CINA

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KCTU/THE S.K. LABOUR MOVEMENT:

The big, fat, evil monster, oppressing the poor capitalists

and their devote workers (^^)..

..this is actually the summarized content of following editorial, published in today's Chosun Ilbo:

Inside the Hyundai Motor Strike
   
It was difficult to find even the entrance of Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant. There were 18 different entrances to the 4.95 million sq.m compound. Once in, 13 tents pitched by striking workers came into view, with red banners reading “Vanguard of Struggle” and “Labor Oppression.” In front of the main building across from the tents were placards demanding the resignation of group chairman Chung Mong-koo, as well as signs demanding the immediate payment of a performance bonus. Inside the hall, unionized workers were playing Go games sitting on Styrofoam mats covered with heated blankets.

 
One union member in his 30s said he was aware of the resentment of the Korean public toward the workers. But he said the strike was justified as they were simply demanding unpaid dues. A union spokesman said the company led the union to strike on the back of public opinion. One senior union official screamed at the visiting journalists, angry at the way the media had portrayed them.
 

Not all of the unionized workers agreed. One union member said during lunch that outside people blame the workers for following the orders of the union leadership. But inside, the union member would suffer “a curse” if they say one wrong thing. When the union leadership stops the assembly lines, they are the ones who lose their wages. Another union member in his 40s expressed disgust at the fact that another strike had begun following more than 10 political ones last year. He was rather disappointed to hear that the bonus dispute had been settled without resolving the age-old problem.
 

One office worker at the Ulsan plant said the union structure resembled a French commune during the country’s 18th century revolution. “We can’t say anything against them,” the office worker said. He added that early in the week as unionized workers were carrying out partial strikes, union officials blocked lunch from being served at the company cafeteria, afraid workers would leave the protests to eat, while others blocked exits to make the workers continue striking.
 

At Hyundai Motor, everyone is afraid of the union. One high-ranking company official said in the factories, the power went over the union ten years ago. It’s the union leaders who have the authority to give orders, not the factory directors and managers. Another company official said, once a worker becomes a high-level union official, he ignores all of the company’s hierarchy. Company documents show high-level union officials receive a salary, overtime pay, their own car and gasoline from the company. Hyundai Motor even pays for their traffic fines. The company also pays for the furniture and all of the equipment inside the 1,155 sq.m union office. When asked how they feel about the arrest of a former union leader on charges of receiving 200 million won from the company in exchange for ending a strike during his tenure, one member said management officials were just as guilty for paying the bribe money.
 

There are people who end up with the short end of the stick. One contract worker said his take-home pay has shrunk drastically, because unionized workers, representing only full-time workers, were refusing overtime work. As he was saying those words, he looked around to make sure no union official was close by. Another contract worker said he probably wouldn’t be able to pay for his kid’s private lessons next month. He quoted union officials as saying production losses incurred during strikes should be covered by Chairman Chung’s slush fund.
 

The president of a subcontractor which has been supplying automotive parts to Hyundai for ten years said he and the 521 other parts suppliers were virtually held hostage by Hyundai’s union. He voiced jitters at the fact that a strike had taken place so early in the year following ten last year. The head of another parts supplier said Hyundai Motor should have played hard ball and refused to give into the union’s demands. He was afraid strikes would continue over other issues later in the year.

Hyundai Motor’s labor union was founded 20 years ago and they held strikes for 19 of those years. When a Hyundai worker, clad in a company coat, entered a restaurant in town, all eyes centered on him. The worker tried to ignore the glares, but finally walked out of the restaurant. The owner of another restaurant said she used to let Hyundai workers to write up a tab. But now she feels like slapping them. Some restaurants refuse to serve high-ranking Hyundai union officials, identifying them by their red jackets.
 

The heads of 49 business associations in Ulsan held a press conference at city hall urging the company to deal harshly with the union. One university student said he believed Hyundai’s union will hold more strikes. He wondered why they were doing that when people were getting more concerned about difficult business conditions facing the Korean auto industry.
 

The Hyundai Motor plant in Ulsan turns 40 this year. There are 28,000 regular workers and another 8,000 contract workers making a living there. When you include employees of partner companies, there are another 41,000 workers whose lives depend on Hyundai. One official at Ulsan City Hall said the lives of over 200,000 people, including the families of workers, depend on Hyundai Motor. But the company is at the mercy of the labor union. One business association official in Ulsan said Hyundai Motor’s management style needs to change too.

The residents of Ulsan did not appear happy to hear news of a breakthrough in negotiations Wednesday afternoon. They seemed to believe that unless radical changes happen in the way Hyundai Motor manages its workers, it will not see a drastic improvement in the quality and prices of its products sold overseas. Unless a miracle happens, the future of Hyundai Motor, the bulwark of Ulsan’s economy, which accounts for 4.4 percent of Korea total exports, is not very bright. This is what the people of Ulsan seemed to feel.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200701/200701180013.html

But finally - in my opinion(!!) - the fact that the S.K. bourgeois media is able to publish such a stuff, is also (partly) a fault of KCTU/the labour union's activists.. Just remember - for example - this:

☞ Today's struggle inside our union!

For more about the end of the strike of Hyundai Motor Workers Union:

☞ Hyundai Motor agrees to bonus, ending strike (JoongAng Ilbo, 1.18)

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Thousands protest against FTA  (Korea Herald)

   
Thousands of activists took to the streets in Seoul yesterday, protesting against the ongoing free trade negotiations between Korea and the United States as the sixth round of talks opened here Monday.
 

As police vowed to take stern action against protestors - in the wake of last year's violent anti-FTA rallies - physical confrontation and social unrest were feared.
 

Despite a police ban, over 10,000 farmers and workers gathered in Daehangno, Seoul for a massive rally, and marched through the city to the Shilla Hotel, causing severe traffic congestion. The Shilla Hotel is the venue for the free trade talks.
 

Authorities deployed a total of 15,000 police to shield the talks' venue from protesters and 2,000 riot police guarded the hotel to inspect all vehicles and individuals entering the building.
 

As police tried to block regional activists from entering Seoul to join in the rally, about 40 Jeju islanders clashed with riot police at Jeju International Airport.
 

"Because the anti-FTA protest led by the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA has not been permitted, we plan to block all regional protesters from entering Seoul in the first place," police said.
 

Last week, the police banned protest rallies organized by civic groups including the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA - a coalition of anti-FTA civic groups - citing turmoil caused by last year's protest led by the alliance.
 

The violent anti-FTA protest last December injured over 60 people, causing some 670 million won ($720,000) in property damage nationwide.
 

Attempting to dodge the authoritative measure, the radical Democratic Labor Party applied for a demonstration permit under its name.
 

Although it expects the party's demonstration to turn into a coordinated rally of all anti-FTA groups, as was the case last December, it cannot refuse the party's request to abide by the demonstration law, police said.
 

The police asked lawmakers to disband immediately after the party demonstration, warning stern action would be taken should last year's violent scenes be repeated.
 

Despite orders from police, anti-FTA activists joined with the DLP members in Daehangno in another massive protest against the negotiations.
 

Religious groups held a separate anti-FTA protest in front of the hotel yesterday, announcing a joint prayer meeting of Christians, Catholics and Buddhists that call for the halt of the talks. Leaders of the three religious groups including Pastor Lee Se-woo and Father Kim Si-young took part in the public action.
 

The anti-FTA demonstrations are to continue throughout the five-day negotiations as the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA said it would stage a series of demonstrations despite the police ban..
 
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2007/01/17/200701170005.asp

☞ Anti-FTA Rallies Clog Traffic (K. Times)

☞ 경찰봉쇄 뚫고 모인 6천여명 "졸속협상 즉각 중단하라" (VoP, incl. 4 videos)

☞ "한미FTA, 이제는 끝내야" ("Tongil" News)

☞ Thousands of protesters voice opposition to FTA.. (Yonhap)

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Korea Times in its today's edition is writing following:

Anti-FTA Groups Stage Rally
  
Civic groups and labor unions staged a series of rallies against the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) as new round of FTA talks opened Monday. The anti-FTA groups estimated at about 2 million people will also have a large-scale protest at downtown Seoul on Tuesday.

The police banned all protests (democracy?? blabla..!!) by the civic groups worrying about potential violent clashes and traffic congestion, but the leftist (?) Democratic Labor Party registered its rally as resolution event of the party.
 

Although the rally is likely to draw other civic groups and labor unions, there is no way to ban it according to rallies and demonstration laws, the police said.

Authorities deployed 15,000 riot police in Seoul and tightened security to deter possible violence.
 

A civic group involved with violent anti-FTA protests last December also plans to hold a series of protest rallies during the negotiations until Friday.

A series of news conference was held and nine leftist lawmakers from the party launched a hunger strike for five days at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, the venue for the sixth round of talks to oppose the deal in downtown.

"We are here to protest the FTA because we believe it will devastate the livelihood of low-income people and our nation," Kwon Young-gil, a representative of the group, said.
 

Following yesterday’s demonstration, about 30,000 farmers, laborers and Oriental medical college students joined the large-scale rally in downtown Seoul and marched toward the Shilla Hotel after the rally, chanting anti-globalization slogans. (???)

Y'day evening's candle light rally against US-ROK FTA near Shilla Hotel

Farmers and laborers have strongly opposed the deal because it would damage their livelihoods. The demonstrations have often turned violent.

Last November, over 73,000 farmers, workers and activists collided with riot police in 13 cities and 63 people were injured, including 35 police officers and causing some 670 million won ($720,000) in property damage nationwide.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200701/kt2007011518321511990.htm

TODAY'S DEMO:

1월 16일

한미 FTA 저지 범국민대회

일시, 장소 : 1월 16일 오후 2시, 대학로 -> 신라호텔

Korea Herald is writing following in its today's edition:

Tension mounts over anti-FTA rallies 
  
Tension is escalating as activists prepare to stage massive rallies against the ongoing free trade negotiations between Korea and the United States as talks resumed in Seoul yesterday.

 
Civic activists and members of the minor Democratic Labor Party skirmished with riot police at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul in the morning as they tried to storm the main venue for the sixth round of the FTA talks.
 

Nine DLP members including Reps. Kwon Young-gil and Sim Sang-jung launched a five-day hunger strike (^^) demanding the immediate halt of talks.
 

The Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA, a coalition of civic groups, said it would stage a series of demonstrations during the five-day negotiation despite a police ban.
 

"The Korean government has gained nothing during the past year of negotiations which have been kept secret from the public. There is no reason for the talks to go on," the alliance said in a news conference in front of the hotel.
  
The alliance held a candlelight rally in central Seoul, preparing for today's massive protest. The group had already launched a protest rally at Incheon International Airport as Wendy Cutler, a top U.S. negotiator, arrived in Korea on Sunday.
 

The group expects about 20,000 farmers and workers to faceoff against 2,000 riot police in demonstrations planned for Daehakno, Seoul, today.
 

As police banned all protest rallies organized by civic groups - citing fears of violence and traffic congestion - the radical (??^^) DLP yesterday applied for a demonstration permit under its name.
 

"Although we expect the demonstration to turn into a collaborated rally of all anti-FTA groups as was the case last December, we could not refuse the party's request according to the demonstration law," police said.
 

The anti-FTA demonstrations are to continue throughout the five-day negotiation with farmers planning large-scale protests tomorrow and Wednesday.
 

Police vow to crackdown on illegal protestors in the wake of last year's violent anti-FTA rallies which injured over 60 people, causing some 670 million won ($720,000) in property damage nationwide.
 

A group of Oriental Medicine doctors also held a press conference yesterday to reaffirm their opposition to a possible market opening.
 

Members of the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine said that it will take every possible means to block the market opening, reportedly on the negotiation table for the free trade agreement with Washington.
 

Washington has reportedly asked Seoul to allow its medical doctors to practice here without having to obtain a new local business license. The government, however, has made clear that the issue is not being discussed during the sixth round of talks.
 

Seoul and Washington have held five rounds of discussions so far on the proposed FTA, aiming to conclude the talks by March 2007 at the latest.
 

Korea's anti-FTA activists and farmers are opposed to the talks, fearing that the deal will damage their livelihoods by enabling a flood of cheap U.S. farm products to enter the country.

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2007/01/16/200701160014.asp

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2007 - the Beginning of the "Future" of Capitalism(?!)

In 2005 Siemens, one of Germany's main conglomerates, sold its mobile phone production company to BenQ (Taiwan). In the end of last year the mother company of BenQ terminated complete the financing of BenQ-Siemens Mobile, because actually nobody wanted to buy this oldstyle sh.. So in the last days of January 2006 BenQ-Siemens announced insolvency (i.e. the company was complete bancrupt) and the dismissal of all 800 employees (wow, for them it was a very "beautiful" Christmas present!!).

Now a German/American group of investors announced last weekend - according to German magazines and newspapers, like Der Spiegel, Berliner Zeitung, WAZ.. - that they want to take over the company for continuing the production.

But they announced also "great" ideas about the conditions how (only) the take-over can become reality:

1. The investor group will pay NOTHING for (the take-over of) the company

2. The federal government have to pay them 100 Million Euro

3. At least in the first 4 month or so they will pay the employees NOTHING (i.e. no salaries, no health insurance etc...)

TRULY A MAGIC IDEA (for the further development of the capitalism)!! ^^

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"HAPPY" NEW YEAR!

But Unfortunately the Capitalism

is Still Ruling!!

K. Times predicted in its latest (online)edition following for S. Korea's working class - at least for a large part of it:

Non-Regular Workers Face Mass Layoffs
 
Non-regular workers face layoffs en masse as employers are trying to beat the July 1 deadline to give regular worker status to part-timers who have worked in the same job for more than two years.

 
Already the Office of Court Administration decided to let go of its non-regular security guards, while HSBC is moving to replace its sizable non-regular workforce.

This sentiment is generally shared by employers who fear an increase in payroll and benefits.
 

Only 11 percent of the surveyed 592 companies said they will provide regular jobs for non-regular workers, while 63.3 percent of the respondents said they will give the status to only those eligible for regular job status. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducted the survey.
 

The law on the protection of non-regular workers will take effect in July for firms having 300 employees or more. Companies with 100 to 299 workers will be subject to the law from July 2008 and those with less than 100 workers from September 2009.
 

The first case of dismissal started in the public sector. The Office of Court Administration said it has not renewed yearly contracts with 40 non-regular security guards in courts nationwide last month.
 

The Office of Court Administration is expected to hire new non-regular employees who will replace those who worked for two years or more.
 

In the case of HSBC, a major foreign bank operating here, some 500 or 40 percent of its total 1,200 employees have the status of non-regular workers.
 

The ratio of non-regular employees including temporary workers in the bank is high, compared with the average of 20 percent to 30 percent in Korean banks.
 

HSBC hires all newcomers in the form of non-regular or contract jobs. It gave regular worker status to only 10 percent to 20 percent of these in the past, although it raised this to 60 percent to 70 percent between 2005 and 2006.
 

Financial firms have hired more contract workers of late to cut costs but are under growing pressure to convert their status to regular jobs.
 

An official of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), a business lobby, said the obligatory conversion to regular jobs will be a big burden on enterprises, citing unfavorable economic conditions.
 

``Smaller companies could lower payrolls under the law. The law aimed at reducing the number of non-regular workers may bring about an overall reduction in new hiring,'' he said.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200701/kt2007010317243310230.htm

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IT'S JUST THE DAILY CAPITALISM..

Following article was published few days ago in the S.K. ("left-liberal") daily Hankyoreh. Aktually this story is not about a problem, unique just in S.K., it's just a story about the daily life in the capitalism.
For example in Germany you can find thousands of similar stories: according to last week's media reports at least 10,6 million people in Germany are threaten by poverty or are already poor...

"Line of shame: 1779 Berlin families

must stay here for daily food alms"(*)

But the main difference between (for example) the poor in Germany and in S.K.: in Korea many are actively resisting against their daily oppression. Like the poor, street vendors, people who are defending their homes (against demolishing and expulsion) etc. who are fighting daily organized against the existing (capitalist) society.
[Following the article I'll bring some links to examples of S.K. resistance against the system.., just wait for a short while..(**)]

Eun-gyeong, 15, feels the weight of a life of poverty
Seoul's Yangji Village is a hard place for hope

Located on Seoul's northern outskirts, Yangji Village is a typical slum. Once a public cemetery, it was settled from the 1960s by the "refugees" pushed out of downtown Seoul by redevelopment projects. Some 90 percent of the land is the property of the Korea Forest Service, and nine in 10 of the houses there are without permit.

Seoul, Yangji-dong

Of the 2,383 residents living there, 348 citizens belonging to 236 households are welfare recipients, and 546 are disabled. There are 26 households run by single mothers.

I rented a room there in November, staying in Yangji Village for a month, and interviewed a young girl living there.

Eun-gyeong (not her real name), 15, began to cry when talking with me. Yet, despite her grief, she maintained her poise, speaking to me in a level voice and a composed expression. It was as if she had grown inured to the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Eun-gyeong lives with her father in Yangji Village. Her mother passed away just after Eun-gyeong's first birthday. Eun-gyeong has never seen her father work, as he suffers from back pain and barely gets by from monthly welfare payments of 400,000 won (US$420). Eun-gyeong in turn receives a trickle-down monthly allowance of 80,000 won, leaving her no money to buy even stockings, stationery, textbooks, snacks, or tampons. She rides the public bus to school, but walks alone for 30 minutes on the long path home, trying to save money. She is already worried about next year, when she will have to attend a high school even further away.

Another reason Eun-gyeong normally walks home is because she attends an after school private study academy (hagwon in Korean). She attends for free, thanks to the letter of support she received from a welfare organization. Eun-gyeong received this support because she is one of the more diligent students of Yangji Village. Though her math skills need improvement, she does not dare mention the special math classes offered at the academy to her father, for the enrollment fee is 120,000 won.

She is always hungry during her afterschool academy classes around dinnertime. While her classmates at the academy go buy the snacks they want to tide them over until dinner, she is left to buy whatever she can afford, or skip eating snacks altogether.

She has no close friends in which to confide. There are other students in her classroom in dire situations, but they at least have the income of their mothers or grandmothers upon which to rely. When she feels even those friends cannot grasp her plight, she simply keeps her mouth shut.

Eun-gyeong has seen a lot of generosity. Teachers have quietly given her lunch money or paid for her to attend field trips. She has also learned that sometimes it is necessary to parade her poverty to match the expectations of others. Though this is the behavior required to gain gifts, she hates to act in such a manner, so she has decided against doing this anymore. She does not want her classmates to see her in such a light. If her friends invite her to see a movie, she demurs, explaining that the film will be boring, and similarly refuses to accompany her friends.

Eun-gyeong likes to write. She even wrote a novel as a sixth grader. Her dream was to become a novelist, but such a line of work is not known for being lucrative, so she gave it up. She also wanted to become an archaeologist, but gave up on that for the same reason. She does not know what to study anymore. She decided to go to a humanities geared high school, but she still has moments of doubt. Many of the children in her neighborhood go to industrial technology-geared high schools. She has to compete with other hard-working children to enter college, giving her yet another thing to worry about. After all, even the monthly welfare payments of 400,000 won (US$420) her father is given will end upon her graduation from high school, as she will legally become a 'head of household.' Having lived at her aunt's house for a long time, she does not feel much of a bond with her father. Yet she still feels pity for him.

Eun-gyeong's sole wish is "to live without worry." Preoccupied by her thoughts and fears, she finds these days that long distances melt away beneath her feet as she walks and contemplates. Yet, some time ago, she realized that her woes would not be solved, no matter how much she dwelled upon them. Thus, she decided in general just to think less. Of course, she wants to live like other children, who swipe their transit cards and buy clothes without a second thought. She is jealous of those ordinary children, who can rely on their parents.

It was about this time that tears started to trickle down Eun-gyeong's cheeks, not when recounting her mother's passing, but in acknowledging the difficulties that lay before her of finding a source of support in her hard, young life.

I met Eun-gyeong in a study room on the 29th of last month. I would like to express my gratitude to her for granting me such a taxing interview.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/177452.html

* and that's only about one district in Berlin..

** here some examples for the resistance (docu videos by comrade "Hong Gil-dong from the Forest"):

☞ 청계천 노점상 생존권 사수 투쟁 

☞ 깡패에게 짓밟히고 경찰에게 연행되고

☞ 날마다 전쟁

*****

☞ South Korea, Terror of the Construction Mafia

☞ S. KOREA. Construction Mafia in Action Again

☞ 빈민대회

...etc, etc...

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Despite of the ban of all Anti-FTA demos..

Daehak-no, in the early afternoon: the beginning of all the events

Protestors Hold Anti-FTA Rally (K. Times)

Some 5,000 anti-globalization demonstrators held rallies to protest a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and the United States at several locations in Seoul Wednesday.

Despite a police ban, the rallies were held by a coalition of civic groups opposing the FTA. They had staged anti-FTA demonstrations on Nov. 22 and 29.

As the previous rallies got violent with demonstrators clashing with police and causing damage and inconvenience to citizens, the police barred the coalition from staging the third demonstration at Seoul Plaza and Chongmyo Park.

Instead, the demonstrators joined another rally organized by the Democratic Labor Party at Maronie Park in Taehangno, central Seoul. The police allowed the rally because the party had originally applied for it to protest against the National Assembly's passage of the bill on non-regular workers.

Half of the car lanes were blocked-off by the participants. After the rally, they moved to several locations in downtown Seoul in groups, sporadically occupying streets at Tongdaemun, Chungmuro and Hoehyon Subway Station distributing leaflets about anti-FTA to citizens.

The police told the demonstrators to disperse by loudspeakers but did not use force.

Euljiro 3-ga in the early evening

They gathered again at Uljiro intersection and marched to Myongdong, causing a severe traffic jam during the evening rush hour.

The coalition's regional branches also held rallies nationwide, and the police mobilized almost 20,000 men at major rally sites. The police also blocked major tollgates on highways to prevent farmers and demonstrators from joining the Seoul rally...

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200612/kt2006120618024611990.htm

Myeong-dong, the final events..

12 are arrested, 20 injured in clash at anti-trade rally (JoongAng Ilbo)
 
20,000 gather for demonstrations in 10 Korean cities

Scoffing at a police ban, the Korea Alliance Against KorUS FTA held its third anti-trade demonstration of the season at Marronier Park in Daehangno yesterday afternoon. After the 40-minute rally, protesters wandered around the central district until about 8 p.m., snarling traffic during the evening rush hour.

 
Police said about 20,000 demonstrators were in the streets in 10 cities across the nation.

The park in Daehangno was to have been the site of a Democratic Labor Party demonstration protesting new laws on non-regular employees. But about 5,000 participants at the rally hoisted flags of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Peasants League and the Korean Street Vendors' Confederation, all members of the anti-trade alliance.

When the party's 90-minute gathering ended at 3:30 p.m., the banner hanging over the stage was quickly changed from "Evil laws on non-regular employees" to "Against the FTA between South Korea and the United States." Without missing a beat, the same participants launched into the new theme. Eleven leaders of the anti-trade group read a statement that said, in part, "It has become clear that the negotiations between South Korea and the United States for the past 10 months have been unfair to South Korea." They also called for an end to legal proceedings against group leaders facing charges stemming from violence-plagued Nov. 22 protests.
 
"Now you are staging an illegal rally. Please disperse," megaphone-wielding police told the demonstrators, but took no action to disperse them by force. Four of the six lanes of the street in front of the park were jammed with protesters, with the obvious effects on traffic. The protesters set fire to an effigy of an American, mad-cow-disease-infected head of cattle. The rally ended just before 4:30, and demonstrators trekked by subway to Namdaemun, Chungmuro, Dongdaemun and Jongno for smaller demonstrations.
 
About 5,100 demonstrators at three separate rallies in central Seoul converged on Euljiro and marched to Myeongdong, where police and protesters clashed; 12 protesters were arrested; 20 people, including police and protesters, were reportedly injured.
That rally ended at around 7:30 p.m.
 
Although more than 10,000 riot policemen were mobilized across the country to suppress the rallies, they avoided confrontations where they could.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200612/07/200612070053443509900090409041.html

Police counter anti-FTA protests (K. Herald)

Anti-FTA Rallies Go On Despite Ban (Dong-A Ilbo)

Reports in Korean, incl. many pics and some videos, you can check out here:

[총궐기 21:10] '연행자 석방' 요구 연좌시위 이어져 (Chamsesang)

"노동자.농민.양심세력 뭉쳤다. 이것이 우리의 희망" (VoP)

한미FTA 저지 범국본
서울 도심 곳곳서 기습시위 (OhmyNews)

Many more pics about y'day's events you can see here:

한미 FTA 저지 3차 범국민 궐기대회

[生生]3차 한미FTA 저지 범국민총궐기대회- 명동, 촛불집회

[FTA반대 3차 민중총궐기 또 원천봉쇄 속 게릴라 시위로 치뤄

PS:

Yesterday it was definetely not

the Animal Protection Day, not really^^

본문

While the anti-FTA movement, KCTU, DLP and many different civic and (left) political groups since weeks were/are preparing for today's 3rd Struggle Day Against U.S.-ROK FTA the government is "presenting" its own (f.. stupid) "plan" for today:

S. Korean police ban anti-FTA protests (Yonhap)

South Korean police said no anti-FTA protests will be permitted on Wednesday and warned the nation's civic groups to obey the law.

Police refused to approve the protests against free trade agreement talks between South Korea and the United States out of fear they could spiral into violence.

Officers said they will quell any illegal rallies and punish violent agitators.

Anti-FTA rallies organized by the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA turned violent last Wednesday, leaving 63 people injured, including 35 police officers, and caused 670 million won (US$720,250) in property damage, according to police estimates.

Police have filed four suits against the protest leaders, demanding compensation for the property damage, including police buses and buildings.

Farmers and supporters vowed Monday to go ahead with their large-scale street protests this week in defiance of the government's disapproval.

The National Human Rights Commission recommended Tuesday that the National Police Agency (NPA) allow the civic groups to proceed with the planned rallies in expression of their democratic rights.
 

The commission received appeals from the protest leaders last week calling for the freedom to hold rallies in public places, it said.

"We are going to review the recommendation by the commission," an officer at the NPA said.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20061205/610000000020061205165801E2.html

Anti-FTA rally planned tomorrow, in defiance of ban (JoongAng Ilbo)
 
Despite a police ban, the Korea Alliance Against KorUs FTA vowed to hold a rally it has planned for tomorrow, the group said at a press conference yesterday. The group opposing the trade deal also said it had submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission, arguing that its members' rights were infringed on due to a police crackdown on the rally on Nov. 29 and asking not to stop them from attending the rally.

"The United States is expected to impose strong pressure on South Korea to import its beef at the fifth round of negotiations on the U.S.-South Korean free trade agreement, which starts today," said an official of the group yesterday morning in front of the Central Government Complex building in Gwanghwamun.
 
"The humiliating negotiations, which have been going on despite the people's concerns, should be stopped," the official urged. The group said that Wednesday's rally would be attended by up to 50,000 people.
 
Meanwhile, at a forum yesterday, an association of 10 civic groups, including Liberty Union and a group of parents of riot policemen, asked the government to deal harshly with illegal rallies. They demanded an increase in the fines levied on organizeers of such rallies by five to 10 times from the current 3 million won ($3,200). The city council of the Gwangju Metropolitan Government also said yesterday it would try to pass an ordinance to suspend municipal subsidies for any group staging a violent rally.
 
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200612/04/200612042213282409900090409041.html

Anyway, the preparations for today's rallies and demonstrations are still continuing, despite of the planned STATE TERROR!

Here's the (perhaps just provisional) schedule for today's struggle events in Seoul:

14:00 민주노동당 집회 / 대학로 마로니에공원

16:00 한미FTA저지 3차 범국민 총궐기대회 / 종묘->광화문까지 행진

19:00 촛불 문화제 / 종각

본문

"ANGER"

Comrade "Hong Gil-dong from the Forest" "(숲속홍길동同志) made following short video about last Friday's clash between the working class (aeh.. just a very, very, very... small part of it..) and the ruling class on Yeouido, next to the National Assembly, the S.K. parliament.(*)

(A short text about the back ground of the fight you can read here: Protesters Clash With Police In South Korea, there you also can watch another video - without any comment^^ - about the "event".)

Meanwhile K. Herald reported in its latest edition (actually tomorrow's printed edition) following:

Striking truckers wreck vehicles  
   
Government warns harsh action against protesting cargo workers

The government yesterday warned of stern action against striking truckers as they blockaded major roads and allegedly destroyed vehicles owned by nonunion drivers.

More than 130 vehicles - including private automobiles - were wrecked and set on fire in South Jeolla and North Gyeongsang provinces, apparently by strikers, police said.

The Korea Cargo Transport Workers' Federation went on strike Friday demanding prompt settlement of labor bills on raising cargo transport fees and guaranteeing labor rights.

Their industrial action disrupted shipment at major ports hitting the export-driven economy.

The hardest hit was Gwangyang Port in the southwest, which handled about 35 percent of its usual cargo volume yesterday afternoon. Other ports in Busan and Pyeongtaek were running at less than half their normal cargo capacity.

Over 16,000 cargo workers gathered in rallies in 43 areas across the country yesterday.

The strike is expected to reach a turning point today as the National Assembly construction committee debates the new set of labor bills.

Even nonmembers of the federation have threatened to join the strike if there is still no resolution on the bills..

The entire article you can read here:

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/12/05/200612050006.asp

The KCTU statement about the strike you can read here:

Korean Cargo Transport Workers Goes on Strike  

So, as you can see:

THE CLASS WAR ISN'T OVER,

NOT REALLY!^^

* Only one year ago, nearly at exactly the same date, with (perhaps) the same "staff" and at the same place (aeh.. something is different: the cops have new, plastic shields!!!):

민주노총 "총"파업 #3 (영상) (..yaya, alle Jahre wieder..^^)

Harrharr, just check it out!!

본문

11.29: S.K. in State of Emergency

Despite at least 50,000 riot cops in readiness, massive street blockades by the cops all across the S.K. highway tollgates some thousand of demonstrators filled the streets in downtown Seoul, especially in the area around Myeong-dong, to protest the planned U.S.-ROK FTA(later I'll write more about it, especially my opinion about the current wave of protests..).

Here some articles about y'day's protests by today's S.K. bourgeois newspapers:

Anti-FTA protesters defy police ban (K. Herald)
 

Thousands of farmers and workers yesterday clashed with riot police across the country in the second massive demonstration in a week against a free trade deal with the United States.

Despite stern warnings from state authorities, about 120,000 anti-FTA protesters took to the streets in Seoul and six other major cities including Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, the Korea Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA said.

About 10,000 protesters, including 5,000 farmers from rural regions, converged in central Seoul to press for an end to the trade negotiations and reform of the government's agricultural policy.
 

Around 50,000 policemen were mobilized to prevent rallies nationwide including some 10,000 in Seoul, the police agency said.

11.29 Seoul City Hall Plaza..

 ..and the same place one week before (http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?pid=1001)

Collisions took place at some highway tollgates as police tried to block farmers from entering Seoul. To keep regional activists from reaching Seoul, 13,000 policemen were at guard at over 1,000 tollgates.
 

The police was .. on high alert following last week's massive rallies...
 

The anti-FTA coalition of about 300 civic groups has been banned from staging further rallies after the turmoil.
 

Pledging a peaceful demonstration this time, the alliance requested the police to permit its second rally, but their request was turned down. Despite the rejection, activists are also planning even more protests on Dec. 6, as Seoul and Washington prepare to open the fifth round of formal FTA talks...
 

After declaring a "zero tolerance" policy toward violent rallies, the government has been seeking to take harsh measures not only against anti-FTA protests but all other potentially violent rallies.
 

Blocking tollgates leading to Seoul, the police prevented several small groups of regional protesters from joining the demonstration in Seoul.
 

About 40 members of a construction labor union in Daegu and 33 farmers from North and South Gyeongsang Provinces were forced to return home.
 

A member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation's umbrella unions, was arrested in Daejeon for violence against two policemen who tried to block him from entering Seoul.
 

"We have already asked leaders of the alliance to halt all demonstrations. We have no other means but to forcibly disband all protests under lawful procedures," the police said.
 

State police have already summoned 170 activists involved in last week's violent rallies. Since 163 of those protesters failed to show up, the police are planning to request arrest warrants.
 

Labor workers joined in yesterday's unrest with the KCTU launching its second general strike opposing government-led labor bills and the FTA.
 

Some 36,000 union members of Hyundai Motor, the nation's largest carmaker, and Ssangyong Motors joined in yesterday's walkout.
 

The radical labor group launched a general strike last week, demanding the government scrap new labor regulations. The KCTU continued additional partial strikes throughout last week...

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/11/30/200611300006.asp

Demo near Dongdaemun Stadium at around noon

Anti-FTA Protestors, Police Clash (K. Times)

Rallies in 8 cities go off without major violence (JoongAng Ilbo)

Pitched Battles in Seoul as Police Block Anti-FTA Rally  (Chosun Ilbo)

Eulji-ro, downtown Seoul, in the afternoon

Some independent reports you can see, incl. video documentaries, here:

http://www.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=376689&ar_seq=2

The Second People's Rally against FTA (VoP)

Myeong-dong area during the evening:

(sources of the pics: OhmyNews, VoP)

S.K. TV coverage:

KBS

MBC

SBS