[asia-apec 338] struggle flash 20(January 25)

[TACHIBANA Masahiko]

Forwarded message follows.

TACHIBANA Masahiko

> Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 16:26:09 +0800 (HKT)
> X-Sender: amrc at is3.hk.super.net
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> To: owner-asia-apec at jca.or.jp
> From: lee <BGDW at chollian.dacom.co.kr> (by way of AMRC <amrc at hk.super.net>)
> Subject: struggle flash 20(January 25)
>
> ----------------------------------
> Struggle Flash 20 (January, 25)
> ----------------------------------
>
> --Issued by the NCPD(National Committee for the Revocation of the
> Labor Law and NSPA Act Amendments and the Preservation of
> Democracy--
>
> --------------------------
>   Today's Headline News
> --------------------------
>
> # The KCTU protests suppression towards the laborers and forms a
> committee.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> The problems with warrants regarding the KCTU's members is getting
> solved with the government's reprieve of all warrants.  But it is
> being pointed out that some kinds of suppression towards the
> laborers is being done by individual companies by ways of refering
> them to a disciplinary committee, compelling them to secege from the
> union, assult, regarding absence without notice, and also the KEF is
> reaffirming the principle of no-work, no-pay.
> The KCTU denounced the KEF(Korea Employers Federation) along with
> the FKI(Federation of Korea Industries) and proclaimed to continue
> the protest to lift all these suppressions.  On the meeting held on
> the 23rd, they also decided 'Lift the suppressions! Democratic
> amendments!' as there slogan for the campaign.
> They are planning to from a committee against suppressions along
> with the two other political parties and NCPD to monitor the
> workplaces for suppressions and also go on protest visits.  Also,
> starting from next week, they are planning to  hold a protest visits
> to the Department of labor and KEF.  They have also planned to send
> a protest letter to the each workplace where the suppressions are
> occurring and have an interview with the president of KEF.
>
> # The KCTU moves the protest to its offices..
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> The KCTU moved the protest out from Myung Dong Cathedral to its
> offices on the noon of the 24th.  The decision was made after the
> leaders of the KCTU''s movements were made free by the reprieve of
> the arrest warrants brought about by the all-out strike.  The
> leader's need and want for more active participation and unity
> helped this decision also.  On the morning of the 24th, the KCTU
> held a press conference and stated that the leaders will continue
> and broaden the strike, along with all regional union members and
> people from all levels of life, until their struggle is won.
>
> # The secretary of labor Jin Nyum reports immediate legal actions
> towards
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> strikes starting from next week.
> -------------------------------
>
> At a morning conference, held on the 23rd, with the local
> businessmen in Inchun's chamber of commerce and industry,  the
> secretary of labor Jin Nyum stated that the government will not
> allow any more strikes with the amendments to the labor laws already
> promised.  He also stated that certain legal actions will be taken
> for the continuing strikes.  Secretary Jin asked for the labor union
> to stop the strike and to partition a public hearing in the N.A. for
> further ideas or discontentment.
> The government's firm actions prove that it is trying to exclude the
> laborers and people out of the amendment talks and to destroy the
> labor union's unity.
>
> # 1024 herbal doctor's statement:  The NKP and President Kim must
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> apologize to the public!
>   -----------------------
>
> 1021 herbal doctors held a press conference and demanded the
> nullification of the labor and NSPA Act and Pres. Kim's apology.
> The Chinese medical science community formed a signing committee for
> the present situation and held a signing and a fund raising.  In
> less than a week 15% of all herbal doctors (1024) participated in
> the signing campaign and showed worries towards this government's
> amendments to the labor and national security laws.  In a statement
> released in the press conference the Chinese medical science
> community stated that it was disappointed by President Kim's
> proclaiming the railroaded bills as legal and constitutional.  It
> was also disappointed by Pres. Kim's attitude in the presidential
> summit with the opposition party leaders which was achieved through
> strikes and struggles of the labor union and social activity groups.
> It claimed that the present government must release a note of
> apology towards the people of Korea and declare the nullification of
> these two laws.  The signing committee announced that it will
> continue its campaign until the demands are met.
>
> # 45 professors from Gangwon Univ. release a statement.
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> 45 professors demanded immediate amendments to the labor and
> national security laws in a statement released on the 23rd.  The
> statement classifies the government and the N.K.Party as the leading
> cause to the strike on hand and also criticizes the other two
> political parties for the opportunistic position it held throughout
> the ordeal without any clear solutions.  As for the NSPA Act they
> state clearly that it goes against the freedom of right to believe
> and obstruct discussions about reunification.  They also said that
> it needs to have the sympathy of the people and must be discussed
> throughly because it can be used wrongly for political purposes.
>
> # The OECD's TUAC: We can not allow the Korean government to keep
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ignoring the basic rights of the laborers.
> ----------------------------------------
>
> The TUAC which represents 68 million laborers of 51 labor unions
> under the 29 OECD membership countries announced a statement
> welcoming the OECD report on the current situation in Korea.  The
> TUAC's chairman of affairs, John Evans claimed in the statement that
> globalization is a challenge to all international groups, like the
> OECD, and all man alike.  He claimed that the OECD must put its
> standards to practice and guarantee the usefulness of the
> globalization to all laborers.  He also said that the members of the
> OECD can not allow a membership government, like South Korea, to
> ignore the basic rights of the common laborers.
>
> # KyungKi province's police made and illegal arrest!
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> On the 10th, Kim Eun Hyung who was currently working as an union
> member of the Chung Ang Hospital, was illegally arrested by KyungKi
> province's bureau of anti-commuinism officers.  This incident is
> arousing worries and rages against the present regime which is under
> heavy criticism by the people because of the railroaded laws, use of
> the NSPA Act to escape the crisis on hand just like dictatorship of
> the old.
> While working in the labor union office, Kim Eun Hyung was illegally
> taken away, without any arrest warrants, by two officers waiting
> outside the back door when he tried to help two undercover lady cops
> who asked him to help him with some baggages outside the back
> entrance.  The report made after the arrest stated that Kim was
> arrested because he violated the NSPA Act by sending money to his
> lover who is currently on the run from the law.
> This incident along with the incident of illegal breaking and
> entering of KUFS's YongIn campus by the National Security Planning
> Agency officers, with the talks of amendments to the national
> security law, confirms how dangerous and inhumane the NSPA Act and
> over extension of its powers are.
> 
>