Briefs on the struggle of the south Korean people

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

Mar.8- The 6^th meeting of the Reunification Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace on the Korean Peninsula was held in Seoul. It discussed as its special agenda item the issue of organizing a united front. The meeting was followed by a function for commemorating the 5^th anniversary of the Reunification Solidarity.   

Mar.10- A conference of women in the south and the north of Korea was held at Mt. Geumgang resort to implement the June 15 joint declaration.

Mar.10~11- The 4^th meeting of representatives of the youth and student organizations in the south and the north of Korea and overseas for implementing the June 15 joint declaration was held in Shenyang, China. Present at the meeting were Kim Ik-sok, permanent representative of the Youth and Student Headquarters of the South Side Committee for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration, representatives of youth and student organizations of the south side and representatives of overseas youth and student organizations from China, Japan and the United States. The meeting discussed an agenda “On the orientation of the reunification movement of the youth and students for this year.” A resolution was adopted at the meeting.     

Mar.14- A meeting of representatives of workers of the south and north of Korea for implementing the joint declaration was held by the Workers’ Sub-Committee of the North Side’s Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration and the Workers Headquarters of the South Side’s Committee for Implementing the June 15 joint Declaration in Gaesong.     

=Anti-US and anti-war struggle

Mar.1- The People for Peace and Reunification held the 12^th general meeting and made public a resolution. It demanded the withdrawal of the “strategic flexibility of the USFK” and the government’s plan for military reform.

Mar.4- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Relocation of the US Military Base in South Korea composed of more than 140 civic organizations in Gwangyang City, South Jeolla Province, held the 1^st grand rally against the relocation of the US military base to Gwangyang Port.      

Mar.2- The spokesperson for the Reunification Solidarity released a commentary in denunciation of the US smear campaign against north Korea. The commentary recalled that the US State Department asserted in an “international narcotics control and strategy report” that there exist the substantial evidences showing the involvement of north Korea in drug and other illegal dealings. It demanded the US repeal all the base reports pursuant to the hostile policy towards north Korea.

Mar.6- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek made public an appeal and called upon all the people to turn out in the struggle to defend Pyeongtaek.  

Mar.9- Over 140 civic organizations including the Citizens’ Solidarity for Democratic Society held a news conference in Seoul, urging the withdrawal of the agreement on reshaping the south Korea-US alliance.

Mar.10- The National People’s Solidarity issued a statement titled “Stop the south Korea-US joint military exercises against north Korea.”

- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification released a commentary denouncing the US move to expand the role of the UN Command in south Korea.

- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration made public a statement to strongly denounce the US for its plot to perpetuate its military presence in south Korea.

=Anti-Japanese struggle

Members of civic organizations including victims of the “comfort women” for the Japanese army held the 699^th Wednesday meeting in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

=Struggle for democracy and the right to live

Feb.28- The representative of the Democratic Labor Party declared a general political strike in protest against passage of the bill on part-time jobs at the National Asembly. 

Mar.4- Fifty three general university student councils, 18 college student councils and the student committee of the Democratic Labor Party formed the National Measure Committee for Education of Students in Seoul and called for a solidarity struggle for the settlement of the education issue.

Mar.6- The Emergency Measure Committee of Agricultural, Stockbreeding and Fishing Industries, the preparatory committee for the All-People Measure Committee to Defend Screen Quota and Check the US-south Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Measure Committee of Moviemen to Check the Cultural Aggression and Defend Screen Quota strongly protested against the decision to push ahead with the negotiations for the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, which was made at the first preliminary meeting for the negotiations between the United States and the south Korean authorities.      

Mar.9- Thirty cultural and art organizations called a news conference in Seoul and declared the formation of the Culture and Art Joint Measure Committee for Checking the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and securing Cultural Variety. Denouncing the government for seeking to totally sell out the culture of south Korea through the conclusion of the humiliating south Korea-US FTA, the press release urged the authorities to stop the negotiation for the signing of the agreement and repeal the decision on reduction of the screen quota.    

- Twelve health organizations including the Pharmacists Association for a Healthy Society held a news conference in Seoul, demanding an immediate halt to the negotiations for the conclusion of the FTA.