Briefs on the struggle of the south Korean people

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

Nov.15- The Anti-US Women’s Association issued a statement to denounce the European Union for having presented a bill on the north Korean human rights to the United Nations.

Nov.17- The south-north joint photo exhibition was held at a memorial house in Seoul to mark 100 years after the fabrication of the brigandish “1905 Five-Point Treaty” by Japan, according to the agreement of the Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the South, North and Overseas for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration.

Nov.20- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification published an article on its 15^th birthday. It clarifies its will to make redoubled efforts to implement the inter-Korean joint declaration.

Nov.26- The Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration released a statement on the occasion of the 3^rd anniversary of its foundation.

=Anti-US and anti-war struggle

Nov.14- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification issued a statement to denounce US president Bush’s visit to south Korea.

Nov.15- The US-based Internet homepage “Minjok Tongshin” reported nationwide struggle of south Korean people against US President Bush’s visit to south Korea and called upon the south Korean to turn out in the struggle against Bush.

- The Women Action against Bush held a news conference in front of the US embassy in Seoul in denunciation of Bush’s visit to Seoul.

The 74^th anti-US solidarity rally against the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek was held at a park in Seoul.

Nov.16- Chairwoman Song Hyo-won of the South Korean Federation of University Students Councils released a statement titled “Intensive struggle against Bush’s visit to south Korea is justifiable. Let us achieve victory in the anti-US and anti-Bush struggle with united efforts of the nation.”

- The Seoul Area Federation of University Students Councils under Hanchongryeon made public a statement denouncing Bush’s visit to south Korea.  

- An international peace forum for dismantlement of the US military base and against war and neo-liberal globalization (Pyeongtaek international peace forum) was held at a primary school in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province. Present there were representatives of civic organizations including the People for Peace and Reunification and foreign activists under the Pan-Asian Joint Action against the US and Japanese Imperialists’ Domination and Aggression of Asia.  

Nov.17- A rally of civic organizations was held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, denouncing Bush’s visit to south Korea with participation of more than 500 members of civic organizations.

- Members of the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek, the All Together, the National People’s Solidarity for National Independence, Democracy and People’s Right to Live, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Council of Youth Organizations and other civic, youth and students organizations held a meeting condemning US President Bush at the plaza of Gyeongju Railway Station.

- The anti-war cultural function was held in Busan with participation of 2,500 members of civic organizations.

- The Busan Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration released a statement denouncing Bush’s visit to south Korea.  

Nov.18- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification issued a statement titled “The south Korea-US summit talks are sycophantic and traitorous and anti-reunification talks.”

- Kim No-jin, chairman of the Seoul Area Federation of University Student Councils under Hanchongryeon made public an appeal titled “Let us advance for a new victory with intensive struggle against the plot of the US and its lackeys to revive the pro-US conservative regime.”

Nov.18- The People for Peace and Reunification released a commentary denouncing the talks held between the south Korean and the US chief executives.

Nov.21- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek and the Solidarity for Preserving the Cultural Heritages held a news conference in front of the Ministry of National Defense in demand of an immediate halt to the transfer of the US military base and preservation of the cultural heritage.   

Nov.22- Members of four major religious organizations including Protestant, Buddhism and Round Buddhism held a rally in Seoul in protest against the authorities’ offer of land for the transfer and expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek.

Nov.23- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek, members of the Paengseong Township Measure Committee against the Expansion of the US Military Base and inhabitants in Pyeongtaek staged a protest in Songnam, Gyeonggi Province, against the authorities’ approval of the resolution on offering land for the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek.

Nov.24- The People for Peace and Reunification released a commentary denouncing the public security authorities’ ruthless suppression upon participants in the struggle against the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek.  

- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification issued a statement denouncing the authorities for scheming to extend against the term of the presence of the south Korean troops in Iraq.        

Nov.26- The All-People Measure Committee against the Expansion of the US Military base in Pyeongtaek held a candlelight vigil at the Pyeongtaek Plaza.

   =Anti-Japanese struggle

Nov.17- A special exhibition was taken place at the Independence Memorial House, 100 years after the fabrication of the brigandish “1905 Five-Point Treaty” by the Japanese imperialists. A photo show was held at the National Assembly. Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the Gyeongbok Palace in welcome of the regain of the monument to the great victory won in the northern part of Korea during the Japanese (Hideyoshi's)invasion of Korea in 1592, which was seized by the Japanese imperialists in 1905.

- 80 civic organizations including the Federation of Homogeneous Nation Movement Organizations and the Council of Bereaved Families of Men of Merit for Independence held a meeting for making a history of national independence in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, a centenary since the fabrication of the “1905 Five-Point Treaty” which forced the fate of a ruined nation upon the Koreans.

- The Headquarters of North Jeolla Province of the Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the South, North and Overseas for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration held a news conference marking 100 years since the fabrication of the “Ulsa Five-Point Treaty.”

=Struggle for achieving democracy and the right to live

Nov.14- Members of the National Federation of Peasants Associations declared an indefinite sit-in strike in front of Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul in protest against the moves to railroad and traitorous bill on rice negotiations through the National Assembly.

Nov.15- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement titled “The government’s policy of rice market opening is a deceitful one that snatches dream of the peasants.”

Nov. 16- The Council of Human Rights Organizations composed of more than 30 organizations including the Lawyers for Democratic Society made public a statement titled “We denounce illegal and oppressive act of the police.”

- A joint news conference was held near the National Assembly by the sponsorship of the Emergency Measure Committee for Urgent Measures for Checking National Assembly’s Ratification of the Bill on the Rice Negotiation

Nov.18- A memorial service for O Chu-ok, director for cultural affairs of the Women Peasants’ Association of Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, who committed a suicide in protest against the authorities’ opening of the rice market, and a national meeting of peasants for checking the rice market opening and Bush’s visit to south Korea were held in Busan with participation of more than 4,000 farmers.  

Nov.20- A national meeting of workers was held at a park in Seoul with participation of over 10,000 workers under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. They strongly demanded the authorities enact the law on protecting the part-time job adopted within this year. 

Nov.21- A peasants rally to save agriculture was taken place in Yeouido, Seoul with participation of more than 800 peasants and members of civic organizations. It was sponsored by the Committee for Emergency Measure Committee for Checking National Assembly’s Ratification of the Proposal for Rice Negotiation.

- The Reunification Solidarity launched an one-by-one demonstration in front of the National Assembly in demand of the abolition of the National Security Law.

- The Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration released a commentary censuring the moves of the pro-US conservative forces on “wiretapping case.” 

Nov.23- More than 200 peasants under the Busan-South Gyeongsang Provincial Federation of the National Federation of Peasants Associations staged a sit-in- strike against rice negotiation at the office of the provincial governor.

-The Seoul Area Federation of University Students Councils issued a statement and called for the people to join in the peasants’ struggle against the rice market opening.   

- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a meeting for wining legislation on the guarantee of rights to the part timers in front of the Kookmin Bank in Seoul.

- The Korean Confederation of trade Unions made public a statement titled “The passage of a bill on rice negotiation, which gave up food sovereignty of the country, is a historical criminal act.”

Nov.24- The Federation of Korean Trade Unions released a statement titled “We oppose the passage of bill on rice negotiations through the National Assembly.”

- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification made public a statement titled “We bitterly denounce the government, the ruling and opposition parties for railroading a bill on rice negotiations through the National Assembly.”

- The Anti-US Women’s Association released a statement titled “Resign, treacherous, murderous and oppressive government.”

Nov.25- Peasants from North Gyeongsang Province went on an indefinite strike in tents in denunciation of passage of the bill on rice negotiations.

Nov.26- A candlelight memorial service for death of peasant Chun Yong-chol was held in Seoul with participation of more than 600 peasants and figures of civic organizations.

- The Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 the South-north Joint Declaration issued a statement calling upon all progressive forces to wage a united struggle to protect agriculture.

Nov.28- The All-People Measure Committee for the Fundamental Recovery of Agriculture and Condemnation of the Murder of Peasant Chun Yong-chol held a news conference in front of the police Office in Seoul to denounce the police for its use of force.

Nov.29- An inaugural ceremony of the Korean women action for self-governing life and fair politics made up of 73 organizations took place in Seoul.

Nov.30- The People’s Solidarity for Removing Social Bipolarization consisting of 136 civic organizations including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the National Federation of Peasants Associations, the National People’s Solidarity for National Independence, Democracy and People’s Right to Live and the Citizens’ Solidarity for Democratic Society held a news conference in Seoul in demand of the rights of part timers.  

Dec.1- At least 60,000 unionists of the Korean Confederation of Trade unions went on a nationwide general strike to achieve rights of part timers.

- The South Gyeongsang Provincial Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally for a general strike for winning legislation on guaranteeing the rights of part-timers at a park in South Gyeongsang province.   

- A national peasant meeting for nullification of rice negotiation and denouncing the police who killed a peasant Chun Yong-chol was held in Seoul with attendance of more than 4,000 peasants, workers and students.

- The North Jeolla Provincial Solidarity for Reunification made public a statement titled “The abolition of the National Security Law cannot be delayed any more.”