>Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 10:09:26 -1200 >From: "Main Line News 2000" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: [STOPNATO.ORG.UK] Oct. 20th, Seoul Action day > >This is Korean People's Action against Investment Treaties and the >WTO(KoPA). KoPA is composed of more than 40 social and people's organization >including KCTU, Korean Farmers' League. >KoPA is organizing a big rally under the title of "Seoul Action Day against >Neoliberal Globalization" on the momentum of ASEM(Asia European Meeting), on >Oct. 20th. > >International Coordinating Team of KoPA > >----------------------------------------------------- >>From Seattle to Prague.............to Seoul!!!!!!! > >October 20th!!! The Next Round of the Struggle Against Globalizaton will >take Place in Seoul!!! > >Your solidarity is needed for the 'ASEM 2000 Seoul Day of Action Against >Neo-Liberal Globalization'!!!! > >The progressive sector of Korea is busy preparing for the start of the Asia >Europe Meeting, not because of the meaningless rhetoric that will go on >inside the venue of the meetings between the state heads, but because of the >live voices that will be present in the streets outside of the venue. > >The preparatory committee of the ASEM 2000 Seoul Day of Action Against >Neo-Liberal Globalization consists of the Korean People's Action Against >Investment Treaties and the WTO(or KoPA), the People's Rally Committee, and >the ASEM 2000 NGO Forum Committee. KoPA, composed of 40 social, labor, and >civic organizations including KCTU, KFL, has actively struggled against >investment treaties, international financial institutions such as the IMF, >and the WTO. > >The People's Rally Committee is composed of the biggest people's >organizations in Korea, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions >(KCTU), the Korean Farmer's League(KFL), and the National Union of the Poor. >The major civic organizations in Korea make up the ASEM 2000 Social Forum >Committee. As the title of the actions suggest, the actions will be a >uniform voice of adamant opposition to the world-wide free trade system of >modern day capitalism and the 'race towards the bottom' it enforces upon the >people of the world. It will be a joint >project between the civic, social, and people's movements, bringing together >workers, farmers, the poor, students, women, environmentalists, health care >activists, unification movement activists and more in the fight against >globalization. > >Why the actions at the ASEM? The reasons are clear: the meeting itself will >not reach an agreement that will have to be observed by participating >states. However, the meeting itself, and the actions by governments >participating in the meetings have made cleat their committment to the >furthering of free trade and globalization through various channels. Through >empirical observations >(President Kim Dae-Jung has made it clear that he plans to continue with >re-structuring through the second half of his term as president. Labor >Parties and Social Democratic Parties in Europe seem to be on the same path) >and through the plans laid out by the previous summit meetings in London and >preparatory meetings for the meeting in Seoul. > >The people of Korea, though we know international >opinions vary on the topic, know all to well at what effects the IMF crisis >and the forced re-structuring program which followed, have had on the people >of Korea and Korean society in general. Increasing dependency on foreign >economies and international trends, increasing economic instability, >lay-offs, unstable jobs, rise in unemployment, the polarization of wealth, >the dismantling of social unity, and an overall decrease in the standards of >living, among many others. The past 3 years after the IMF crisis have been >an almost constant battle for the socially oppressed of Korea, in defense of >labor rights that had been gained through years of struggle. The progressive >sector of Korea also realize the importance of continuing with what has >become the latest trend of international solidarity in >the progressive movement, and plan on using the actions at the meetings to >engage in an active dialogue with the people of Korea on just what >neo-liberalism has meant to Korea and what alternatives exist. > >There is much at stake, and clear cut goals in relation to this struggle for >the people of Korea as well. The Korean Farmer's League and the KCTU are >feeling the pressure from the government's continuing efforts to conclude a >bi-lateral investment treaty with the U.S. and Japan. The treaties are >filled with clauses similar to the ones in the Multi-lateral Agreement on >Investment, defeated by >international resistance a couple years ago. The Kim Dae-Jung government is >also seeking to commence with plans for the 2nd part of the restructuring of >the public sector, and are also planning on further liberalization and >opening up of the national economy. The actions during the ASEM meetings >will be a cry against the neo-liberal policies of the Kim Dae-Jung >government, as well as >neo-liberal trends of globalization as a whole. > >It probably doesn't need to be pointed out that isolation could have >devastating effects on the struggle here in Korea. People's organizations >and trade unions in Korea know all to well the barbaric tactics the police >use to crack down on demonstrations and strikes, and the same could happen >to the direct actions at the ASEM meetings. We have already seen in previous >struggles in Seattle and Washington what kind of pressure that international >support and solidarity can put on the government, especially one which >advertises its leader as being the 'human rights president'. This sort of >pressure is especially important in Korea, where suppression of >demonstrations often turn violent, as seen in the crackdown on the Lotte >Hotel workers' strike several months ago. Your interest and solidarity is >critical if the actions in Seoul are to succeed. > >With less than a month left now until the day of the actions in Seoul, we do >realize that time is running short on us. It took longer than expected for >the progressive sector in Korea to arrive at an agreement on the course and >theme of the actions. We are working with a sense of urgency and our doing >our best to make up for the late start. We are paying close attention to the >developments in >Prague, where activists with the same issues and causes as ours will be >gathering to demand an end to the destruction and oppression stemming from >neo-liberal globalization and the international financial institutions which >enforce its policies. > >Our solidarity and full support to the struggle in Prague! > >Your struggle is our struggle! > >More information on the actions can be seen at: >http://antiwto.jinbo.net (currently under construction, will reopen in a few >days) > >Regular updates on the preparations for the ASEM action can be heard through >the internet broadcasts at: http://cast.jinbo.net/news/yundai.html >Contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Korean People's Action against Investment Treaties and the WTO(KoPA) >People's Rally Committee > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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