Thursday February 2, 2006
Farmers break up hearing on US-SKorea FTA
SEOUL (AFX) - Angry farmers have broken up a public hearing to discuss impending talks between South Korea and the US on establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officials said.
Seoul and Washington are expected to announce the launch of FTA talks later today in Washington, according to media reports.
The public hearing organized by the foreign ministry was delayed and finally abandoned as some 100 farmers staged a sit-in protest and unfurled banners opposing free trade. No violence occurred but organizers determined it was impossible to go ahead.
’We could not continue the session,’ a foreign ministry official told Agence France-Presse.
The two nations have been talking for years about possible FTA negotiations. South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun said last month that striking an accord with Washington was a top priority for his government.
Source link: AFX
Protesters hold anti-FTA talks placard during a public hearing on FTA talks in Seoul
02 Feb 2006
Source: Reuters
Protesters hold an anti-FTA talks placard on a stage while they disrupt a public hearing on bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks between the United States and South Korea in Seoul February 2, 2006. Protesting South Korean farmers stormed a stage and forced the government to suspend a public hearing on Thursday called ahead of an expected announcement of the start of free trade talks between Seoul and Washington. The large slogan on the placard reads: "We are against the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks between the United States and South Korea".
REUTERS/KIM KYUNG-HOON
Security guards scuffle with protesters during a public hearing on FTA talks in Seoul
02 Feb 2006
Source: Reuters
Security guards (three men at L) scuffle with protesters while trying to take an anti-FTA talks placard (not in the picture) from the protesters during a public hearing on bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks between the United States and South Korea in Seoul February 2, 2006. Protesting South Korean farmers stormed a stage and forced the government to suspend a public hearing on Thursday called ahead of an expected announcement of the start of free trade talks between Seoul and Washington.
REUTERS/KIM KYUNG-HOON
Announcers react while protesters disrupt a public hearing on FTA talks in Seoul
02 Feb 2006
Source: Reuters
Announcers react while protesters disrupt a public hearing on bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks between the United States and South Korea in Seoul February 2, 2006. Protesting South Korean farmers stormed a stage and forced the government to suspend a public hearing on Thursday called ahead of an expected announcement of the start of free trade talks between Seoul and Washington.
REUTERS/KIM KYUNG-HOON