CINA

본문

본문

Korea Times/Yonhap reported yesterday that 105 Foreigners (are) on ‘Terrorist’ Watch List in S. Korea.

Hmmm.. this number includes already the MTU activists/members?

Why? Just remember: About 5 years ago the MoJ and Immigration Office, the bourgeois media (Chosun Ilbo...) and some reactionary/racist "civic" groups denigrated the migrant workers, organized in the ETU-MB (the predecessor of MTU)/MSSC (Myeong-dong Sit-in Struggle Collective) as terrorists!

Related:

☞ That's just idiotic (ETU-MB, 04.10.4)

본문

"Free Documentary Screening!"

By Indymedia S. Korea:

*****

본문

Last Tuesday a small bunch of (fortunately only) 30 people celebrated with a protest rally in front of Seoul's Chinese Embassy the 50th anniversary of the failed "uprising" (by the representatives of the ancient feudal class and their flunkies, sponsored by the US and British Imperialism) in Tibet. And the rally, once again, was supported by members/activists of (self-appointed) "progressive"(^^) groups/organisations!! (*)

In this context I would like - once more - to call attention to the following significant article, published almost one year ago in the (definitely NOT pro-communist!!) Asia Times magazine:
☞ Tibet, the 'great game' and the CIA

Related contributions about the racist progroms in the Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet) and adjacent Chinese provinces, committed/attempted in March 2008 by Tibetan "protesters":
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?pid=1449
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?pid=1450
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?pid=1451
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?pid=1455

* (Unfortunately) MWTV "felt compelled" to report about the "event":
☞ "티베트 민중봉기 50주년, 티베트에 자유와 평화를!!"

본문

"Mangrujeon" - Art Exhibition in Seoul

-Part 1-

Paintings, sculptures, videos and other artworks related to the Yongsan Massacre

When? (since) March 11 ~ 30, 2009

Where?  평화공간 Space*Peace/Peace Museum (opposit to Chogyesa, subway: Jonggak Stn., ex. 3)

-Part 2-

The history of Mangru struggle ("Mangru/망루/亡淚" means a makeshift fortress built on the roof of a building, threatened by deconstruction/i.e. the "construction mafia", in collaboration with the "security forces"/police..)

When? April 8 ~ 28, 2009

Where? The same place!

본문

On March 8 the S. Korean women, like in many other countries around the world, celebrated the  International Women's Day .

So last Sunday afternoon hundreds of members of women groups and female activists of labor unions, political parties and human right organisations gathered in downtown Seoul to protest against the ongoing discrimination in the society and the increasing exploitation and opression. But they also celebrated the date with an colorful culture program.

Comrade "Hong Gil-dong.."/숲속홍길동 produced and published an impressive documentary about the event. You can watch and enjoy it here (the 2nd movie) or directly here!

본문

(Lee)MB - as always - Disconnected From Reality!

While Kim Jong-il before yesterday - once again - declared (via CPRK statement) that 2MB can(must!!) GO TO HELL, MB today (via an interview with The Australian newspaper) wishes the Dear Leader "ALL THE BEST!"(^^)..

Just "enjoy" the following news report by today's Yonhap:

Lee wishes N. Korean leader "well," says

he is needed for peace

In a rare direct comment on the North Korean leader, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Wednesday wished the North Korean leader well, saying his control of the communist nation is vital to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula for the time being.

Kim Jong-il is said to be recovering from a stroke he suffered in August, but recent reports have suggested the North Korean leader, who turned 67 last month and reportedly has kidney ailments, may have named one of his three sons as his successor.

"It appears from Chairman Kim's recent activities that there are not any serious problems for him to continue ruling North Korea, and I think it is better to have a stabilized North Korean regime at this point in time for inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation," Lee said, referring to the North Korean leader by his formal title as chairman of Pyongyang's National Defense Commission.

The remarks are a rare direct evaluation of the North Korean leader by Lee, who took office a year ago.

They were made during an interview with an Australian newspaper, The Australian, in Seoul before Lee started his overseas trip. The full text of the interview was released by Lee's office on Wednesday...

The comments were a "get-well" wish for the North's leader, a presidential aide said.

"This means we need a stabilized North Korea for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and that we need Kim Jong-il, at least for now, to ensure stability in the North," the official told Yonhap, asking not to be identified...

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/03/04/85/...HTML

Meanwhile Unification(^^) Minister Hyun In-taek - also complete disconnected from reality! - demanded today that "N. Korea must drop it's smear campaign", as Korea Herald reported.

본문

** Sorry, but KCTU's web-poster for the "Nat'l Workers Protest Demonstration" looks for me more as a call for a sad celebration for its own resignation!
Or alternatively just a call for a "mass prayer to achieve a better government"(^^)..

본문

Before yesterday for the 3rd time since the  Yongsan Massacre  thousands of political, labour, human right and student activists, together with masses of "ordinary" citizens, protested against the S.K. government...

Today's Hankyoreh reported following about the event:

Police and protesters clash at Yongsan memorial events..

 
Police and civilians clashed on Saturday during a memorial event for the victims of last month’s police raid on anti-urban development protesters in Seoul’s Yongsan district. The gathering was the third of its kind held in central Seoul following the Yongsan tragedy, which left six people dead.

On Saturday, police arrested six people during the event organized by the People’s Committee to Protest against the Murderous Clampdown on the Yongsan Evictees, including a 25-year-old student only identified by his surname, Park.

Protesters were calling on the government to step up efforts to find and punish those responsible for the Yongsan tragedy.

Police sealed off Chonggye Plaza, where the memorial event was scheduled to be held, leaving protest participants to gather in front of the Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. at around 4 p.m. Approximately 5,000 people joined the event, and over 9,000 police officers were deployed, including members of the riot police. After the memorial event ended, participants attempted to move toward Cheong Wa Dae at around 5:50 p.m., when they clashed with police who were trying to stop them.

In Jongno and Myeong-dong, scuffles between protesters and police also broke out, with police firing water paint at protest participants. The crowd dispersed at around 10 p.m., and approximately 200 college students who had been protesting at Lotte Department store also departed the scene at around 11 p.m..

A memorial event was also held at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the People’s Committee had displayed pictures related to the Yongsan tragedy in central Seoul. The committee said it is planning to organize a large-scale demonstration on Monday, when the prosecution is scheduled to unveil the results of its investigation into the Yongsan incident. (*)

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/337673.html

* Surprise, Surprise! "No police executives will be indicted over the fatal crackdown on squatters in Yongsan last month, according to an investigation the prosecution wrapped up today. But 20 of the demonstrators - all of whom were rallying over what "insufficient compensation" for an urban renewal project - were indicted for obstructing official duties", Korea Herald reported today.
   As usual: The victims are always to blame! Just remember the horrible Fire Disaster in Yeosu, where two years ago (**) 10 migrant workers were killed in the local deportation center. Back then the "authorities" (immigration office/ministry of justice..) also ultimately blamed the victims to be responsible for the tragedy.

Related:
☞ DP Calls for Reinvestigating Yongsan Clash (Korea Times)

** Please check out:

☞ 여수참사 2주기 전국 공동행동 (MTU)

본문

Today's Hankyoreh published following interesting report:

In Daegu, metal workers take unique

approach to labor losses
 

Regular workers alternate participation in partial work stoppage, allowing irregular and migrant workers to keep their jobs

“Other migrant workers have lost their jobs, but we’re still working.” So says 30 year-old Munasic, of Indonesia, busily working a press machine on January 16 at Samwoo Precision Industries in Daegu’s Seongseo Industrial Complex. Eighteen of the automobile engine parts company’s 85 employees are migrant workers.

Hard economic times have meant that irregular and migrant workers are the first to lose their jobs, but the migrant workers at Samwoo Precision Industries, who because of the time limit set on how long they are able to work in the country are irregular workers as well, have been able to keep their jobs with the help of their union.

In December, the company suddenly announced that it would have to let migrant worker employees go because of “difficult company conditions.” Sales in November and December 2008 shrank by 30 percent of what they had been for the same period in 2007, and company executives said they had no choice but to reduce production and the number of employees.

The company’s branch union of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union said it would “absolutely” not permit that to happen. It suggested an alternative -- the company’s 40 regular production workers would divide themselves into two groups and alternate taking two-week holidays for the next three months. The company would then be able to apply for government financial assistance designed to help companies keep people in their jobs during temporary work shutdowns, allowing the regular workers to receive 80 percent of their wages during their off-times. The irregular migrant workers who as such are not able to pay into the same “employment insurance” program, and therefore are unable to receive the same assistance, would just keep on working.

Before the year was out, the union and the company had met and decided to put the union’s plan to use. The program of alternating the partial work stoppage went into effect on January 12.

“I was really worried about there being less work,” said Munasik. “It’s really fortunate I can go on working.”

“All we managed to do was prevent layoffs,” said KMWU Chairman Kim Tae-eop. “Now we need to find a better way to deal” with the reduced production. The company and the union are still going to have to find ways to have workers keep their jobs and maintain basic livelihoods at a time when both regular and migrant workers have already seen their actual wages grow smaller.

A Samwoo executive is frank about the company’s choices. “We came up with a temporary plan in response to union demands, but if the situation gets worse we’re going to have to come up with something else.”

The “Samwoo Precision Industries Branch Union of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union” began accepting migrant workers as union members in 2007, after the national union, seeking to embrace irregular workers, called for all workers at the same work site to be part of the same union. This was called the “one union per company principle,” a departure from the practice of having separate unions for migrant and other irregular workers. Migrant workers enjoy the same working conditions as regular employees under KMWU regulations. Last year “Eddie,” a 34 year-old Indonesian worker, was elected to represent the company union at the KMWU’s Daegu region conference.

 
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/334071.html