It¡¯s a relief the protest rally by the
Federation of Korean Trade Unions ended in a rare peace
Saturday. Still most Koreans, even the FKTU members
themselves, would admit it was not the norm but an
exception. Few people expect the ``experimental
assembly¡¯¡¯ will set a precedent for similar future
events, including the umbrella union¡¯s ``all-out
struggle¡¯¡¯ against the government¡¯s labor reform in
January. But far more urgent is the second protest
Wednesday against the Korea-U.S. FTA.
Rampant violence marred the nationwide demonstration
against the bilateral free trade agreement last week,
with several dozen protestors and policemen injured and
public facilities destroyed. The kinds of equipment
mobilized _ steel pipes, gasoline bombs and bamboo
sticks _ show the violence was not impulsive but planned
beforehand. No matter how justifiable a cause is the use
of violence cannot be excused. It also fails to win the
sympathy of watchers but instead invites their anger.
The government, too, should accept part of the blame.
It announced a statement on Thursday _ the sixth one
this year _ to warn violent protestors. The difference
this time is its determination, declaring a ``zero
tolerance¡¯¡¯ principle for violators of the law. It
remains to be seen whether the police will turn its
words into action, however. So far, the law enforcement
officers¡¯ responses have always been like ``repairing
stable door after the horse is stolen.¡¯¡¯ We think there
are some reasons for it.
Seoul has failed to persuade unionists and farmers by
not addressing their complaints about policies. The lack
of two-way communication has turned the protestors into
mobs. John Naisbitt, a visiting U.S. scholar, wondered
why the biggest beneficiaries of free trade should
oppose the FTA. The answer: The fruits of growth have
been so unfairly distributed as to negate globalization
itself. The media turning a deaf ear to the underdogs
and the one-sided criticism of protestors has left them
little other means to attract attention.
Come to think of it, Korea is the only
``democratized¡¯¡¯ country that still restricts
constitutional freedom of assembly and demonstration
with lower decrees. Also, it is probably the only
country that turns what should be the regular army into
riot police. These notwithstanding, violence only begets
more violence and it¡¯s past time for both sides to come
forward to sever the vicious circle, and show their
willingness for peaceful dialogue. The government should
sternly deal with law violators, while securely
guaranteeing people¡¯s basic rights.
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