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Report From Jeju Island

February 1, 2015 Bruce Gagnon, www.space4peace.blogspot.com , , , ,
The Navy base now under construction will eventually host US aircraft carriers, nuclear subs, and destroyers outfitted with so-called 'missile defense' interceptors, all to be aimed at China and Russia in that part of the world. A call went out for help and people rushed in to join the barricades against the threat to destroy the permanent protest tents that are a symbol of the villagers refusal to give even more precious land for the base. But the South Korean government, under the forceful direction of the Pentagon, pushes ahead. The people on Jeju need our solidarity and prayers. Their spirited and determined eight-year daily struggle at the Navy base gates has spread globally. Hearts from around the world are in Jeju right now.

Six Tons Of Tainted Water Leak At Fukushima No. 1

December 23, 2014 The Japan Times, www.japantimes.co.jp , ,
Up to 6 tons of radioactive water has leaked into the ground at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co. The water, which had been scrubbed by Units A and C of the advanced liquid processing system (ALPS), leaked from pipes while being transported to storage tanks on Wednesday afternoon, the utility said. The water seeped into the ground, officials said, adding that it did not flow into the sea because there was no drainage ditch nearby. The ALPS system can remove all radioactive substances except tritium. It wasn’t clear how radioactive the water was before the spill.

South Korean LGBT Activists Occupy Seoul City Hall

December 9, 2014 John Wright, www.facebook.com , ,
South Korean LGBT activists began a sit-in at Seoul City Hall over the weekend to protest the mayor's decision to delay a proposed human rights charter because it includes language banning discrimination against gays. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon (right), a former human rights lawyer, made headlines when he expressed support for same-sex marriage earlier this year. But Won-soon, a potential future presidential candidate, reportedly caved to political pressure from the right, including calls for his impeachment, over the human rights charter. WonsoonThe Seoul Municipal Government appointed a Citizens Committee of 164 experts to draft the human rights charter, which fulfilled a 2011 campaign promise from Won-soon.

So. Koreans Chain Necks Together, Surrounded By Police

February 2, 2014 Staff, www.revolutionnews.com , ,
Korea’s rapid economic growth demands enormous amounts of electricity, and it’s that demand that has met the fierce resistance of the farmers of Miryang, a small city 47 kilometers northwest of Busan. To these mostly elderly farmers, the most visible effect of “development” is not cell phones, flatscreen TVs, or air-conditioning. It is the high-voltage transmission towers that have sprouted along the ridges of their mountain valley. Since October protests against the 765kV Power transmission tower’s have taken place. On Jan 25th Close to three thousand people, including labor and environmental activists from cities throughout South Korea, converged on the small city of Miryang to protest the building of high-voltage power lines connected to a nuclear power plant.

Angry Workers Swarm Seoul’s Streets, Demand President Resign

January 11, 2014 Michelle Chen, www.inthesetimes.com ,
South Korea may best be known for slick electronics and saccharine pop tunes, but less of that stereotypical effervescence was present in Seoul in December. Instead, the streets were filled with throngs of angry union workers, facing down riot police in a show of defiance against a government plan that they say would lead to layoffs and privatization. On December 28, workers staged a one-day general strike that capped about three weeks of intense smaller protests involving thousands of workers and activists and causing sharp service reductions. The establishment of a parliamentary committee to resolve the railway dispute has paused the demonstrations for now. But unions, who see the fight as a broader labor struggle beyond the rail issue, are not giving up and have vowed to keep protesting. On Friday, they demanded the president's resignation.

South Korea Rail Workers Strike Against Privatization

January 9, 2014 Yi San, www.labornotes.org ,
South Korea’s railroad workers have ended a 22-day strike, the longest such stoppage in the country’s history. Though they didn’t win a clear victory, they succeeded in placing the issue of privatization in public focus. The government’s and management’s attack on the strike was ruthless to the point of recklessness, while the public’s solidarity and sympathy with the striking workers continued to rise. And the full impact of the action has yet to ripple out. Amid rising political tensions, the country’s biggest union umbrella, the 700,000-strong Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), has called for a one-day general strike February 25.

Massive Protests In South Korea

December 28, 2013 Lee Yoo Eun, www.globalvoicesonline.org , , ,
A series of different protests as well as a mass strike organized by labor groups rocked South Korea on December 28, 2013. From noon till late at night, about 100,000 citizens and labor workers angrily demonstrated against the current government's election manipulation scandal and clampdowns on labor groups as well asmoves toward privatization of the nation's railway system, though the administration denies such claims. Some observers are calling the outbreak of demonstrations proof that public anger has nearly “reached its boiling point” [ko]. Although it failed to reach its goal of one million participants, more than 100,000 [ko] were reported to be present till late afternoon. Although police estimate the total number barely reached 20,000, some disputed the number by pointing out that 13,000 riot police were mobilized for the event.

Japan’s Abe Visits Shrine Of War Criminals, Seeds Fury

December 28, 2013 Pu Zhjendong, Cai Hong and Zhang Yuwei, www.usa.chinadaily.com.cn , , ,
Outrage from Asian neighbors and world powers continued to grow on Friday over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a controversial shrine. Observers described the visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, made on Thursday, as a dangerous attempt to redefine Japan's militaristic wartime history. The shrine honors 14 of Japan's World War II Class A war criminals among the country's war dead. Abe's decision prompted the United States to reconsider its level of support for its Asian ally, while Russia and the European Union also voiced concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated Beijing's indignation, attacking Japan's justification for the visit as "feeble and futile" and urging it to take responsibility in maintaining regional stability. "What we have seen in the past year from Abe's words and conduct is only hypocrisy, arrogance and self-contradiction, as he tried to deny World War II aggression, a military build-up and a challenge to the post-war world order," Hua said.

Stop Repression Of Democracy In South Korea

October 1, 2013 Gregory Elich, Tim Shorrock, Hyun Lee, www.popularresistance.org , , ,
Democracy in South Korea is under attack. The ruling Saenuri Party of President Park Geun-hye and the National Intelligence Service have launched a witch hunt to purge progressive voices from the political process. On August 28, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), formerly known as the Korean CIA, raided the offices and homes of the Unified Progressive Party, which holds six seats in South Korea’s National Assembly. Three members were arrested during the raids, and lawmaker Lee Seok-ki was later stripped of immunity and placed under arrest. The NIS charged that members of the Unified Progressive Party were plotting rebellion, aiming to take up arms against the government in the event of war with North Korea. The sole evidence for these outlandish claims was a transcript said to be taken from a surreptitious filming by an informer of two meetings held by the Unified Progressive Party in May.

Support Protesters In South Korea; Stop Repression

September 18, 2013 Hyun Lee, www.popularresistance.org , ,
Democracy in South Korea is under attack. The ruling Saenuri Party of President Park Geun-hye and the National Intelligence Service have launched a witch hunt to purge progressive voices from the political process. On August 28, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), formerly known as the Korean CIA, raided the offices and homes of the Unified Progressive Party, which holds six seats in South Korea’s National Assembly. Three members were arrested during the raids, and lawmaker Lee Seok-ki was later stripped of immunity and placed under arrest. The NIS charged that members of the Unified Progressive Party were plotting rebellion, aiming to take up arms against the government in the event of war with North Korea. The sole evidence for these outlandish claims was a transcript said to be taken from a surreptitious filming by an informer of two meetings held by the Unified Progressive Party in May.
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