Contribute  :  Calendar  :  Advanced Search  :  Site Statistics  :  Directory  :  aboutus  :  donate  :  editorial  :  getpublished  :  moderation  :  Web Resources  :  Polls  
    Infoshop News your 24/7 source for news, opinion and information    
 Welcome to Infoshop News
 Saturday, November 25 2006 @ 04:10 AM PST

Seoul declares 'zero tolerance' on violent rallies

   
AsiaThe government yesterday declared a "zero tolerance" policy towards defiant rallies, vowing to launch a massive crackdown on unionized laborers and activists who protested against a free trade deal with the United States earlier this week.

"The government will no longer tolerate illegal and violent protests. We will see to it that all participants of the illegal collective action receive the rightful punishment," Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho read from a joint statement of five ministers.

By Shin Hae-in

The government yesterday declared a "zero tolerance" policy towards defiant rallies, vowing to launch a massive crackdown on unionized laborers and activists who protested against a free trade deal with the United States earlier this week.

"The government will no longer tolerate illegal and violent protests. We will see to it that all participants of the illegal collective action receive the rightful punishment," Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho read from a joint statement of five ministers.

"While fully securing the right to hold peaceful demonstrations, the government will use all possible measures of criminal charges, indemnity for damages and disciplinary steps to punish leaders and active participants."

The statement was signed by the justice, agriculture, home affairs, education and labor ministers.

On Wednesday, over 73,000 farmers, workers and activists collided with riot police in 13 cities in one of the most violent protests in recent years.

The violence left 63 people injured, including 35 police officers and 21 protesters, causing some 670 million won ($720,000) in property damages nationwide according to the police.

Enraged by extreme protesters who attacked the police with steel pipes and bamboo canes, the police detained 27 on the spot and is seeking to arrest more. Six were released the next day after investigations.

The police yesterday raided nine regional offices of the Korea Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA, a coalition of about 300 civic groups which led Wednesday's nationwide protests. The nine affected offices included those in Daejeon, Daegu, Gangwon and North Gyeongsang, where the most violent rallies were held.

Vowing to block any future rallies organized by the alliance, police also called in 85 activists accused of promoting violence during the demonstrations. Should the protesters refuse to show up, the police will request arrest warrants.

Despite the government's long-suffering restraint, the alliance said that it will push for two more major demonstrations on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, just as Seoul and Washington are set to open the fifth round of formal FTA talks next month.

The anti-FTA alliance is calling for a halt to the FTA talks between the two countries, asserting that the deal will severely damage the livelihoods of farmers by inviting a flood of cheap U.S. farm imports.

Meanwhile, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions which had participated in Wednesday's massive rallies went on with its plan of launching additional strikes throughout the week.

The government had warned the group that it will be subject to punishment should it continue its plan.

The radical KCTU - one of Korea's two umbrella unions - started off its seventh massive walkout on Wednesday with about 58,000 members protesting the government-led labor bills and the FTA talks.

Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor Co., Korea's top automaker, stopped working for two hours to join in the labor group's third partial walkout yesterday.

The company tallied around 2,700 vehicles in lost production due to Wednesday's four-hour strike.

The KCTU is protesting a package of labor bills which was agreed by representatives from labor unions, employers and the government without its participation.

Its moderate rival, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, had represented the labor side at the National Tripartite Commission negotiations.

Opposing the scheduled bills, the radical group called for an immediate implementation of the multiple union system, and insists that the issue of paying full-time union officers should be left to individual companies.

Amid the growing tension, the KCTU's moderate rival, the FKTU, said it will hold a "peaceful rally" today, without the presence of riot police forces.

About 80,000 members of the union group are expected to gather in central Seoul today for three hours from 1 p.m., calling for a successful passage of the new labor bills.

"As the public will never approve of demonstrations that harm their rights, we are hoping that Korea will be able to put an end to violent collective actions through our rally tomorrow," Jung Gil-o, the FKTU spokesman said yesterday.

As riot police and quell busses are the main reasons for severe traffic congestion at rallies, the FKTU asked the National Police Agency not to send any policemen, pledging a peaceful protest.

To keep the demonstration in order, the group has selected about 1,000 members to organize the rally and help citizens get through rally points.

Korea has been in confusion over defiant unions launching protests simultaneously on Wednesday.

Members of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union had also taken to the streets, voicing their opposition to the new school reform plans.

The Education Ministry is currently seeking punishment against 2,727 teachers who are said to have participated in Wednesday's protests.

Unionized teachers protested against government plans to implement a new teachers' assessment system. As the new system calls for stricter evaluation of teachers by colleagues, students and parents, the KTU argues that it would ruin teachers' personal relationships with students.

With the union refusing to halt the protests, the Education Minister and superintendents of nationwide schools have agreed to deal harshly with all participants in the collective leave action.

(hayney@heraldm.com)

By Shin Hae-in
 

What's Related

Story Options

Trackback

Trackback URL for this entry: http://www.infoshop.org/inews/trackback.php?id=20061124132524987

No trackback comments for this entry.
Seoul declares 'zero tolerance' on violent rallies | 2 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Seoul declares 'zero tolerance' on violent rallies
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, November 24 2006 @ 04:05 PM PST
I have a zero tolerance policy against mean governments.
Seoul declares 'zero tolerance' on violent rallies
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, November 24 2006 @ 09:17 PM PST
omitting the adjective "mean" works pretty well too. you mean there are "nice" governments anyhow?
 Copyright © 2006 Infoshop News
 All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners.
Powered By Geeklog 
Created this page in 0.35 seconds