파병반대/투쟁보고 (서울, 南朝鮮, 7.10)

First of all a short report and judge of the main event in the last week: Last Saturday, since days with fear awaited, the last anti-troop dispatch demonstration took the streets of Seoul. The opening rally was organized 5:30 pm in Jongmyo Park, downtown Seoul. Several self-organized student groups, but also people organized in political groups and parties gathered before in front of the nearby Tapgol Park to protest against government’s policy of ignoring the will of the majority of the S. Korean citizens. Here approximately 150 activists joined the rally. At 5:30 pm the event in Jongmyo Park begun, but only few people were present and also in the following minutes not many people arrived there. Around half hour later the group from Tapgol Park arrived under shouting the slogan “No to troop dispatch! Roh Moo-hyun out!” After several speeches against government’s decision to send additional 3000 combat troops to the occupied Iraq a performance against the decision and supporting the positions of countries, which decided not to send troops took the stage. But the initiators of the performance just forgot the special interests, like in Germany, resulting the decision not to send troops – but they helped the war criminals from the US and GB on many other ways. And also they forgot the result of the last NATO summit in Istanbul: all NATO countries will now – after the “handover” of the “power” to the Iraqi “Government Council” (just puppets of the occupiers!) – provide help – yes, also military… After the final declaration a demonstration, now several hundred, perhaps 800 people joined, went in the direction of Gwanghwamun area, accompanied by large forces of the infamous riot cops. Arrived there under the demand to continue the march until the President’s residence, the nearby Blue House, the demonstration just after few minutes was attacked by the riot cops and in the next 30 minutes several clashes between demonstrators and the cops took place (according to activists 25 people were arrested). During this process more and more people adopted the demand “ROH MOO-HYUN WITHDRAWAL!” Many people were ready to fight more, but the rally "leadership", once again was able to cool them down by using non-struggle music, giving candles, and so on… and just few people protested against that. Again and again, we should learn from this: First of all, to fight against the government’s plans in general and thousands of riot cops in special we need the masses. Even KCTU was claiming to join the rally and demonstration actively – where were the members? On the other side, if the majority of the rally participators is agreeing that the rally “leadership’s” activities are not right – just we should tell the that, and if their behavior will be the same like government’s behavior to ignore the will of the majority, we have to treat them on the same way… And by the way, candles, in this situation, are not the right means to fight, they are only hindrance our struggle. This week will bring hard and difficult fights: IF WE DON’T LEARN FROM OUR LAST MISTAKES – JUST WE WILL LOSE! (our last reports and comments you can read here and here)
What’s new on the migrant workers struggle front? Last Friday the first students joined the “One Person Rally” (we already wrote about it here) on Yeouido, in front of the National Assembly. Three students from Kyung Hee University supported the protest - THANX A LOT, COMRADES! Yesterday in Seoul University of Education one migrant workers sport tournament took place, about 100 people participated and according to the comrades everyone had a lot of fun.

Here some impressions from Saturday's anti-war events

RELEASE ALL MIGRANT WORKERS FROM DETENTION CENTERS! FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN S. KOREA! LET’S FIGHT TOGETHER FOR A WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION! ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, ONLY IF YOU WANT AND FIGHT FOR IT! WE’VE NOTHING TO LOSE EXCEPT OUR CHAINS! 한국의 모든 양심수들의 석방을 위해 투쟁 착취와 억압이 없는 그날을 위해 투쟁 다른 세상은 가능하다, 당신이 그걸 원하고 그것을 위해 투쟁한다면! 투쟁! 우리가 잃을 건 쇠사슬밖에 없다구!