도 있을 것이다. 진정성 있는 자유주의자가 등장해야 비로소 선진국형 사회민주주의자도 나타날 수 있다.
지금처럼 내가 북한인권과 관련한 토론회나 세미나에 간다고 하면 내 주위에서는 비아냥거리는 사람이 많다. 우파진영과는 대화가 안 된다고 생각하는 것이다. 이용만 당할 것이라고도 말하기도 한다. 나는 뉴레프트 진영에서 진행하는 행사에도 보수진영 인사도 참여해주기를 희망하고 있다.
-뉴레프트 운동을 전개하고 있는데, 어떤 방향성으로 활동을 진행하고 있나?
뉴레프트 운동은 우리나라가 나가야 할 방향으로 북유럽형 ‘복지국가’를 상정하고 있다. 이런 관점에서 의료민영화, 전기․가스․상하수도의 민영화 등 복지의 근본을 훼손하는 정책에 대해 반대하고 있다. 그리고 종부세와 상속세를 줄이려는 위험한 감세 정책도 비판한다. 오히려 공공 서비스를 더 발전시키고 복지 제도를 확충해야 하고, 부동산 보유세와 상속세, 소득세의 증세가 필요하다고 본다.
특히, 뉴레프트 운동은 민족문제나 통일문제, 또는 친북․반북이라는 대립구도에 스스로 얽매이지 않으려고 한다. 이런 문제에 얽매여서는 진보도 발전할 수 없을 뿐만 아니라 나라 전체가 발전할 수 없다고 생각한다.
선진국의 좌우파가 정책 대결을 벌이듯이 우리나라에서도 좌우파가 일관된 철학으로 경제·사회정책에 대한 논의를 전개하고 정책적 대안을 제시해야 한다고 본다. 사회민주주의연대는 그런 준비를 시작하고 있는 것이다.
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk06100&num=62249
Today the S.K. ruling class and/or their militarist hardliners celebrated the (f.. stupid) "Armed Forces Day" with the "biggest military parade in a decade" (K. Times).
But while the S.K. peace/anti-war movement is likely already enjoying its "winter-sleep", a lonely protester disrupted the "party" for a (unfortunatelly) very, very short time:
Activist Detained for Streaking at Military Parade (K. Times, 10.01)
Social activist Kang We-suck (??..강의석) was detained by police Wednesday for running naked into the 60th Armed Forces Day anniversary parade. Kang ran into the middle of the procession in Samseong-dong, one of the richest areas in Korea, holding a gun-shaped cookie, which he blew on before eating it.
His demonstration halted the parade for about a minute before he was taken away to Suseo Police Station.
In an interview with The Korea Times a day earlier, Kang said his acts were designed to promote pacifism and highlight the necessity of abolishing the military draft.
"Being nude is a symbol of peace and disarmament. It represents being actively involved in a nonviolent movement for peace. The distribution of gun-shaped cookies implies that a world without arms is sweet and peace is delicious,'' he said.
"It would only cost $1.5 trillion to solve worldwide poverty and cure all diseases. We are spending over $1.7 trillion in Korea for our military budget. It caused the killing of innocent citizens in Geochang, Gwangju, and Jeju, and the overthrow of the democratic government of Korea at the same time. Recent military actions include depriving citizens of their homes and taking violent action against candlelit rallies,'' he said.
Kang said his nude performance was a way of showing that there was no compromise in his beliefs. "First I thought recruiting soldiers could be okay. But later I thought we do not need a military system at all,'' he said...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/117_32016.html
(source of the pics: Yonhap)
Hankyoreh's report about the "event":
As tanks roll down Tehran Street in the Gangnam district during a parade commemorating Army Day on October 1, Kang Ui-seok, 22, a law student at Seoul National University, goes nude to urge the government to dissolve the army.
Kang appeared suddenly at 4:20 p.m and commenced with a short role play in which he brandished a fake gun he had made out of snack food, putting a stop to the parade for about 30 seconds. Kang was arrested immediately.
Police said that prior to the parade, Kang hid for 12 hours in a trench he had dug himself.
According to police, Kang said that If Korea were to dissolve its army, it could help underdeveloped countries by saving the lives of starving children. In explaining his demonstration, Kang said that he had appeared in the nude to symbolize the condition of being unarmed and was meant to evoke peace and nonviolence.
The police booked him on charges of obscenity later that day.
Today the S.K. gov't/Ministry of "Justice"(MoJ) announced a "new victory" in its efforts to terrorize (un-documented) migrant workers! Until July 18,412 migrant workers were arrested (and the majority of them deported), according to today's Korea Herald (see the article below!!).
But that's not MoJ's final "victory"! As it is planned (read also: "Declaration of War") by MoJ: until the end of the year more 30,000 (un-documented) migrant workers must be arrested and deported!
More illegal foreigners netted this year (Korea Herald)
More illegal foreign residents have been captured this year, data from the Justice Ministry showed today.
The increase in the number of captured illegal aliens was partially attributable to the Lee Myung-bak administration's toughened measures, a ministry official said.
The increase comes amid Lee's repeated calls to establish law and order, which he said is a key principle in managing state affairs.
Until July, a total of 18,412 illegal aliens had been caught by immigration authorities, according to the data. Of them, 14,368 foreigners were deported...
A total of 23,771 illegal expatriates were captured in 2006 and 22,546 were caught last year. Experts estimate that the number this year will far exceed those.
"In March, during the ministry's policy briefing, President Lee commented on stiffening measures against illegal expatriates," said the ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"We felt quite restricted in leading our efforts to capture illegal aliens following the fire last year at a foreigner protection center," the official said, referring to the arson fire last February at the immigration office in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, which left 10 foreigners dead from the inhalation of toxic gases.
"In 2006, our work was not that active due to assertive human rights activists. This year, however, we have smoothly led the efforts, which may have helped capture more illegal residents."
Among those captured, the greatest number worked in the manufacturing industry with 6,549, followed by those in the catering and accommodation industries (843) and those in the construction industry (278).
A total of 5,306 were captured in Seoul, while 3,723 were caught in Incheon, 2,415 in Suwon, 2,023 in Uijeongbu, 1,538 in Busan and 775 in Daegu.
The authorities conducted a nationwide clampdown on illegal aliens between May and July, and have operated a special taskforce dedicated to reducing their numbers since August.
The ministry recently announced its plan to decrease the number to 200,000 by the end of this year, and reduce the proportion of illegal foreigners to 10 percent.
As of Aug. 31, the number of foreigners residing here was 1,133,874, including 253,549 short-term foreign residents. Of them, the illegal residents totaled 222,859, accounting for 19.7 percent of the total foreign residents. This is a 3.1 percent decrease from a year ago.
"This is the end of capitalism. Welcome to chaos!"
..the Egyptian bourgeois newspaper Al-Masri al-Yom headlined in connection to the "Crisis of Global Economy" (today's CNN) last Thursday.
But while many analysts and especially the media of the int'l capitalism are getting more and more panic attacks(^^) over the expected "worst recession since 50 years", so the German (bourgeois) daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel (9.28), Chris Patten, UK's last governor in Hong Kong, published his 'glorification' of the - capitalist (of course!!) - globalization ("With the world's money markets in turmoil, globalization is a dirtier word than ever. It is blamed for destroying communities and widening the rift between rich and poor. But, argues Chris Patten, its opponents are hypocrites - free trade is still the best option"):
☞ Free For All (Guardian/UK, 9.19)
PS: Nouriel Roubini (New York Univ./RGE Monitor) said in an interview (Tagesspiegel, 9.27) in connection with the current crisis of the int'l capitalism: "This is the beginning of the end of the US Empire!" (*)...
* As usual(^^): a S. Korean "impressive" interpretation of the topic..
Despite the fact that the "Dear Leader" is - unfortunatelly(^^) - still alive ("He is in excellent health," according to N.K. officials. "He can brush his teeth without help" according to the S.K. NIS) 'Pyongyangologists' (A. Lenkov, the writer of the following article) in East and West are analyzing (and many are just guessing!) possible scenarios for a future after Kim Jong-il (oops.. IF there's any future for the 'People of Korea' after Kim Jong-il!!??)...
Pyongyang defies all odds (Asia Times, 9.18)
Once every two or three years the world media are flooded with reports about Kim Jong-il's alleged illness or even death. Since the relevant information is, arguably, the best-guarded secret of the world's most secretive state, one should not be too surprised when most of these reports are soon to prove false.
We face another wave of such rumors. However, this time the situation might be more serious. Reports about Kim's illness appeared in early September. First, it was the publications of the South Korean media, whose journalists probably learned something from Seoul government agencies. Then, some details began to emerge, and the governments of both South Korea and the United States, in an unusual move, confirmed they had some intelligence about Kim's sickness.
Finally, Kim did not show up last week on the 60th anniversary of the North Korean state, another sign of problems in Pyongyang. So, taking all this in consideration, we might suspect that this time the rumors probably have some substance: Kim is unwell. Perhaps, he even suffered a stroke, though it is difficult to take at face value all those excessively detailed reports of his health and gradual recovery which appeared in the media.
Well, he is sick, so what? What else can one expect if a person is 66 years old, works hard, had an excessively troublesome youth and perhaps suffers from diabetes and kidney decease?
Judging by the calm in Pyongyang, nobody there expects that Kim is to leave this world any time soon. However, the recent media hype once again was a useful reminder: Kim is mortal, and sooner or later another report about his death will be correct.
Now Pyongyangologists are guessing at who will become the next leader. Since we know almost nothing about Pyongyang's inner circle, such talk is not well founded. However, there are things about which slightly more educated guesses can be made. One of those problems is the issue of whether the eventual departure of the god-like Dear Leader will lead to a peaceful transition of power, or whether it will spark a violent crisis.
At first glance, North Korea seems to be society ripe for revolution. Indeed, in few other countries has the government failed so spectacularly, at least in managing the economy and taking care of the well-being of the people, or even physical survival.
For all practical purposes, the North Korean economy has collapsed: its industrial output is probably half of what it was two decades ago. The famine of the late 1990s killed between 600,000 and 1 million people and can be seen as the worst humanitarian disaster East Asia has experienced in decades. The income gap between the country and its neighbors is huge and keeps growing. According to more optimistic estimates, per capita gross domestic product in South Korea is 17 times the North Korean level - some experts believe the real difference might be as high as 1:50. Nonetheless, the regime remains firmly in control and, as most observers agree, faces no immediate domestic threats.
What are the reasons of this stability? Revolutions seldom happen when people's lives are so hard. When people are striving to survive, they do not think much about political actions. To revolt, they need to see some alternatives to their current mode of existence, they need organization, however rudimentary, and they also need to believe that protests will not be crushed immediately by the overwhelming force of the government.
Revolutions usually begin when the ruling elite either belatedly attempts half-baked and inconclusive reforms (thus admitting that system is not prefect, but not giving enough to the dissatisfied populace) or the leaders showed signs of internal disunity. In North Korea, none of these conditions is met. The elite is united, grassroots social activity of any kind is not tolerated, alternatives to the current existence remain largely unknown to the public.
It is true that over the past two decades a certain amount of liberalization has taken place. However, society remains highly controlled and the authorities do not tolerate any kind of independent social or cultural activity, even of an ostensibly non-political nature.
This constitutes a great difference from Eastern Europe or the Soviet Union of the 1970s, in which music societies, chess clubs, rock bands or - in more permissive regimes - even church groups could operate without much interference from the authorities. Eventually, these groups provided networks through which an anti-system resistances could develop and organize.
The North Korean media often explain that excessive permissiveness was responsible for the collapse of the communist regimes of Eastern Europe. As recent as May 15, Rodong Sinmun, the regime's major mouthpiece, reminded its readers in a lengthy article, "The collapse of the East European socialist countries was obviously the result of the imperialists' vicious ideological and cultural poisoning and deceptive psychological warfare designed to bring down socialism."
To fight this, the newspaper insisted, there was a need "to maintain the highest degree of vigilance against the imperialists' psychological warfare and intensify the working class education and revolutionary education of the people, youth and children in particular".
It would be too easy to describe the North Korean leaders as paranoid control freaks, but this is not really the case: their fears are well-justified. The existence of a rich and free South Korea creates a situation which is dramatically different from that of China or Vietnam. Pyongyang leaders are afraid that if the North Korean populace learns about the scale of the economic gap which exists between themselves and their southern brethren, the regime will instantly loose its legitimacy and might be overthrown. This seems to be a well-founded worry.
The unity of the elite is another factor contributing to the regime's stability. In most dictatorships there is the possibility of ambitious officials or, more likely, military officers trying to replace a failing dictator. In North Korea, such chances are small.
This does not mean that all North Korean generals or top officials are loyal to the Dear Leader and his august family. This unity is driven by clear-cut political calculations, with the existence of South Korea once again being a decisive factor. And if a challenge to the regime from within the leadership were successful, a coup would likely destabilize the system.
However, in the event of its collapse, both reformists and conservatives would face a similar fate: they would lose all power and privileges, since a collapse would likely lead to the absorption of the country by the prosperous South. If this happened, the former North Korean bosses - even the most "liberal" of them - would be very unlikely to remain in control.
This does not mean the current stability will continue forever. First, as subversive information from overseas gradually spreads inside the country, so the official mythology is increasingly seen as a lie. Second, the elite has lost much of its initial zeal, and it is ridden with rampant corruption. And finally, Kim Jong-il is mortal, as recent events reminded us.
It is also important that for some mysterious reason Kim has not appointed a successor. Kim's apprenticeship as a junior leader lasted over two decades, from the early 1970s to 1994, and it is probable that his successor, even if appointed tomorrow, would not have comparable time to create his own power base. Therefore, Kim can be expected to die without a successor, or with a successor who would have not established a power base.
When the Dear Leader dies, the top officials and generals who are now united around him as a necessary symbol will be exposed to the great temptation of vying for power. This is certain to lead to cracks appearing in their unity, which will be a signal to the populace that resistance is not futile any more.
Ideally, the next leader should be chosen by the elite within a few days of Kim's death so the people face the same regime, albeit with another great general at the top. However, it remains doubtful that Pyongyang's movers and shakers will be able to act that fast and demonstrate such a level of unity. After all, they are politicians, and this means they are ambitious people.
When Kim dies, the fate of his country will be resolved very fast, in a matter of days. If unity is preserved, the system will continue. If conflicts between generals and top leaders spill into the open, leading perhaps to violent clashes, the regime will face a grave, if not mortal threat. Popular dissatisfaction might find ways to express itself, and the system will start unraveling fast, leading to complete chaos and, perhaps, to the intervention of outside forces.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/JI18Dg01.html
Related articles:
☞ North Korea After Kim (Washington Post, 9.25)
☞ After Kim Jong Il (The Atlantic, 9.23)
South Korea's President "Lee(MB).. suggested a crackdown on illegal migrant workers", Korea Times(K.T.) reported today in the article "Zone for Peaceful Protests Planned"..
Two weeks ago AI demanded that the S.K. Gov't must respect the right to freedom of association of all migrant workers. Today the gov't, respective Ministry of "Justice"(MoJ) gave a "clear" answer:
"The government will escalate its crackdown on illegal foreigners", Korea Herald(K.H.) reported today... Or better said: "We'll increase the repression and prosecution of undocumented migrant workers!"
According to MoJ the main target will be the part of migrant workers who are struggling for legalization, basic labour rights and the freedom of association in the MTU (read today's K.T. article below!).
The MoJ's plan is to deport - until the end of the year - 30,000 undocumented migrant workers: "Illegal foreigners now number 230,000.. The Justice Ministry said it will reduce that number.. by the end of this year.. to 200,000", K.H. reported.
Well, you can call it - without to exaggerate - a renewed DECLARATION OF WAR against migrant workers in S.K. in general and MTU activists (and their sympathizers) in particular!!
Illegal Foreign Residents Face Tougher Regulations (K. Times)
The Ministry of Justice said Thursday it will intensify its investigations into illegal foreign residents in Korea over the next five years, a move to counter their growing numbers and recent moves to seek political support.
The ministry aims to deport at least half them during the period, thus reducing their numbers to below 10 percent of all foreigners here from the current 19.3 percent.
"Recently, illegal residents have attempted to form unions to call for their right to stay and even participated in political activities,'' the ministry said in a statement.
Court rulings in recent years have been supportive of the human rights of illegal residents, affirming their right to form labor unions and receive compensation for injuries sustained at workplaces.
The ministry stated such decisions have conveyed the notion that the law can be taken lightly and illegal residents tolerated. Employers also took advantage of their illegal status to make layoffs easier, it said.
There are 223,229 foreigners overstaying their visa in Korea out of the entire foreign population of 1.16 million, the ministry said. Those whose illegal sojourn here has surpassed four years account for 43 percent, it said...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/09/117_31655.html
"Building a World Without Irregular Workers!"
From today's Hankyoreh:
Declaration to abolish irregular worker system announced
Includes appeal for end to long-running labor disputes and guarantee of basic labor rights for irregular and migrant workers
9.23: Activists of civic and labour organizations held a press conference in front of Seoul's
Jogye-sa(Temple), demanding a "World Without Irregular Workers"
Some 10,000 labor, human rights and religious figures and netizens from about 200 labor, civic and religious groups announced yesterday a declaration calling for the creation of a “world without irregular workers.” The group they formed, “10,000 Persons, 10,000 Actions to Build a World Without Irregular Workers,” convened a press conference in front of Jogyesa Temple in Seoul’s Jongno-gu yesterday to announce the “10,000 Person Declaration to Abolish the Irregular Worker System.” Some 10,349 participated in the “10,000 Person Declaration Movement,” including Lee So-seon, the mother of martyred labor activist Chun Tae-il, and Unification Issue Research Center Director and former democracy movement leader Paek Ki-wan.
Participants said in their declaration that a person’s right to enjoy the fruits of their labor and dream of a future was collapsing in the name of the irregular worker system, and that the continued existence of the system, which was solidifying social polarization, was unethical and antisocial. They called on all citizens to come forward to completely banish the irregular worker system, which they termed, “mad cow disease for the workplace.” Criticizing the government’s ignoring irregular laborers who “have been fighting for hundreds, thousands of days,” the declaration called for a resolution to the long-running workplace disputes involving irregular workers at Kiryung Electronics, Koscom, E-Land and KTX and the abolishment of the irregular worker system from all workplaces. It also called for the abolishment of laws harmful to irregular workers, the guarantee of the basic labor rights of workers who are not recognized as such, the guarantee of rights for migrant workers, and the recognition workers indirectly hired by outsourcing companies are actually employed by the company at which the work is done.
Lee So-seon said at the press conference that she came forward due to the misery of a reality in which people who made money from real estate live well while laborers who work hundreds or thousands of days cannot make ends meet.
Park Sun-gyeong, an honorary professor at Ewha Womans University, said to ignore the irregular worker issue was to lose sight of ones responsibility for oneself and history.
Meanwhile, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference and rally in front of the Sejong Center in Gwanghwamun on Tuesday afternoon calling for the resolution of long-term workplace disputes involving irregular workers. Some 2,000 unionists were in attendance.
From 7:00 p.m., a candlelight demonstration was held at Cheonggyecheon Plaza, with candlelight demonstrations also taking place in the city centers of Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan and Jeonju.
Participants in the declaration movement also collected 5,000 won per person and placed a full-page advertisement in yesterday’s print edition of The Hankyoreh. The remaining money was given as aid to irregular workers involved in long-term disputes.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/312015.html
Related reports:
☞ 촛불, 청계광장에서 다시 타오르다 (VoP)
☞ 비정규직 없는 세상 만들기 서명 '1만 돌파' (KCTU)
☞ 오병이어의 기적 (Chamsesang TV)
☞ KCTU Chairman Finds Refuge in Buddhist Temple (JoongAng Ilbo, 9.24)
☞ 이석행.., 조계사에서 하반기사업 집중구상 (KCTU, 9.23)
☞ Arrests of Korean trade unionists continue (IMF, 9.23)
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