130,000 unionists of the KCTU dashed into an all-out struggle

against the troop dispatch to Iraq

 

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions launched on June 29 an all-out struggle against the decision on the troop dispatch to Iraq.

Present there were some 130,000 unionists affiliated to the KCTU including the trade unions of Hyundai Motors Co., KIA Motors and SSangyong Motors and the Democratic Trade Union of Chemical Textiles and the Trade Union of Metal Industry which launched the strike that day.

A rally for an all-out struggle was held in Sejongro, Seoul.

As the outcry of Kim Son-il not to send troops to Iraq resounded throughout the place, the participants chanted the slogan “Repeal the troop dispatch to Iraq!”.

Lee Su-ho, chairman of the KCTU, said in speech that Kim Son-il who was unjustly murdered in Iraq was a worker like them and the KCTU would stand in the lead of the struggle to revoke the decision of the troop dispatch.

He denounced that the US and the south Korean authorities had intentionally concealed for several days Kim’s abduction in a bid to enforce the troop dispatch.

He declared that the KCTU would continue the all-out struggle throughout south Korea and hold the candlelight rally every evening.

The participants sent a protest letter to the US Embassy in regard to Kim Son-il’s killing.

On the same day rallies of the KCTU local headquarters to revoke the decision on the troop dispatch were held simultaneously in 15 areas including Daejeon, Gwangju, Busan, Ulsan, Jeonju, Jeju and Weonju.