SOUTH KOREA: Government suppresses right to demonstrate

On November 18-19, the Asia Pacific Economic Forum will take place in Pusan, and will be attended by various heads of state including US President George Bush. Labour and people's movements, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Peasants' League and the Democratic Labor Party, have formed People's Action Against APEC and Bush, and are planning large demonstrations. The South Korean government has responded by curtailing freedom of expression. So far, the coalition has had 237 applications for public gatherings rejected. The South Korean government has announced that it will prevent 998 international activists who have previously participated in anti-corporate globalisation protests from entering the country. The coalition is appealing for solidarity. Send a protest message to the Korean embassy and email a copy to <antiapec@hanmail.net>.

From Green Left Weekly, November 9, 2005.

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From GLW issue 648