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President Kim Dae JungNobel Peace Prize Laureate?

The Continuing Bloodshed in Korea

"I will lead you to the jail - that's where you belong" In the month of June, in 30 days, 69 trade unionists arrested and put to jail. The list continues to grow. At 3 a.m. July 12, Ms. Choi Seon-im, president of the Seoul National University Hospital -- the largest hospital in south Korea -- was dragged away by the police. On July 9, the prosecutors issued warrants of arrest against 4 leaders of the Korean Association of Government Employees Works Councils for demanding trade union rights. (July 12, 2001)

The Fight Back Begins General Strike on July 5    In the month of June, a total of 47 workers have been imprisoned. Further 50, including the KCTU president Dan Byung-ho, KCTU General Secretary Lee Hong-woo, and Mr. Yang Kyung-kyu, president of KCTU's public sector federation are being hunted for arrest by police. Thousands of riot police have stormed striking workers all across the country. Thugs hired by company management have attacked striking workers wielding butcher knives and home-made guns. In Response, the KCTU has declared a general strike on July 5 to bring an end to the state violence and the attempt to destroy the democratic trade union movement represented by the KCTU. The general strike will be followed, on July 22, by a mass protest rally which will bring together over 100,000 workers to streets of Seoul. (June 30, 2001)

Three Years of President Kim Dae Jung: the impact of neoliberal Nobel Peace Laureate [Click 'right button to download MS-Word Document] A 43 page article (submitted to the ILO on June 5 as a complaint against the Korean Government for violation of the freedom of assocation and the right to bargain collectively) documenting, 1) serious cases of violation of the right to bargain collectively by the government in public sector and private sector in the process of neoliberal structural adjustment, 2) the continuing denial of the trade union rights of government employees in civil service, 3) situation of imprisoned trade unionists [current of May 28, 2001] with list of imprisoned unionists, 4) the impact of neoliberal regime in terms of * labour policy and industrial relations, * employment, * wages, and * industrial and occupational health and safety.

Violence against Daewoo workers (April): Workers' Blood Decorates the Gold Nobel Peace Medal  (The story)

Click here for graphic details of the recent police violence (The picutures)

No! to Bush's Star Wars:

KCTU and 39 other people's organisations, civil society groups, women's and peace movement groups, and reunification movement organisations, form a special committee to campaign against the U.S. Bush Administration's plans to develop, deploy, and establish NMD-TMD strategy and system.

  More Korean labour news can be found in the LabourStart - thanks to Eric Lee

 

Special Solidarity Appeal continues. Your Action Is Still Needed for Sammi Workers

"The Supreme Court must act now!"

 special Sammi Workers Struggle Homepage

  

Last Updated on July 12, 2001