Briefs on the struggle of the south Korean people

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

Apr.18- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification issued a statement, marking the 58^th anniversary of the Joint Conference of Representatives of Political Parties and Public Organizations in South and North Korea. It called upon the Korean nation to open the June 15 reunification era with concerted efforts of the nation and make a new leap in national reunification through the patriotic movement for the independent reunification, peace against war and great national unity.

Apr.19- The Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration issued a statement titled “Let us realize independent reunification by inheriting the spirit of the April 19.”

- The Society of April Revolution released a statement titled “Let us realize the independent reunification by driving out the foreign forces.”

 =Anti-US and anti-war struggle

Apr.15- Members of the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaeek held a rally in front of the Ministry of Defense to denounce the military authorities’ move to expand the US military base.

Apr.17- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaeek issued a commentary to criticize the move of the Ministry of Defense to turn Pyeongtaek area “protection region for military establishment.”

- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration made public a statement demanding that the United States lift its financial sanctions against north Korea.

Apr.20- The 4^th Seoul regional candlelight rally against the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek was held in the Seoul under the sponsorship of the All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek.

Apr.22- The Seoul Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North joint Declaration held an inaugural ceremony in Seoul to declare vigorous struggle against the US and conservatism.

Apr.23- The 600^th candlelight vigil was taken place at a primary school in Paengseong Township, Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province with the attendance of more than 800 members of civic organizations and students.

Apr.24- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek held a news conference to strongly denounce the move of the Ministry of Defense to use force to expropriate land in Pyeongtaek.

- Figures of civic organizations held a news conference in Seoul to demand the US troops to restore polluted environment of the military base.

Apr.25- The Committee for Correcting the Past History for Truth and Reconciliation held a news conference. It decided to conduct a survey of massacres of civilians.

Apr.26- Candidates of the Democratic Labor Party for the local elections held a news conference in front of the National Assembly and committed themselves to a struggle for checking the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek.

Apr.27- The Korean Catholic Priests’ Council for Justice held a meeting in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province and called upon the people to turn out in the struggle for checking the military intervention to expropriate land in Pyeongtaek.

- The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils released a statement titled “We strongly denounce the US ambassador’s visit to the May 18 cemetery.”  

Apr.28- The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils released a statement titled “Let us force out the US troops from south Korea inheriting the martyrs’ will.”

Apr.29- The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils issued a statement denouncing the military authorities for the move to use force for ensuring the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek.

Apr.30- A rally of youth and students was held in Seoul. It demanded immediate stop of the south Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and withdrawal of the plan for expanding the US military base.

- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification issued a commentary, marking May Day. It denounced that the US is the arch enemy to the working people and stressed the need to achieve victory in showdown between the Korean nation and the US by the concerted efforts of the working people.    

May.2- The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek and the Paengseong Township Measure Committee for Opposing the Expansion of the US Military Base held a news conference at a park to denounce the deceptive “dialogue” of the Ministry of National Defense regarding the issue of an area to be designated to expand the US military base.

May.3- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification made public a statement titled “The Ministry of Defense should stop immediately the use of force and expropriating the land in Pyeongtaek.”

May.5- Members of civic organizations and students more than 1,000 in all waged fierce actions in an area to be designated to expand the US military base.  

=Struggle for democracy and the right to live

Apr.10- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions declared a general strike to check the passage of a bill on part-time jobs through the National Assembly.

Apr.15- Chang Song-hoe, chairman of the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils made public a statement in protest against the public security authorities’ arrest of the former chairman of the Gangwon Regional Federation of University Student Councils.

Apr.16- The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils released a commentary denouncing irregularities and corruption of the Grand National party.

Apr.17- The Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace in the Korean Peninsula held a news conference in front of the National Assembly to censure the irregularities and corruption of the GNP before the local elections.

Apr.18- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration made public an appeal titled “Put an end to the corrupt politics in unity with the progressive forces.”   

Apr.21- The Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration issued a statement titled “Kim Young-sam, an indecent man, must be punished as a traitor to the nation.”

Apr.22- The Reunification Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and the Peace in the Korean Peninsula held a ceremony of declaring actions to carry forward the spirit of the April 19 Popular Uprising and liquidate the conservative forces at a park in Seoul.

Apr.24- The Federation of Peasants Associations held a ceremony in Seoul to mark the 16^th anniversary of its formation. It called for actions against the conclusion of the heinous south Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. 

Apr.26- The Internet Journalists Association and the US-based Internet homepage Minjok Tongshin held a joint news conference in Seoul. They strongly demanded the south Korean government lift the step for disconnecting the Internet sites and stop the unreasonable suppression of the press.

May.1- A workers rally was held in front of the Seoul City Office with the attendance of more than 15,000 unionists of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

- A rally marking the May Day was held with the participation of unionists of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions and more than 10,000 people.

- The Reunification Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace in the Korean Peninsula held a news conference in front of the National Assembly in demand of the revision of the law of private schools.