Briefs on the anti-US anti-war struggle in south Korea

 

△For the withdrawal of the US troops and the dissolution of the south Korea-US military alliance

6.13-The Reunification Solidarity for the Realization of the June 15 Joint Declaration and Peace of the Korean Peninsula issued a statement on the occasion of the 2^nd death anniversary of two schoolgirls by the US troops.

6.15-Those Opening Peace and Reunification and the People's Action to Revise the Unjust SOFA held the 57^th anti-US solidarity rally in front of the US Embassy.

6.17-Those Opening Peace and Reunification and the Committee for the Research of the US Forces Problem under the Lawyers for Democratic Society co-sponsored a seminar on the subject “How to view the shift of the south Korea-US alliance and the USFK relocation”.

The speakers clarified the wrongfulness of the USFK reduction, developing the south Korea-based US troops into a regional army in North East Asia and relocation of the military basses on the basis of arms build-up, and claimed that they would make every effort to totally drive the US troops out of south Korea, dismantle the new south Korea-US alliance and realize a cooperation of the North East Asian courtiers.

 

△ For the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration

6.12-Under the auspices of the Reunification Solidarity a grand march of independent reunification for implementing the June 15 joint declaration, the successful convening of our nation’s meeting and the anti-US national cooperation, was observed in Seoul.

-An event of the Daejeon citizens for the realization of anti-war peace was held in Daejeon under the subject “From June to the reunification, the world we build”.

6.14-The South HQ of Beomcheonghakryon issued a statement on the occasion of the 4^th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration.

-Youn Gi-jin, chairman of the South HQ of Beomcheonghakryon, issued an appeal on the same occasion.

6.16-The Internet radio “Voice of People” issued a commentary titled “The shout of great national unity reverberated in Incheon”.

-The Reunification Solidarity issued a special statement entitled “Closing our nation’s meeting to celebrate the 4^th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration”.

 

△ Against the troop dispatch to Iraq

6.18-The People's Action against the Troop Dispatch to Iraq and the Busan-Gyeongnam Area Federation of University Student Councils held a rally respectively to denounce the authorities for having reaffirmed the additional troop dispatch to Iraq.

6.19-Students affiliated to Hanchongnyon conducted a surprise attack on the building of the Uri Party in protest against its decision to push ahead with the troop dispatch to Iraq.

-The People's Action against the Troop Dispatch to Iraq held a meeting of its representatives at an office of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and decided to launch a mass struggle to repeal the government’s decision on the additional troop dispatch to Iraq.

-A youth and student sit-in group occupied the office of the chairman of the Uri Party and published a statement demanding the revocation of the ruling party’s decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq.

-The Reunification Solidarity and the East Seoul Area Federation of University Student Councils respectively issued a statement urging the Uri Party to repeal the decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq.

6.21-The KCTU issued a statement denouncing the authorities for its decision to enforce the troop dispatch to Iraq.

-The Federation of Korean Trade Unions and Hanchongnyon respectively issued a statement calling upon the authorities to reexamine and stop at once the sending of additional troops and withdraw the already dispatched troops from Iraq.

-The Busan-Gyeongnam Area Federation of University Student Councils and the General Student Council of Yonse University called in their statements upon youth and students to resolutely struggle to determinedly check the troop dispatch to Iraq.

-“Minjok Tongsin” issued an article titled “the troop dispatch to Iraq is an anti-peace act”.

6.23-Candlelight rallies to oppose the troop dispatch to Iraq and cherish the memory of the deceased Kim Son-il were observed at the same time in big cities including Seoul.

The participants said that the government’s decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq caused Kim’s death and they oppose the additional troop dispatch to prevent a 2^nd Kim Son-il incident.

-The National People's Solidarity for National Independence, Democracy and People's Right to Live, the People's Movement HQ for the Withdrawal of the US Troops, the KCTU, the Anti-US Women’s Association, the South HQ of Beomcheonghakryon, the Youth and Students’ Solidarity for the Realization of the June 15 Joint Declaration, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Area Federation of University Student Councils, the National Council of Woman Student Representatives, the Gangweon Provincial Federation of University Student Councils and religious organizations including the Korean Council of Christian Churches, the Korean Council of Presbyterian Churches, the Peace Solidarity of Church Women and the National Monks’ Association for Realizing Buddhism, issued a statement respectively as regards the murder of Kim Son-il denouncing the US and the south Korean authorities and called for immediate stop of sending troops to Iraq.

6.24-The Air Service Solidarity affiliated to the Public and Social Services Workers’ Federation of the KCTU held a press conference at a KCTU office claiming that the government is held responsible for the murder of Kim Son-il for its decision on additional troop dispatch to Iraq.

It demanded the repeal of the decision at once.

It asserted that in case the dispatch is enforced the pilots’ unions of the Korean Airlines and the Asiana Airlines would refuse the flight for the transport of the troops to Iraq.

-The daily “Hankyoreh” carried an article under the title “The repeal of the troop dispatch stands for the national interests”.

6.25-Rallies to cherish the memory of the deceased Kim Son-il and oppose the additional troop dispatch to Iraq were observed throughout south Korea.

The People's Action against the Troop Dispatch to Iraq grouping 365 civic organizations called a press conference in memory of deceased Kim demanding the US government not to force the troop dispatch to Iraq.

6.26-The People's Action against the Troop Dispatch to Iraq held all-people memorial services in 8 cities including Gwanghwamun in Seoul, Busan and Gwangju.

It urged the government to revoke the decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq.

6.27-The Transport and Cargo Trade Union asserted that it totally refuses the transport of the munitions for the troops dispatched to Iraq in sea and air ports and other field in protest against the government’s decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq.

6.28-The Professors’ Council for Democracy in Seoul National University issued a statement clarifying its position against the additional troop dispatch to Iraq.

-The General Student Council of Seoul National University made public that it would conduct a drive of making a bow in every three steps for 3 days to cherish the memory of deceased Kim Son-il and oppose the troop dispatch.

 

△For anti-US anti-war peace

6.13-Some 10,000 members of civic organizations including workers, peasants and students held a rally at University Avenue in Seoul against war and globalization.

6.18-Members of the Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, the Alliance of the National Reconciliation Movement, the People's Movement HQ for the Withdrawal of the US Troops, the Seoul Area Federation of University Student Councils, the Youth and Students’ Solidarity for the Realization of the June 15 Joint Declaration and the Korean Christian Students Federation held in front of the US Embassy the 28^th Friday rally for anti-US anti-war peace.