S. KOREA. Last Year's Last Struggle Report...
Por KCTU/ETU-MB -
Saturday, Jan. 01, 2005 at 7:34 AM
...by activists in Seoul
LAST DAY'S REPORT (Seoul, 12.31)
After on last Tuesday, Dec. 27, some interested activists, who want to create Indymedia S. Korea [about that issue next year(!!) more], had a meeting with the Israeli Indymedia and peace activist Adam Treistman - he was reporting about the experiences Israeli activists got when they created four years ago Indymedia Israel - the following Wednesday was full with rallies and meetings.
On Yeouido, near the National Assembly, from Wednesday afternoon until the evening one rally was hunting the other. The beginning made a rally demanding the 3 Labor Rights, around 500 workers, organized in different KCTU branches, such as mainly female employees who are working in police stations.
This rally was followed by a rally demanding the abolishing of the infamous National "Security" Law (NSL). Among many workers also a large group of disabled activists were joining the event.
Meanwhile on the other side of Uisadang-ro, leading to the National Assembly, a small group of poor minded reactionaries are protesting for the preservation of NSL.
On "our" side of Uisadang-ro - here it was much more funny - the rallies continued with the subject of irregular workers and the oppression of minority groups, such as disabled people.
Some members of the collective who are occupying since last July the "Jeong-rib" Social Center (it was already reported
here) presented a very impressive role play about the history of their struggle for democratic rights.
This event was followed by a rally once again demanding changing the status of irregular workers. This rally was organized by Guemgang Trade Union (about their struggle it was reported some times ago). Here the undisputed highlight was the performance of the protest singer Park Hyang-mi. All rallies were joined by several hundred of union activists, even it was really ice-cold on that day.
In the evening some Palestine solidarity activists and the Israeli peace activist Adam Treistman had a meeting in the new
Peace Museum (opposite of Jogye-sa Temple, near Jonggag station).
Here Adam was reporting about the Israeli different anti-occupation groups. But unfortunately we'd to learn that there is no real mass movement against the occupation and the most of the Israelis are just tired of the issue and are not interested at all, they just want to keep the conflict as far as possible. As the best behind the wall.
Yesterday, on Friday, Dec. 30, anti-war groups were calling for a central demonstration against the extending of the troop dispatching in Iraq, the National Assembly wanted to vote about it on that day. Unfortunately just around 900 people joined the protest. Of course no wonder, because organizations such as KCTU were not calling for the rally (just remember how Lee Soo-ho loudmouthed announced some month ago, that one of the first priorities of the struggle of KCTU will be the withdrawal of S. Korean troops out off Iraq)
Short after the beginning of the rally, Byeoleum Jari-pyo was performing his songs, strange things were going on the edge of the rally: nearly all Hanchongryeong (Korean Federation of Student Councils) members, who participated on the rally left the place. Just minutes later the reporter had to learn, that they changed the subject and started to struggle against the police with the aim to reach the National Assembly, to protest for the abolishing of NSL.
Real strange kind of solidarity, really! No wonder when the government and the majority of the parliament don't take the struggle against the troop presence in Iraq serious. Just in UNITY we can reach our goals, no matter if it is the struggle against NSL or the troops in Iraq! If we don't fight in UNITY we just will loose the struggle and our enemy, once again can laugh at us!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
GLUECKLICHES NEUES JAHR!
-->Finally
here you'll find a special new year present, made by
"Docuin".
THANX COMRADE!!
Our last report (Dec. 28) you can read
here.
Here some more imressions from
yesterday's rallies and fights
Once again the question: there are also necessary killings? (found in Peace Museum)
RELEASE ALL MIGRANT WORKERS FROM DETENTION CENTERS!
FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN S. KOREA!
LET’S FIGHT TOGETHER FOR A WORLD
WITHOUT EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION!
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, ONLY
IF YOU WANT AND FIGHT FOR IT!
