Farmers in massive protests against FTA with US
Chosun Ilbo | 23 May 2008
Farmers in Massive Protests Against FTA With U.S.
Downtown Seoul saw massive demonstrations by farmers against the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and import of U.S. beef on Thursday. Some 8,000 farmers from 42 groups nationwide including the Hanwoo Association gathered at 2 p.m. in Yeouido Park, near the National Assembly.
These farmers came to Seoul from all corners of the country on over 200 buses. These buses parked randomly near the park, and caused extreme traffic jam around Yeouido. The participants sat in rows and shouted, “Do not pass the FTA bill” and “No U.S. Beef to Korea.”
A farmer who gave his name as Kim (64) and had come from Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, said, “I have to plant rice tomorrow: May is a very busy month for farmers and we actually have no time for this. But my colleagues and I had to come because we felt so distressed by the situation.” “We got onboard at 7 a.m. and it took us five hours to get here.” A livestock farmer who identified himself as Lee (63) flew in from Jeju Island. “I have raised cattle and pigs for 35 years, and this is my first time coming out to a demonstration,” he said. “I have made W50 million of losses in just five months because the price of animal feed skyrocketed (US$1=W1,044).”
The farmers argue that the government failed to take steps to protect them while pushing for the FTA with the United States. Another farmer also named Kim (68), who cultivates rice on 20,000 sq.m. of land in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, stressed that farmers do not always oppose FTAs. However, he emphasized that the government should have taken thorough protective measures for farmers and given them some time to prepare. “The National Assembly should not push the ratification through before measures to provide support to affected farmers have been devised,” he added.
Police dispatched 74 companies of altogether 7,000 officers to Yeouido around the National Assembly and the Yeouido Park. The demonstration ended without any clashes around 5 p.m. Afterwards, some 800 farmers moved to the Cheonggye Plaza to join a candlelight vigil in opposition to the import of U.S. beef.
