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More than 100 injured in SKorea beef protests
South Korean police clashed violently with protesters opposing US beef imports in Seoul, leaving more than 100 people injured
Final declaration of International Conference on Peasants’ Rights
We face patterns of violations of our rights, by the crimes committed by TNCs and by Free-Trade Agreements (FTAs). In order to address these patterns of violations, we need specific provisions and mechanisms to fully protect our rights.
Petition: Suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement
Sign this petition which calls for an immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and any further trade between Israel and EU Member States in protest against Israel’s continued violation of human rights of the Palestinian people.
Trade minister recounts beef talks with US
"Whenever the negotiations went against us or whenever the US side cited ’science’ (to emphasize that US beef is scientifically safe), we pointed to the photo [of the June 10 candlelight vigil in downtown Seoul, with the largest number of protesters] and said, ’Look at this. Do you think this can be explained with science?’ "
Asian women workers’ declaration on free trade agreements
There is increasing and irrefutable evidence that free trade deals devalue and homogenise cultures, stunt economic development, displace communities and are major drivers of increasing rural and urban poverty. Women are disproportionately affected.
KCTU to launch general strike on July 2
Labor movement will lead candlelight protests for renegotiation of US beef agreement, KCTU says
One million South Korean people and workers protested against the Unfair US beef import agreement and the neoliberal government policies!
On June 10th, around one million people and workers gathered to demand renegotiation of US beef import agreement across the country. In case of Seoul, around 500,000 people participated in the candlelight vigil and march.
SKorea unions may strike over beef imports, more talks set
South Korean unions on Tuesday threatened a general strike in protest of a US beef import deal, as negotiators in Washington tried to find a way out of the crisis shaking the Seoul government.
Anti EPA groups protest at White Hall!
On Thursday June 12, organizations from around the region staged a protest against the EU-Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement in front of White Hall, the prime minister’s office in Trinidad.
Beef imports to Korea: An open letter to President Bush
Korean middle school student Chae-song Kim asks that the trade agreement be reconsidered
Massive candlelight protests draw one million nationwide
Up to a million Korean citizens from all walks of life participated in candlelight protests held on the 21st anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising, with a total of 118 candlelight protests held across the country on June 10.
1 million people vs US beef
On 10 June 2008, Korean social movements resisting the re-opening of their country’s borders to US beef under a bilateral deal signed by the two governments are holding a watershed rally where they aim to get one million people in the streets.
"Korean people vs US beef" video interview
Video interview with Geum Soon Yoon, member of Korean Peasant Woman’s Association, taped on 3 June 2008.
Taking action against US beef imports
A farmer, 56, who is only identified by his surname, Kim, lies in the hospital after having set himself on fire on June 5, in protest against the US beef import agreement at Seoul City Hall Plaza.
Korean man dies after beef protest
A South Korean man, Lee Byong-Ryol, has died in hospital two weeks after setting himself ablaze in protest at a deal to resume US beef imports.
Situation about Korean people’s struggle on beef deal
Korean public opinion wants a complete scrap of the April 18 beef deal with the US. The scale, intensity, and variety of participants in the street protests continue to grow. The mood is like a “Second June Struggle,” the June Struggle of 1987 having been a significant event in Korea’s democracy movement. However some say that the May struggle for nullification of Beef deal has a lot of significant signs that differ from 1987 democracy struggle. These actions are creating New democracy.
Man sets himself on fire after candlelight vigil
A South Korean man set himself on fire early Thursday morning following a candlelight rally in central Seoul against the resumption of US beef imports. Kim, a day laborer, is in critical condition with severe burns to his body.
Thousands begin protest over US beef amid fears of violent clash
Rally organizers claimed as many as 1 million people could turn out nationwide for a scheduled rally on Tuesday, when the country marks the anniversary of a 1987 democratic uprising that led the then military regime to grant free elections, prompting ensuing political reforms.
Despite gov’t action, protests against US beef continue
The “People’s Countermeasure Council against Full Resumption of Imports of US Beef Endangered with Mad Cow Disease,” an umbrella organization of Korean civic groups and cyber activists issued a statement on June 3 saying that the government "needs to decide for sure that it will fully and permanently prohibit the importation of beef [from US cattle over 30 months old], and demand that the US accept this.”
South Korean government crack down peaceful demonstration!
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions calls on the Korean government to repeal the US beef deal, stop the violence of the riot police and respect people’s voices and rights.