Briefs on the struggle of the south Korean people

= Struggle for implementing the June 15 inter-Korean joint declaration

Sep.8- Chairman Moon Gyeong-shik of the National Federation of Peasants’ Associations issued a statement titled “Let us put an end to 60 year- long history of the US military occupation of south Korea in the name of farmers and create history of independence and reunification.”

Sep.15- The US-based Internet homepage “Minjok Tongshin” carried its editor’s article demanding acceleration of the movement for Korea’s reunification based on national cooperation.

Sep.28~29- The south provincial delegation of south Korea headed by governor Kim Jin-son held a national folk cultural festival for implementing the inter-Korean joint declaration with the Gangwon provincial delegation of north Korea at Mt. Geumgang resort.

=Anti-US and anti-war struggle

Sep.5- According to a survey made by the Institute of Public Opinion, half of respondents said that the US is largely to be blamed for Korea’s division and the country that hamstrings process of Korea’s reunification is the US.

Sep.7- A spokesperson for the Reunification Solidarity published a poem denouncing the USFK.

Sep.8- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek and the People for Peace and Reunification released a joint statement denouncing the military authorities who force them to offer land for use of the US military base.

Sep.10- Anti-US cultural events and information activities were staged in Seoul. Daejeon Gwangju and other parts of south Korea under the co-sponsorship of the National People’s Solidarity for National Independence, Democracy and People’s Right to Live and the Reunification Solidarity.

Sep.11- A people’s rally was held in Incheon in demand of the US troops’ pullback to put an end to their 60 year-long presence in south Korea with participation of about 5,000 members of civic organizations.

Sep.12- The Paengseong Township Measure Committee against the Expansion of the US Military Base held a news conference in front of the Ministry of Defense to criticize forcible plundering of land for the US military base.  

Sep.13- The 72nd anti-US solidarity meeting took place in Seoul on the theme of “Let’s smash the moves to forcibly usurp land for the expansion of the US forces’ base in Pyeongtaek.”

- Civic organizations including the Committee for Promoting the Repatriation of Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners in south Korea and the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy held a news conference in front of the building of the government at which they demanded an immediate repatriation of the remaining unconverted long-term prisoners.

Sep.14- The General Federation of Student Councils of Hongik University released a statement titled “Abolish the national Security Law running counter to the times and legalize the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils.”

- The National People’s Solidarity for National Independence, Democracy and People’s Right to Live and the Reunification Solidarity held a news conference in front of the Police Office to censure the police that ruthlessly suppressed a people’s rally for withdrawal of the US troops from south Korea.

Sep.16- The Reunification Solidarity made public a commentary that the Us put pressure upon the south Korean people’s struggle for the removal of the statue of MacArthur.

-The People for Peace and Reunification released a commentary denouncing the “military reform bill” of the Ministry of Defense.

Sep.20- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification made public a commentary urging the US to sincerely implement the joint statement agreed upon at the six-party talks held in Beijing, China.

Sep.21- Students under the General Federation of University Student Councils of Joongang University, Donggook University, Dankook University and members of the Student Committee of the Democratic Labor Party held a protest rally in front of a police station in Seoul to denounce the security authorities’ suppression upon students.

- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration issued a statement titled “The US must sincerely implement the joint statement agreed upon at the six-party talks.”

Sep.22- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification released a statement denouncing the US behavior as a reckless act of impairing the spirit of the joint statement agreed upon at the fourth round of the six-party talks.

- The People for Peace and Reunification issued a commentary condemning the US for laying obstacles in the way of implementing the joint statement agreed in Beijing, China.

Sep.24- A joint action rally for peace against war and for the withdrawal of the dispatched troops to Iraq took place in Seoul.

Sep.25- The Solidarity of Youth and Student for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration issued a statement denouncing the US interference in the internal affairs concerning the removal of the statue of MacArthur.  

=Struggle for achieving democracy and vital rights

Sep.6- The Lawyers for Democratic Society issued a statement demanding the abolition of the National Security Law.

Sep.8- A civic organization held a news conference in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to criticize unpopular neo-liberalization policy of the government.

- The Reunification Youth issued a statement to protest against suppression of the security authorities against the pro-reunification forces.

- 25 human rights organizations including the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy, the Society of Human Rights Champions and the Lawyers for Democratic society held a news conference in front of the building of the Seoul district Police Office and demanded the total disorganization of the “Investigation Section,” a repressive machine, which is a successor to the former “Anti-Communist Section.”

- The Family Movement for Realizing Democracy and other human rights organizations made public a statement in demand of the dissolution of the “security investigation team” of the Police Office.

Sep.10- A peasant rally against the World Trade Organization and for defending rice was held in Yeoido, Seoul with the attendance of about 6,000 members of 11 peasant organizations including the National Federation of Peasants’ Associations.

Sep.14- The Freight Transport Workers’ Solidarity under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally at the plaza in front of the Busan City Office building to vow to launch an all-out struggle to win the right to existence.

Sep.21- The Student Committee of the Democratic Labor Party issued a statement titled “Dismantle Public Security and Investigation Team and abolish the National Security Law.”

- The Seoul Area Federation of University Student Councils and the Western Seoul Area Federation of university Student Councils under the south Korean Federation of university Student Councils respectively issued special statement demanding legalization of Hanchongnyeon and abolition of the National Security Law.

Sep.22- The People’s Solidarity for Eradicating the Social Inequity called a news conference for the formation of the organization at which it urged the authorities to eliminate the discord in the unequal society.

- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally demanding betterment of working conditions in front of the National Assembly.