CINA

본문

본문

Once again we're calling for int'l solidarity!!

Well, almost one month ago the Network for Glocal Activism released it's "Urgent Call for Int'l Solidarity" to support the struggle of the female Hyundai worker...

But until now - in fact - nothing happened... Except yesterday's "현대자동차 사내하청 성희롱, 부당해고 여성 노동자 문제의 해결을 촉구하는 국제 단체․활동가 공동 성명"^^

본문

Well, even I'm a bit to late... just check out the following:

Between last August and early Octobre a KBS reporter team was following us almost every day to document our struggle against the so-called "redevelopment" project in Seoul's Myeong-dong area...

And finally KBS2 broadcasted the following docu-report (MUST SEE!!) Oct. 19 in its night programm...

본문

Last Sat.(11.19) Michel Caitura(MTU's chairperson), together with Park Gyeong-seok(chairman of the S. Korean Solidarity Association Against Discrimination of Disabled People) received this year's Buddhist Human Right Award...

...in Seoul's Jogye Temple(조계사):

Congrats, dear comrades!!

Related reports:
☞ 제17회 불교인권상에 박경석 · 미셸 카투이라 (정각사, 11.14)
☞ S Korea cracks down on migrant workers  (PressTV, 11.07)
 

본문

[Nov. 2011] ILO(Int'l Labour Organisation) Governing Body recommended the following(*):

 
(a) The Committee urges the Government to refrain from any measures which might involve a risk of serious interference with trade union activities and might lead to the arrest and deportation of trade union leaders for reasons related to their election to trade union office. It requests the Government to enforce the decision of the Administrative Court cancelling all punitive measures until a final judgement has been rendered, including by granting the renewal of Mr Catuira’s residence permit. The Committee requests the Government to submit detailed information on the current status of Mr Catuira’s work permit in reply to the complainant’s communication of 28 September 2011 and any other information related to this case.

(b) The Committee expresses its firm expectation that the Government will proceed with the registration of the MTU without delay, and supply full particulars in relation to this matter.

(c) The Committee once again requests the Government to ensure that the Committee’s conclusions, particularly those concerning the freedom of association rights of migrant workers, are submitted for the Supreme Court’s consideration and to provide a copy of the Supreme Court’s decision once it is handed down.

(d) The Committee once again requests the Government to undertake an in-depth review of the situation concerning the status of migrant workers in full consultation with the social partners concerned, so as to fully ensure and safeguard the fundamental rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining of all migrant workers, whether in a regular or irregular situation and in conformity with freedom of association principles, and to prioritize dialogue with the social partners concerned as a means to find negotiated solutions to the issues faced by these workers. The Committee requests to be kept informed of the progress made in this regard.

* A PDF-link to the full text (CASE NO. 2620, "Complaint against the Gov't of the Republic of Korea presented by KCTU and ITUC") you'll find here!

본문

BREAKING NEWS

Today in the early afternoon(KST) in front of Jeju police prison: "Everyone is gathering in front of the prison awaiting the release of our comrades... What an exciting day!"

And only a short while later: "The resistance is reunited and at full strength once again!"

   Thanks a lot to the massive solidarity movement!    

LOTTA CONTINUA... UNTIL VICTORY!!

본문

First of all: Today in the morning(CET) Yonhap reported that "The ruling party-controlled National Assembly approved the long-pending free trade agreement with the United States during a chaotic session Tuesday, after an opposition lawmaker set off tear gas in an attempt to block the passage. The approval paved the way for the landmark deal to take effect on Jan. 1 as planned..."
 

An opposition lawmaker detonated a tear gas canister inside the National Assembly's main chamber on Tuesday in protest at the ruling party's move to force through a free trade agreement with the United States. Rep. Kim Sun-dong of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) was in the full parliamentary session at around 4 p.m. when lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party abruptly called a plenary session in an apparent move to ratify the bill. Kim threw the tear gas bomb near the Speaker's seat, where vice parliamentary speaker Chung Ui-hwa was sitting at the time. (Yonhap)

Given the usually very harsh prosecution of any (alleged) so-called "left-wing crimes" I wouldn't surprised if Kim Sun-dong will be accused/indicted of terrorism!!!

PS: Dear DLP,
Next time when you want to protest inside the Nat'l Assembly you should use pineapples (aka hand grenades), because it's definitely more effective!! Or is it only a matter of time until you send your first suicide assassin??? (^^)

본문

Last week Park Won-soon, Seoul's new elected mayor said during his (online) inauguration 'ceremony': "I'm standing here on behalf of citizens. I will work with citizens. I will always ask to hear from citizens."
   And while he promised that “Regardless of where people live in northern or southern parts of Seoul, I will do my best to guarantee that every citizen can have an equal quality of life...", he mentioned especially the current "inhuman redevelopment projects at the expense of the ordinary people..."

Well, it sounds not so bad...

But of course - ultimately - he(Park Won-soon) will/can't change nothing... without the help/pressure by the civil society/the "power of the streets"!

And in this situation, instead to mobilize ALL forces to create a broad movement to change the 'redevelopment' law("Redevelopment not against, but with the people!!"), Myeong-dong Liberation Front(MDLF) announced(via facebook) two days ago(11.17) that the group is "officially disassembled"...

Wow, that's really political cretinism!!!

본문

Petition letter for Gangjeong village mayor Kang Dongkyun:

To: Jeju District Court, The 2nd Criminal Court Judge
Case Number : 2011kodan887
Defendant : Kang Dongkyun (inmate number 621)
________________________________________
 
Petitioner :
Address :
Company / Organization :

Dear Judge,

Defendant Kang Dongkyun is the mayor of Gangjeong village which has been in big turmoil because of the construction of a naval base for the last 4 years and 5 months. With his devotion and commitment to the village affairs, he is getting approval and confidence from the vast majority of the villagers. Not only is he a trusted father but he is also a farmer who has lived a honest life.

As a leader of a small village, Defendant Kang wished to keep the peace of his community where he was born and raised. In leading the peace movement against the naval base construction, he has never resorted to violence, nor has he wielded excessive force. Mayor Kang has worked hard to understand and sympathize the villagers who felt anger and sadness along the way. He shared happiness. He has done everything he could to lead the peaceful and resonable peace campaign against the naval base construction.

A lot of Korean citizens who think peace should come first are firmly demanding the issue of Gangjeong village and naval base construction be solved peacefully and immediately. It is widely believed that this issue should make a precedence that a national policy project is implemented in a democratic and rational way. In order to solve the issue peacefully, dialogue and negotiation between the villagers, Jeju residetns and the Navy should begin, and the village leader has to be released from prison to represent the villager's will in the dialogue. Without his release, the anger, pain and disbelief felt by the Gangjeong villagers will deepen. If we ignore this tragedy of the small village, then it will hurt the entire nation.

Apart from this, there are many other reasons that the village mayor be released. However, I sign this petition letter to the honorable judge, looking forward to a wise and thoughtful decision. Please, release village mayor Kang Dongkyun.

November ,2011
Petitioner signature

본문

Today's Yonhap News reported that "Three minor opposition parties will form a new progressive party as part of efforts to boost their chances in next year's parliamentary elections, their leaders said, while the main opposition party is working hard to form a broad alliance with other liberal forces and civic groups.
Leaders of three minor parties - the Democratic Labor Party, the People's Participatory Party and a novice party made up of defectors from the Progressive New Party - announced that they will hold a convention to set the new progressive party's platform and nomination rules for the April general elections...
Talks have been under way for months to form a united front among minor opposition parties, but stakeholders of each party were divided over whether to form a coalition or create a new progressive party.
If combined, the bloc would hold seven seats in the 299-member unicameral parliament.
The breakthrough came as the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is stepping up its efforts with left-leaning parties and civic groups to form a broad coalition to boost liberals' chances in next year's parliamentary and presidential votes..."

Well, this means in effect that - possibly - very soon we'll see (and have to fight against) another pro-capitalist "social"democratic party (alongside the main "opposition" DP) in the Nat'l Assembly, the S. Korean parliament!!

Related articles:
☞ Minor opposition party merger on the horizon (Hankyoreh, 11.18)
☞ With Progressive Party Union, What Comes After Is More Important (Kyunghyang, 11.14)
☞ DP urges left wing to unite (Korea Herald, 11.14)