Updated: July 22, 2001 6:45 p.m. EDT
World: Thousands march in South Korea labor protest
Copyright © 2001 Nando Media
By JAE-SUK YOO, Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (July 22, 2001 1:12 p.m. EDT) - Protesting what they
called alleged government suppression of labor movements and demanding the
release of jailed leaders, nearly 12,000 workers rallied and marched in
central Seoul Sunday. The workers, who belong to the Korean Confederation
of Trade Unions, a powerful umbrella labor group, also showed support for
anti-globalization demonstrators clashing with police in Genoa, Italy,
against a summit of the world's richest nations there.
"Down with the Kim Dae-jung government suppressing workers," protesters
shouted as they marched along an eight-lane boulevard after a two-hour
rally at a central Park.
Police let workers march down half of the boulevard, carrying hundreds of
white and blue union flags. Dozens of young workers at the head of the
march wore white surgical masks apparently to avoid being identified by
police.
There were no immediate reports of clashes or arrests.
The workers traveled from throughout the country to throw their support for
the confederation leader, Dan Byong-ho, and four aides who have holed up
inside a Catholic church since mid-June to avoid arrest.
The union leaders fled to the church after police, armed with court-issued
warrants, tried to arrest them on charges of organizing a series of illegal
nationwide strikes earlier this year.
The church has often been used by labor leaders and political opponents as
a sanctuary to avoid arrests.
The protesters demanded the release of "hundreds" of union leaders
convicted or waiting for trial for involvement in earlier labor protests.
Workers complain that government's efforts to speed corporate reforms are
causing huge staff cuts. The government has said the measures are needed to
help the economy recover from the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis.
Foreign investors and analysts have long blamed slow corporate reforms for
the country's economic problems. They cite a rigid labor market as a major
stumbling block to South Korean corporate reforms.
South Korea's labor market has become considerably flexible as the country
went through the Asian economic crisis. But layoffs are still a taboo for
Korean workers who are accustomed to lifetime employment.
Copyright © 2001 Nando Media
=================================
|
|