CINA

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At least since the Yongsan Massacre, committed nine days ago by SWAT/anti-terror units, the National Federation Against House Demolition (aka "National Alliance of Squatters and Evictees", 전철연/JCY)..

..became a major target for the state persecution/police and inflammatory articles in the S.K. bourgeois media (*).

Since many years (mainly) poor residents/tenants are suffering from so-called redevelopment projects in the urban areas in S. Korea (Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Daegu, Busan etc). While they developed their residential quarters since the late 1960's, hundred thousands of them were/are displaced/evicted, very often by force, to make way for the new the "redevelopment projects", starting with the preparations for the 1988 Olympic Games in S. Korea.

But because the S.K. public, incl. the "progressive" movement (except some student solidarity groups and radical left activists) , paid almost no attention for the situation of the displaced/evicted people, some activists founded about 15 years ago the Federation Against House Demolition (JCY) with the aim to organize a mass struggle against the "capitalist redevelopment".

At least since the struggle in Ilsan/Pung-dong JCY got a lot of attention in the S.K. progressive movement, partly in the S.K. bourgeois media and even internationally..

And (in my opinion) very important: JCY is also supporting the struggle and resistance of other oppressed and exploited in S.K., such as un-documented migrant workers (**).

The Hankyoreh published last week following article about JCY:

Residents in redevelopment zones get

help from demolition federation

With few civic groups focusing on urban development, area residents left to face intimidation from redevelopment unions on their own

With comments emerging that violent incidents are taking place between redevelopment unions and demolition protesters following the intervention of the Federation Against House Demolition (Jun Chul Yun/Jeoncheolyeon), public attention has turned to the work the two groups have done to combat redevelopment in districts throughout Seoul.

Tenants in Seoul’s Yongsan 4th Zone, where the demolition protest tragedy took place, explained that they have no one else to depend on but Jun Chul Yun, as the demolition date approaches and the district office and police are not blocking contracted personnel hired to secure the area.

“Since residents don’t know even basic information about demolition or compensation, it’s been a lot of help to have Jun Chul Yun come in and provide information about demolition and methods of response,” said Kim Jeong-gi, 37, an area tenant. But there are differences of opinion even among residents about the federation’s method of struggle, Kim added.

Another tenant, who declined to be named, said, “Even if demolition thugs are roaming around the neighborhood, the district office, City Hall and police don’t even help.” The tenant added, “At times like that, a group like Jun Chul Yun becomes a place to depend on for residents.”

Jun Chul Yun Secretary-General Seong Nak-gyeong said, “With demolition looming ahead, the neighborhood’s residents at first responded in a dispirited way with the reality they alone were faced with, but now, through Jun Chul Yun, they are learning about the need for a combined response.”

Nam Gi-mun, vice chair of the Democratic Labor Party’s Yongsan committee, said, “The reality is that there are almost no political parties or civic groups responding actively to the issue of urban development, and even that is with the Democratic Labor Party starting its on-site activity in 2006.” Nam also commented, “From the standpoint of the residents awaiting demolition, they find a group to help them when they’re grasping at straws.”

After the Yongsan District Office obtained a permit to carry out the project in June 2007, Jun Chul Yun came into the region in December of that year and held a briefing for residents, selecting leaders from among them.

Jun Chul Yun was established in June 1994, and represents demolition protest groups in Seoul, Busan, Ulsan, Gyeonggi Province and other regions around the nation.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/335005.html

* Check out following:

☞ Protest leader arrested in Yongsan case

☞ Stopping squatter violence

☞ Gov’t Seeks Bill to Stop Violence in Redevelopment Project Disputes

** Just one example from last year:

☞ [8.17] MTU demo..

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Last week The Hankyoreh published an article about the collaboration between the police and so-called "security guards". And I added that's not a new realization!

Since many years it's a common practice for the construction mafia (i.e. the construction companies who are involved in the "redevelopment" projects) to use such kind of "security guards" (in reality they are just organized gangs of criminals) to intimidate and terrorize residents/tenants who are resisting their evictions. And "normally" the "service" of the "security guards" has (at least) the approval by the appropriate (city/district) authorities and the police.

Usually, when the "security guards" are on the move to attack resisting residents/tenants, they're backed by (in some cases in the past) thousands of riot cops. Some "very famous" examples: the Ilsan/Pung-dong Struggle (spring/summer 2004) and the attack on Seoul's Samgak/Suha-dong (winter 2004/05).

Anyway, today's Hankyoreh published following up-to-date report:

Construction companies hiring security guards

to intimidate residents in Yongsan

Area residents and businesspeople claim guards use violence, including verbal threats and blackmail

The recent deadly police crackdown on demonstrators in Yongsan, which left five civilians and one police officer dead, is putting the spotlight on security guards hired to use violence to evict residents to make way for redevelopment projects. Like many sites slated for redevelopment, the Yongsan area has been cited as a place where security guards have used diverse types of violence on residents and store owners to facilitate the redevelopment process.

Horam Construction, a small demolition company, is currently spearheading efforts to evict residents and businesses near Yongsan Station, where the deadly demonstration took place. Another company, Hyunam Construction, was hired to evict people living and doing business near the ChungAng University Medical Center building, also in the Yongsan area. Residents in both areas claim that the two companies used diverse types of violence, including verbal threats and blackmail, to force them out.

Ms. Kim, the owner of a convenience store in Yongsan, said, “Last summer, a few security guards stormed into our store and threatened our part-time female staff, saying, ‘Are you also a member of Jun Chul Yun, b**ch?,’” referring to the Federation Against House Demolition, which is suspected of having played a leading role in the protest. Kim said that she reported the incident to the police immediately, but that it took 30 minutes for officers to arrive at the scene. “I showed police a CCTV tape that recorded the threats of the security guards and told them that they prevented me from doing business, but no actual measures were taken.”

An anonymous official at Hyunam Construction admitted that some hired security guards use violence on residents, but added that Jun Chul Yun is also to be blamed for such clashes. “It’s true that some security guards use violence.” The individual went on to explain that residents seldom accept offers of compensation in exchange for moving out of areas slated for redevelopment, and said that this is because Jun Chul Yun forbids such action by individual members.

Officially, Hyunam claims that it has not used any violence on residents. Tenants and store owners, however, say that security guards have harassed them in many different ways. They say they have had stinking garbage dumped on their property or water poured on the roofs of their homes.

Yu Eui-seon, an activist with another tenants’ rights group, said, “The main mission of these security guards was to demolish vacant houses, but the mission seems to have changed and includes evicting tenants. The reason why they use such unbridled violence might be because they feel they have the support of large construction firms, which are often seeking to complete lucrative redevelopment projects as quickly as possible.”

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/335462.html

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IMC S.K. and KCTU released today following "Urgent Appeal for Immediate Action":

Stop forced evictions and further death in South Korea

In South Korea, 5 people died while protesting against an imminent forced eviction

1. Summary of the Incidence

At 6 a.m. on 20^th January, people who were asking for solutions to avoid eviction in February in Youngsan-Gu, Seoul lost their lives as a consequence of violent oppression from the police. A 1500 strong police force was dispatched to disperse about 50 protesters. The police actions taken toward these protesters were similar to those taken in times war. Less than a day after those facing eviction started protesting and without further conversations or an effort to discuss the issues, the government dispatched a special police force and staged an anti-terror operation. After the police entered the building where the protesters were, a fire broke out and the circumstances became dangerous. However, without taking any safety measures, the police proceeded with the operation which resulted in the death of 5 protesters and 1 police officer.

Dispatching a special police force for an anti-terror operation in less than 24 hours is a rare case even in South Korea. Since the Conservatives took power however, the police have often cracked down on protesters in a violent way. This incidence also happened under this context.

A place to pray for the dead was set up at the spot of the incident. Despite of it being the Korean New Year holiday, visits from people continue. A fact finding committee composed of civilian organizations is carrying out investigations whilst the government is trying to close the case as soon as possible.

2. Background and Characteristics

It is well known that there are many problems coupled to rapid re-development projects in South Korea. Existing solutions (such as compensations, providing temporary place to stay etc) are neither realistic nor properly implemented. It is especially worrisome that forced eviction, which is prohibited under international human rights law, is being pursued under the auspices of the government.

South Korea, who is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, was requested twice by the Committee on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to provide protection to victims of forced evictions. However, as shown in this case, the South Korea government violated its obligation to respect the right to an adequate housing and to not being forcibly evicted. It also violated its obligation to protect the safety and the life of victims of forced evictions. 

For over a year, lodgers in the re-development project area demanded the Yongsan-Gu Office for appropriate protection. The Yongsan-Gu Office provided no opportunity for talk or negotiation. Local lodgers went to the Youngsan-Gu Office to file an appeal but got rejected. During this appeal process, private security officers hired by the construction company threatened the lodgers and sexually harassed them. However, the police did not take any action against the private security officer’s practices. Despite the fact that eviction in the cold season requires the taking of special measures prior to the eviction, the Youngsan-Gu Office approved the construction company’s request to initiate the re-development from February. Lodgers faced with forced eviction entered the empty building to stage protests against this process and lost their life due to violent police operation.

Lodgers living in re-development areas are excluded from both the process and results of re-development projects as they do not own a property in the area. Re-development to improve the housing condition causes inequality in housing as many lodgers have to move into a place worse than their previous housing. A serous problem is that in the previously re-developed area, only 10~15 % of local residents will get to stay in that same area.

Lodgers suffer a serious violation of their housing rights during the re-development process. The aim of re-development projects should be in improvement of housing conditions and relieving poverty for the people living there. The government is obliged to provide necessary information and guarantee participation for people living there regardless of their ownership of the housing. However, these demands are ignored by the government and the construction companies who get benefits from the re-development in South Korea.

On the other hand, the investigation carried out at the government level is criticized for being biased. The police carried out autopsies of the bodies of the victims without the consent of their families. The police report on the incident was revealed to be false in light of a variety of evidence reported by the major media. The police attitude, which is neither democratic nor transparent, creates deeper mistrust. A fair and impartial system for the investigation is urgently required. Rather than trying to close the case as soon as possible, an effort to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again and a guarantee of democratic participation are required.

3. Demands

* Guarantee participation of civil organizations in the investigation process to secure a fair and thorough investigation.

* Punish those responsible for the incidence.

* Review current re-development projects which do not guarantee the right to housing of the lodgers.

* Guarantee the right to housing as a human right.

4. Action for everyone

We would like to show international support at the second pan-national memorial for the dead. Please email us your supporting messages and let us know whether you would sign our statement by noon of the 30^th January. Please also send us a copy of your complaints for those responsible. Sending complaints for those responsible continues until mid February.

Email to Sarangbang Group for Human Rights : humanrights@sarangbang.or.kr 

1) Send us your supporting messages.  

2) Please sign the statement below.

3) Please, send any protesting messages to the following addresses:

Myungbak Lee, the president of South Korea

http://www.bluehouse.go.kr/kr/index.php

1 Sejongno Jongno gu

Seoul Korea (110-820)

Tel +822-730-5800

Fax: +822-770-4943/+822-770-2440

Sehoon Won, the minister of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security

http://www.mopas.go.kr

Tel +822-2100-3000

Fax: +822-2100-4001

Seokgi Kim, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency 

http://www.smpa.go.kr 

Tel +822-720-3993

Fax: +822-754-7000

Sehoon Oh,  the Mayor of Seoul City

http://www.seoul.go.kr  

Tel: +822-731-6060

Fax +822-737-8688

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The Yongsan Massacre, once again, proved the ongoing collaboration between the cops and criminal gangs ("security guards") - mainly hired by the construction mafia (i.e. companies, such as POSCO, Samsung, Hyundai etc..)!

Just read following article (Of course that's not a new realization!! Later - in the coming days - I'll write more detailed about it..), published in Hankyoreh (1.24):

Radio transmission reveals police armed

security guards for Yongsan crackdown

Security guards bearing sledgehammers stormed demonstration site with police before deadly fire broke out

A recording of a police radio transmission made just before Tuesday’s deadly crackdown on a protest in the Yongsan district revealed that police armed and hired security guards to participate in a joint operation to evict tenants and protesters. The record, which contradicts the police’s assertion that it did not mobilize the contracted personnel, is expected to influence an ongoing investigation being conducted by the prosecution.

Lawmakers Kim Yoo-jeong and Kang Ki-jeong of the main opposition Democratic Party released the recording of the police radio transmission on Friday. “Before the crackdown on protesters began at dawn on Jan. 20, police had radio communication with security guards about its plans to conduct a joint operation,” a statement read by the lawmakers said. The recording was submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at the lawmakers’ request.

According to the transcript of the radio transmission, at 06:29:42 on Tuesday a police officer said that, “With sledgehammers and other devices, the security guards will follow our unit and are preparing to remove the blockades on the third and fourth floors.” In response, another police officer said at 06:29:59, “Roger that. Along with four police officers, security guards with devices are in the process of removing obstacles between the third and fourth floors.”

The transcript shows that special police commandos and security guards armed with sledgehammers and other devices entered the building together on Tuesday. The security guards were then instructed to remove obstacles welded on the door to the rooftop, where protesters were holed up in a makeshift tower.

According to a police report on the situation in the Yongsan 4th Zone on that day, police stepped up the crackdown operation at 6:30 a.m., immediately after the radio communication was made, by sending police commandos into the building. The transcript supports remarks by witnesses and protesters who have said that the security guards reached the third floor of the building, where they threatened demonstrators with sledgehammers and then started a fire in order to send smoke up to the roof.

Police have maintained that the security guards exited the building before the police operation began.

Kim called on police to provide an explanation about the recording and accused police of “trying to hide and manipulate the explanation for the reasons behind the Yongsan tragedy.” Kim said she will not overlook the prosecution’s failure to investigate basic evidence such as the recording of the police radio transmission.

The “Committee against the Brutal Suppression of the Yongsan Demolition Protest” said in a statement made at a press conference Friday, “As it has been found that police carried out the murderous crackdown with the firm that was contracted, there should be a thorough investigation into the potentially inappropriate relationship between the police and the firm to assign responsibility for this tragedy.”

In response, police say they “are in the process of figuring out whether such things happened at the time of the crackdown operation.”

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/335162.html

Hankyoreh cartoon (1.23):

Lee “The Bulldozer” Myung-bak sits behind “murderous” police tactics and hired

thugs and blames all of his problems on a single Molotov cocktail.

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Instead of preparing tonight for Seollal, the Lunar New Year holidays, hundreds of activists and citizens - mourning the victims of the Yongsan Massacre in particular and protesting against the LMB administration in general - were blocked, attacked and chased around by thousands of riot cops in downtown Seoul (*)!

* Ultimately the protesters after a while outfoxed the cops, occupied Shinchon's main intersection and the streets leading to Hongdae (the current temperature in Seoul: - 12°C) ..

Related reports:

☞ 추모행렬, 홍익대학교 앞에서 거리시위
☞ 시민 3000명, 신촌로터리 '점령'

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Jan. 20, Seoul, Yongsan District:

SWAT Unit Attacked Sit-in Strike, Executed Massacre

"The cops were going at the protesters as if they were out to kill them!"

Last year LMB(the current S. Korean president) "vowed" to smash any "illegal" labour strike or resistance activity against the current (capitalist) system in S. Korea.

And today in the morning we could witnessing that his "promise" wasn't empty:

A two-hour long massive and extreme violent crackdown, executed by an Anti-terror/SWAT unit (death squad??!!) , against 40 activists protesting a so-called "redevelopment" project in Yongsan, central Seoul, left at least six people dead and 17 injured.

Some eyewitnesses said that the cops set fire to the fortified tower in order to get the occupiers to evacuate the building.

"Four protesters and a riot cop died after a fire engulfed the five-meter high observation tower built by the demonstrators on the rooftop of a four-story building in the area. One body remains unidentified as of press time", according to Korea Herald.

K. Times: A watchtower, set up by protesters on the top of a building in Yongsan, Seoul, is in

flames during a police operation to evict them, Tuesday. Six people including a police officer were

killed and more than 20 were injured. The demonstrators, mainly residents and small business

operators, had staged a sit-in since Monday, protesting the redevelopment of the district.

☞ Deaths in S Korea tower protest (al-Jazeera)

Related (independent) reports:
☞ "살인정권, 살인진압" (Docu-video, by "Hong Gil-dong..")

☞ Detailed report in Korean (OMN) 

☞ Special Report Section (OMN)

☞ "어떻게 사람을... 우리는 사람도 아니다" (TiN)

S. Korean bourgeois stuff:

☞ Six dead, over 20 injured after police clash at construction site (Yonhap)
☞ At least 6 killed in police clash (Korea Herald)
☞ 6 Dead in Fire After Police-Tenant Standoff (Korea Times)
☞ Investigation widens on deadly police clash with protesters (Yonhap)
☞ [NEWS ANALYSIS]Deadly crackdown a blow to Lee (K. Herald)