Briefs on struggle of the south Korean people

 

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

Dec.5- A meeting was held at Dankook University in Seoul to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country¡¯s Reunification.

Dec.13- Hwang Sun, vice spokesperson for the Reunification Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Peace on the Korean Peninsula issued a commentary titled ¡°Let us frustrate war maneuvers of the foreign forces through national cooperation.¡± 

 

=Struggle for withdrawal of the US military bases from south Korea

Dec.2- The People for Peace and Reunification held a press conference at the Seoul district public prosecutors office and filed a complaint against five men who were engaged in the negotiation for relocation of the US Yongsan garrison.  

Dec.7- A rally was taken place in front of the Kookmin Bank in Seoul, opposing the National Assembly¡¯s ratification of the agreement on transfer of the US military base in Yongsan and urging the withdrawal of the plan for the relocation of the US forces in south Korea. It was co-sponsored by the civic organizations including the Pyeongtaek and Paengseong Township Measure Committees for Opposing the Expansion of the US Military Base, the National People¡¯s Solidarity, the Reunification Solidarity, the Lawyers for Democratic Society, the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Democratic Labor Party.

- Civic organizations including the Pyeongtaek Measure Committee against the Expansion of the US Military Bases opposed the agreement on transfer of the US Yongsan garrison and the agreement on revision of the land partnership plan. They held a solidarity rally against expansion of the US military bases.

Dec.8- The Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration issued a statement, criticizing the passage of the agreement on transfer of the US Yongsan garrison and the agreement on revision of the land partnership plan was passed at the Committee for Unification, Foreign and Trade Affairs of National Assembly.

 

=Struggle against the troops dispatch to Iraq

Dec.9- Members of civic organizations and the Democratic Labor Party including the People¡¯s Action against the Troop Dispatch to Iraq held a press conference in front of the National Assembly to protest against the passage of a bill on expanding the term of the dispatched troops in Iraq through the parliament.

   

=Struggle for abolition of the National Security Law

Dec.1- Civic organizations waged a struggle demanding the repeal of the National Security Law in Seoul, 56 years after the fabrication of the evil law, a traitorous and fascist law against reunification and democracy. A rally to vow an all-out struggle for total repeal of the NSL was held at the people¡¯s sit-in strike ground in front of the National Assembly. Different public figures from strata and more than 60 women including O Jong-ryol, permanent chairman of the National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification, Han Sang-ryol, permanent representative of the Reunification Solidarity, Yoo Sun-hee, an executive member of the Democratic Labor Party and Kim Ji-un, chairperson of the Student Committee of the DLP had their hair cut to demand abolition of the evil law. Earlier, the Executing Group of Women for Abolition of the NSL called a press conference in front of the National Assembly and have their hair cut and declared their intention to go into hunger strike. The People¡¯s Solidarity for Abrogation of the NSL called a press conference and handed over signature of the people for abolition of the evil law to the parliament.

Dec.3- The Student Committee of the Democratic Labor Party called a press conference, calling upon the entire people and students to turn out in the struggle for abolition of the National Security Law.

Dec.3~4- An exhibition disclosing wickedness of the NSL and introducing the justness of abolition of the NSL was held at lawmakers¡¯ hall under the sponsorship of the Democratic Labor Party.

Dec.5- A candlelight rally demanding the repeal of the NSL was held with participation of more than 9,000 members of the People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the NSL, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and other civic organizations. Earlier, a candlelight rally was also held by more than 100 members of the People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the NSL, the Headquarters of the Christian Movement for Abolition of the NSL, the People¡¯s Action against Troop Dispatch and other organizations.

Dec.6- A candlelight cultural event was held by over 300 members of civic organizations and students.

- The National Council of Woman Student Representatives made public a statement protesting against the authorities¡¯ arrest of the chairman of Hanchongnyeon.

- The Seoul Area Federation of University Student Councils under Hanchongnyeon issued a statement titled ¡°Immediately release the chairman of Hanchongnyeon and lift label of ¡°enemy-benefiting¡± organization from Hanchongnyeon.

- The South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country¡¯s Reunification issued a statement in connection with entry of an indefinite hunger strike for abolition of the National Security Law.  

- The Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration issued a commentary demanding the passage of a bill on abolishing the National Security Law through the National Assembly.      

- The Central Standing Committee of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils or Hanchongnyeon made public an appeal calling on the students to rise up in the struggle for the release of chairman Paik Jong-ho of Hanchongnyeon and the repeal of the NSL.

- 300 representatives of the people¡¯s sit-in group for complete abolition of the National Security Law, the People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law and different regions across south Korea entered an indefinite hunger strike for complete repeal of the evil law in front of the National Assembly.

Dec.7- The South Headquarters of National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country¡¯s Reunification made public a commentary denouncing the GNP which blocked the passage of a bill on abolishing the National Security Law through the National Assembly.

-The Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration issued a statement titled ¡°Immediately release the chairman of Hanchongnyeon and abolish the NSL.¡±

-The People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law held a press conference and stressed to intensify the struggle to cram the NSL and GNP into dustbin of history.

-Members of civic organizations including the People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law and the National Sit-In Group for Abolition of the National Security Law held a press conference in front of the Uri Party building, criticizing the ruling party¡¯s move to delay the abolition of evil law. They staged a demonstration, writing letters ¡°The Uri Party, which pursues fraudulent reform, destroys itself¡± on a pavement in front of the party building.

-An editor of the US-based Internet homepage ¡°Minjok Tongshin¡± posted an article accusing the ruling Uri Party¡¯s measure to pigeonhole a bill on abolition of the NSL within this year in compromise with the main opposition Grand National Party.           

Dec.8- A candlelight cultural event for the complete repeal of the NSL this year was held in front of the Uri Party building by the People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the NSL, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the National Alliance for Democracy and Reunification, the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country¡¯s Reunification, the National Federation of Peasants¡¯ Associations, the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils and other civic organizations and the Democratic Labor Party.

Dec.9-The Family Movement for Realizing Democracy held a rally in front of the Kookmin Bank in Seoul, denouncing the Grand National Party.

Dec.10- The National Sit-In Group for Complete Abolition of the National Security Law called a press conference in front of the GNP building to criticize the GNP which drove the parliamentary session to deadlock by boycotting four bills on reform and total abrogation of the NSL.

Dec.11- Members of the People¡¯s Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law held a rally in Seoul and demanded the abolition of NSL within this year.

  

=Struggle for democracy and interests of the people

Dec.3- Members of Emergency Association of Environment consisted of more than 200 environmental organizations called a press conference and condemned the government policy contaminating the environment.

Dec.6- The Lawyers for Democratic Society sponsored a ¡°2004 meeting on human rights¡± in Seoul.

- The peasants¡¯ organizations including the National Federation of Peasants¡¯ Associations and the Alliance of the North Jeolla Province of the NFPA launched a large-scale demonstration against the government¡¯s measure to open rice market across the country. 

Dec.8- Representatives of the Korean Federation of Peasants Associations called a press conference in Seoul demanding a renegotiation on the rice market opening before going on an indefinite sit-in strike.

- The Headquarters of the People¡¯s Movement for Defending Food Sovereignty consisted of over 100 civic and peasant organizations held a press conference at the National Assembly building, demanding renegotiation of rice market opening.

 

=Struggle against Japan

Dec.10- The South Headquarters of National Alliance for the Country¡¯s Reunification issued a commentary titled ¡°Adventurous ambition of Japans to revive militarism.¡±

Dec.11- The south Korean daily ¡°Hankyoreh¡± carried an editorial titled ¡°Revival of Japan¡¯s militarism¡± to censure Japan¡¯s move to become military power.