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Farmers protest against free trade pact with Chile

More than 70,000 Korean farmers held nationwide rallies yesterday to protest against an impending parliamentary ratification of the Korea-Chile Free Trade Agreement.

Thousands of unionized manufacturing workers also staged protests in central Seoul, demanding the amendment of laws that allow management to sue striking workers over lost production.

The fresh wave of massive demonstrations came a day after President Roh Moo-hyun vowed to stop negotiating with those who join violent rallies, after being spurred by the recent outbreak of violence surrounding the government's labor policies.

Tens of thousands of farmers gathered in Yeouido, central Seoul, to demand the National Assembly withdraw its plan to ratify Korea's first free trade pact with a foreign country before the end of the year.

The farming activists also urged the government to come up with measures to mitigate the burdensome effects of debt and protect the domestic agricultural market from foreign competition.

They marched through the city center later in the afternoon, causing severe traffic congestion during rush hour.

As a precautionary measure against possible clashes with activists, the police stretched their resources by dispatching more than 38,000 troops to rallying sites across the country.

Police officials said they would take strict legal action against protesters who assault riot policemen, throw stones or firebombs at them, or hinder the flow of traffic by seizing highways.

This year's poor weather conditions and growing external pressure to open the agricultural market have added to the woes of local farmers, who said they have already been marginalized due to Korea's rapid industrialization.

By Kim So-young

(soyoung@heraldm.com)



2003.11.20