CINA

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Two days ago I posted a short piece about a press conference/protest rally to condemn the "Africa Museum of Original Art"(located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province) for its massive violation of labor and human rights...

One day later a Hankyoreh reporter visited the "residence" of African migrant workers who are working in this slave-like conditions at the "Africa Museum of Original Art" in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province and his impressive report you can(MUST!) read here.

The same newspaper published one day before an article about the protest and some detailed background info: "African museum performers protest working in slave-like conditions"... and even the (bourgeois)Korea Times mentioned the issue: "Museum accused of exploiting African artists"

The Marmott's Hole added y'day: "African slavery in Pocheon? That there’s foreign laborer exploitation going on in a place like Pocheon should be as surprising as a French president having an affair. What’s IS interesting, though, is that the director of the museum just happens to be the Saenuri Party’s general secretary..."

PS. No comment(^^):

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Y'day, as a part of the "Global Day of Action to Free Cambodian Garment Workers", KCTU, together with FKTU and KTNC Watch staged a protest action in front of Cambodian Embassy in Seoul(here you'll get an impressive report, written by the 'Korean Health &Medical Workers' Union'/보건의료노조!!).

More than 30 representatives from different KCTU affiliates including KMWU, KHMU, KGEU, KPTU, KTU and MTU held pickets and chanted together: "Free the 23!" "Respect Labour Rights" "Living Wage for Workers Now"

Yoo Ki-soo, Secretary General of KCTU said "One month ago, we were here to ask the government's responsibility for the bloody repression against the workers' strike for higher wage. Trade unions, civil society, UN and ILO, even the global major fashion brands have demanded a through investigation on the killings and a fair and inclusive process for determining a new minimum wage. However, while the government is keeping silence, not the perpetrators of the killing but workers are still in jail. Korean workers who joined strikes are facing the same repression. Imprisonment, Damage compensation claim, dismissal... Today's action is more than giving solidarity. Workers in two countries are in the same situation. We want to struggle with Cambodian workers to solve the common problems together. We are one!" Choe Mi-kyeong, Executive Director of Korean House for International Solidarity(KHIS) denounced the collusion between Korean Companies operating in Cambodia and the military forces who engaged in the bloody repression.

After the action, 4 representatives of the groups met Mr.SAMEN SOKHA, counselor in charge of labour affairs to deliver our concerns and demand. The government representative repeatedly said "In democratic society, anyone who want to enjoy their right to strike or right to protest should respect laws. The 23 violated laws by blocking roads." "the opposition party, CNRP is behind the protest." "Our government should respect the international standard but we also should protect the property rights of those who do business in Cambodia." mentioning nothing about the death of the 4 workers.

At the same time in Ansan(Gyeonggi-do): Cambodian dismissed workers went out to unite for joining the global struggle against the Cambodian gov't to release the 23 detained strikers immediately...

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Related article:
☞ 아프리카박물관 가보니 '설국열차 꼬리칸' (노컷뉴스, 2.10)

Today's press conference/protest rally(supported by KCTU, MTU etc...) in Seoul to condemn the "Africa Museum of Original Art"(located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province) for its massive violation of migrant workers' rights...

More related articles(published a short while after the press conference^^) you can read here:
☞ 아프리카박물관 가보니 '설국열차 꼬리칸' 노컷뉴스(2.10)
☞ “아프리카박물관은 삶과 예술을 죽였어요”... (경향신문, 2.10)
☞ 월급 60만원·하루 밥값 4천원…아프리카 예술단 ‘노예노동’ (한겨레, 2.10)
☞ '노예노동' 홍문종·'5억특혜' 한선교 카메라 들이대자... "말도 안 되는 소리" (OMN, 2.10)
☞ "꿈 갖고 한국 왔지만 악몽 됐다" (레디앙, 2.10)
☞ “한국 올때 꿈을 가지고 왔지만 악몽으로 바뀌었다” (미디어 오늘, 2.10)

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When his teenage daughter Yu-mi landed a job at the electronics company Samsung, Hwang Sang-ki was bursting with pride. Yu-mi would bring in enough money to support her struggling family and, she was hoping, it would pay her younger brother's way through university.

But in 2007, five years after she began work at one of the semiconductor plants of the South Korean consumer electronics firm, Yu-mi died, on the back seat of her father's taxi as he rushed her to hospital...(Guardian, 2.05)

A film based on the death of a Samsung Electronics employee was released in South Korea, with its producer complaining of difficulties in securing screens despite high viewer interest. "Another Promise" is a fictionalised account of the story of Hwang Yu-Mi, a real-life employee who died in 2007 of an acute form of leukaemia after working for four years at one of Samsung's semiconductor plants...(Times of India, 2.06)

A detailed film review you can read here!

On the morning of February 6, "Another Promise"(aka "Another Family"), a film about the true story of Hwang Yu-mi who died of leukemia while working at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant released in theaters despite talk of outside pressure and problems with a lack of screens.

But despite it was the opening day, not a single poster was hanging in the theater. Last Thursday, many other film posters were displayed in the CGV theater in Seoul’s Guro district, but none for "Another Promise". But even in the morning, many viewers were already there to watch the film, which has had troubles being produced and shown. More than 80% of seats for the 9:50 am showing had been sold for the premiere(more about the event you can read here and here)...

More articles, related to the movie you can read here:

☞ Film on Samsung workers suspiciously pulled from screens (Hankyoreh, 2.06)
☞ Film spotlights claims of sickness linked to Samsung plants (Guardian, 2.05)
☞ Movie depicting Samsung leukemia victims’ struggle... (Hankyoreh, 2.02)
☞ Movie Details Samsung Worker's Battle With Cancer (HuffPost, 13.10.10)

 

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Today's TOP STORY, at least for the S. Korean workers' movement: An appellate court ordered Ssangyong Motor to reinstate 153 fired workers, overturning a lower court ruling which backed the carmaker’s mass layoff in 2009. The Seoul High Court said that the company’s decision should be invalidated citing its failure to make every effort to avoid the dismissal. The court also said it was based on an incorrect audit report... (for more detailed info, please check out LabourStart!)

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Today's 'TOP STORY' in the int'l(incl. the N. Korean) media: "Supreme leader Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, was nominated as a candidate for deputy to the 13th Supreme People's Assembly..."

But WHY?

Possibly because he dares to smoke (American)cigarettes wherever he wants...

...or just because he loves small children, especially when they're crying???