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 KoA Newsletter: Action Team Finishes 10 Days of Struggle
No FTA Newsletter |
2007/07/23 18:11
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KoA's Action Team Finishes Ten Days of Intense Struggle
Demands release of KoA officers; blocks sale of U.S. beef; meets presidential candidates; and engages solidarity with temporary workers
In response to the arrests of two Co-Chairs of the Korean Alliance (KoA) and the on-going suppression against KoA, an action team was formed, and an outdoor action camp was set up at the center of the city on July 9. About one-hundred strong each day, KoA's action team was mostly made up of activists of the new permanent coalition-front, Korea Solidarity for Progress (which operates now as a preparatory body, to be officially launched in September).
Formed out of a dire need to take action, the members of the action team came from various regions and organizations. They slept outside in the sometimes leaky tent, they ate together, and they all got up at 6AM to began each day with a renewed sense of resolution. In ten days, they, who had from various movement sectors and regions, became a single struggle unit.
The action team was unified around four main issues: 1) to demand the release of Mr. Oh and Mr. Jung, 2) to stop the Korea-U.S. FTA and block the selling of U.S. beef, and 3) to meet presidential candidates and demand their support in stopping the Korea-U.S. free trade.
The Arrests are Unjust!
Everywhere the action team went, the key message was the unjust arrests of KoA's two officers and the demand of their immediate release. The action team visited the jail at the beginning and end of the struggle period and held candlelight vigils and rallies outside the jail.
Thus far, over a hundred organizations and two hundred individuals have signed the protest letter demanding their release, including trade unions and NGOs. Within Korea, over a thousand protest letters have been sent in. However, the Roh Administration has been ignoring the concerns of domestic and international groups.
The Korea-U.S. FTA is Invalid!
One important goal for the action team was to continue the struggle against the Korea-U.S. FTA and block the selling of U.S. beef, which are still pushed through an inadequate inspection process. Even with the risk of BSE, the U.S. government has pressured Korea's Administration to sell U.S. beef to Korean consumers if Korea wants a free trade agreement with the U.S.
The action team went to ten branches of Lotte Mart, which is the first store to sell U.S. beef. At the first store, near Seoul Station, the action team broke through the police line and entered the store and protested in front of the beef display. At the end, the manager promised to not sell U.S. beef until further discussion with the headquarters and removed the beef from display. The action team attained the same promise from all the stores.
The action team also occupied the campaign headquarters of six presidential candidates, including Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak of the conservative Grand National Party as well as Chun Jung-bae, who opposes the free trade, and Son Hak-kyu, whose headquarters the action team occupied for over 24 hours. Except for Chun Jung-bae, the action team was met with resistance, sometimes by the police, but the action team was clear in delivering its message that all presidential candidates must listen to the people and any suppression of democratic rights must end immediately. KoA aims to make the free trade issue an important campaign issue for presidential election, which comes up at the end of the year.
The ten-day struggle was physically demanding at times, but the activists renewed their solidarity with each other and other organizations. The struggle against the Korea-U.S. FTA faces the difficult challenge of stopping its ratification. The suppression against KoA and the workers movement continues on. But from the look of their faces, the challenges of the struggle had already heightened their spirit and set their bodies in motion.
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KoA Newsletter: Suppression of Anti-FTA Struggles Continues
No FTA Newsletter |
2007/07/04 15:57
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No FTA Newsletter
Official News of the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA
www.nofta.or.kr nofta@hanmail.net
June 25, 2007
Suppression of Anti-FTA Struggles Continues
In the Newsletter
-Korean Government?셲 Deliberate Distortion on Metal Workers??Just Walkouts-
-Police Trying to Arrest Two Co-Chairs of Korean Alliance-
Korean Government?셲 Deliberate Distortion on Metal Workers??Just Walkouts
On June 19, the Korean Metal Workers??Union, an affiliate of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, announced that it will hold a general strike from June 25 to June 29. The strike aims to show workers??three demands. One demand is to protest against the Korea-U.S. FTA, scheduled to be signed by the two countries on June 30. In addition the union is striking in opposition to the government?셲 law on irregular workers, which is predicted to create more unstable and low-paying jobs and Korea?셲 minimum wage structure, which does not provide a living wage to low-paid workers. The third one is to demand a law protecting outsourced workers. June 29 is also the day of a national rally against the FTA hosted by the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA.
The Roh Moo-hyun administration and conservative media have lambasted the action calling it an ?쁦llegal political strike.??They are recklessly complaining that the action is not aimed at protecting the interest of union members, but instead politically motivated and therefore against the law. Using these excuses, the administration is planning to arrest and prosecute union leaders and mobilize massive force to stop the strike from going forward. About nineteen union members are expected to be indicted from the strike.
But the administration?셲 logic is highly hypocritical: Whenever workers strike for improvement in their working conditions and wages, the administration criticizes them for acting ?쁬erely out of self-interested.??Yet, now, when the KMWU calls an action to protect not only its own members, but the interest of Korean society at large, they label the action ?쁯olitical??and ?쁦llegal??and seek to break it with national force. This hypocrisy shows that in fact in the administration?셲 opinion, no form of strike at all should be allowed. For KMWU?셲 however, this strike is not about following the flawed claims about legality made the government. KMWU has called the strike knowing full well that no matter what process it went through in decision-making, the administration would call the action illegal, because it understands the necessity of taking a stance against a destructive trade pact, whose negotiation did not even bare the faintest resemblance to democracy. The administration?셲 threats against KMWU, on the other hand, only make it all the more clear that it and the conservative forces, with which it is aligned, are repressive and anti-labor in nature. Here, it is the administration?셲 tactics, not the KMWU?셲 action, which should be deemed undemocratic.
The administration and the mainstream media have been claiming that the car industry, which is part of the Metal Workers??Union, stands to gain the most out of all sectors from the FTA. The fact is, however, while it is questionable how much exports to the U.S. will really increase because of the FTA, it is quite clear that any profits will go to capital and not to workers themselves. The Korean auto industry is already overrun with foreign investment, and the tendency for businesses to move outside of Korea in search of cheap labor is high. The result is increased job insecurity and competition between workers and the diminishing of labor conditions and labor rights. The Korea-U.S. FTA and all FTAs only stand to increase these trends while making the movement of capital overseas easier. In addition, the influx of cars from the United States will put pressure on domestic producers, easily leading to reduction of the domestic labor force and weakening of protection for labor rights.
However, the KMWU?셲 strike is not focused narrowly on the interests of one part or even all of its membership. Rather it is an action in recognition that the Korea-U.S. FTA is harmful to all workers and, beyond that, to all common people in Korean society. Given this, it is clear that the strike is a Constitutional right and courageous and just action against an unfair trade policy that puts the profit of a few big corporations before the interests of people. We, Korean Alliance, are holding press conferences and releasing statement about the just nature of this strike. We stand firmly with the KMWU to defend the strike and stop the signing of the Korea-U.S. FTA.
Police Trying to Arrest Two Co-Chairs of Korean Alliance-
On Friday, June 22, a week before the national rally to be held on June 29, the police made a request to the courts for the arrest warrants of two chairpersons of the Korean Alliance. They are required to appear on Monday in person where the validity of their possible warrants will be determined. Along with the suppression of Korean Metal Workers??Union?셲 strike next week, the police?셲 attempt to arrest the officers signifies the overall suppression of the people?셲 movement.
The suppression, ordered by the Roh Administration, is an assault on the people?셲 right to what we think is wrong about state affairs. Freedom of association is thus fundamental in a democratic society. The suppression violates the basic rights inherent in all free people, and such rights ought to be protected in a democracy. The persons who should be investigated and arrested are the Roh Moo-Hyun administration.
Mr. Oh and Mr. Jung have devoted over four decades of their lives to the people?셲 struggles against authoritarian regimes and destructive effects of neoliberalism. Mr. Oh has led Korea?셲 unification movement and social movement. Mr. Jung served as Chair of the Korean Peasants League and is responsible for taking Korean farmers??struggle to the international stage. They both have been previously imprisoned for a number of years for their activism.
At the moment, two other officers of the Korean Alliance are under warrants. Park Seok-woon, Executive Committee Chair, and Ju Je-jun, General Secretary, have been wanted by the police for charge of instigating anti-FTA protests since November 2006. For the past 7 months, they have been living and working with KoA under warrant.
For countless number of Korea?셲 activists, warrants and arrests have become a harsh reality. The state suppression of the people has continued below the guise of a democracy. But this also testifies the strength and will of the people of Korea and the world to fight against regimes and policies that harm their community and livelihood. In opposition to the planned signing of the Korea-U.S. FTA on June 30, the Korean Alliance will hold a national rally on June 29. The rally is part of the campaign to stop the ratification of the trade agreement. This campaign is expected to continue well into the fall and winter seasons. |
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KoA Newsletter: Thousands Protest Signing of Korea-U.S. FTA
No FTA Newsletter |
2007/07/02 19:28
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No FTA Newsletter
Official News of the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA
www.nofta.or.kr nofta@hanmail.net
Tens of Thousands Protest Signing of the Korea-U.S. FTA
On June 29, tens of thousands of farmers, workers, and ordinary Korean people gathered throughout the country to protest the signing of the Korea-U.S. FTA. Protests were held in major cities including Seoul, Cheonju, Gwangju, Daegu, Pusan and Changwon. In total, roughly 50,000 gathered in a powerful display of opposition to the Korea-U.S. FTA.
Workers from around the country converged on Seoul's Daehakno at 2:00pm. At the front of labor's participation this day was the Metal Workers Union, which had called a partial general strike in the days leading up to the FTA signing, climaxing with a four hour strike on the 28th, in which over 100 thousand workers from 128 areas participated. At 2:00pm on the 29th some 20,000 workers and supporters gathered for a National Workers Gathering, followed by a Mass People's Protest, held by the Korean Alliance against the Korea-U.S. FTA.
Workers were joined in Seoul by farmers from Gyeonggi and Choogjung Provinces as well as students and various civil and social organizations. After rallying at Daehakno, protesters spread throughout the city to starting points in Gwanghawmun, Sudaemun, and Anguk from which they march towards the Blue House, taking the streets. All over, protesters were met by police force, who used a water cannon to disperse those gathered in Anguk and arrested several people including one member of a team organized to monitor police violence. Blocked from reaching the Blue House, the protesters gathered together again at Bosingak to hold a final rally and concluded the day at around 8:30 in the evening.
Despite the strong oppposition shown on June 29 and the clearly undemocratic in which the FTA has been negotiated, South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun Jong and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative signed the agreement at roughly 11:00pm on June 30 Korean time. The signing of the agreement came after a short series of secret 'renegotiations,' which took place in Seoul and Washington, D.C. beginning the previous week. The signed agreement reflects the new U.S. FTA template negotiated between the Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress. While claiming to favor labor and the environment, this template is still far short of being fair to workers, farmers, consumers of both countries.
This outcome is an affront to the common people of Korea, who will only suffer from the impact of the opening of the agricultural market, the worsening labor conditions, and the diminishing of public services. Our struggle, however, is not over. In the upcoming months KoA will use all means available to build our movement and stop the ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA. |
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KoA Newsletter: Korea-U.S. FTA Concluded, People's Protest Goes On
No FTA Newsletter |
2007/04/05 14:47
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No FTA Newsletter
Official News of the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA
www.nofta.or.kr nofta@hanmail.net
Vol. 1, No. 5, April 5, 2007 In the Newsletter
>Korea-U.S. FTA Concluded against the Will of the Korean People, People's Protest Goes On
>International Solidarity for the Anti Korea-U.S. FTA Struggle Builds
Korea-U.S. FTA Concluded against the Will of the Korean People
People's Protest Goes On
On Sunday April 1 at 4:00pm, taxi driver and KCTU member Heo Sae-wook stood before the Nam San Hyatt Hotel, where that final high-level FTA negotiations were taking place, and lit himself on fire chanting, "Down with the Korea-U.S. FTA". His cries could still be heard afterwards as he was rushed to the Yongsan Critical Care Hospital. He has since been moved to Hangang Seongsim Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Mr. Heo's self-immolation is a clear indication of the rage Korean workers, farmers, and common people feel at Roh Moo-hyun Administration's relentless effort to conclude the FTA, and the desperation they feel at the prospect of the future that the FTA holds in store for them.
Nonetheless, on April 2 at 1:00pm, less than one day later, Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-jong announced that an agreement had been reached. The Korea-U.S. FTA has been concluded with no regard for the mass opposition from the Korean people, their allies throughout Asia, and American organized labor and civil society. It has never been more obvious than now that this FTA is the unilateral project of the USTR Office and the Bush and Roh administrations, pushed through above the demands of both country's peoples.
The last round of high-level negotiations, which went on past two deadline extension over the weekend of April 1, were surrounded by intense protests, including Mr. Heo's self-immolation. On Friday, May 30, the day the talks were originally scheduled to end, farmers, workers and social movement organizations held a press conference near the Blue House (the President's residence) during the afternoon. A candle light vigil at City Hall Square held later in the evening was attended by several thousand. At the conclusion of this event participants took to the streets and attempted to march to the Blue House, but were stopped by riot police. They then began a sit-down protest despite cold weather and rain, determined to rally until the result of the negotiations came out, only to hear that the United States had asked for a 48-hour extension of the talks. On the evening of April 1, thousands took to the streets again, this time evading police enough to get within blocks of the Blue House, but heard that the U.S. had again extended the talks; the conclusion of the FTA was not announced until 1:00pm the following day.
The Korea-U.S. FTA, as we feared, promises gains only for investors and big business and represents an attack on the livelihood of farmers, worker, and common people. The government and mainstream media are lauding the removal of U.S. tariffs on automobiles, auto parts, and textiles as huge successes, but we know that the benefits these measures will bring to capital in no way outweigh the negative impact increased competition will have on wages and workers rights in both countries. In the area of agriculture, although rice was exempted, the phasing out of tariffs on beef, pork, and oranges severely endangers Korea's rural communities. In addition, the lowering of beef-related health and safety standards to allow both boneless and bone-in American beef is expected to come after the meeting of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Longer patents for pharmaceuticals will mean a rise in drug costs for individuals and a taxing of the national healthcare system, and the opening of satellite broadcasting to foreign investors and reduction of protection for Korean programming will erode the unique cultural character of Korea??/SPAN>s audio-visual industry.
If this agreement goes into effect, it will put Korean people??/SPAN>s health, culture, and environment at risk. We must not let this happen. Our struggle is far from over. As we continue to hold nightly candlelight vigils and other protests, we will step up our efforts to win support for our struggle in the Korean Parliament and U.S. Congress and continue to build solidarity with all peoples struggling against US-led free trade agreements. With a recent survey showing that over 80% of Korean people opposed concluding the FTA on the TPA timeline, with a Korean worker driven to suicide protest by the prospect of the FTA becoming a reality, with protests swelling despite government repression, it is clear that the conclusion of the agreement goes against the will of the Korean people. Through the strength of the people's determination, we will defeat the Korea-U.S. FTA.
International Solidarity for the Anti Korea-U.S. FTA Struggle Builds
The struggle against the Korea-U.S. FTA is not isolated. It is part of a larger movement against all USTR-model free trade agreements. This is now more than ever true, when the conclusion of the Korea-U.S. FTA can become an impetus and model for other U.S. FTAs with Asian countries.
The Korean Alliance against Korea-U.S. FTA stands in solidarity with the people of Thailand, Malaysia, Peru, Colombia, Panama, and all other countries fighting against bilateral trade agreements that threaten workers' and farmers' rights, public services, and the environment. We also send sincere gratitude for your support for our struggle and a wish for even greater solidarity in the near future..
Our movement in Korea draws great strength from two recent acts of solidarity. On March 24, 25 organizations and individuals from other Asian countries adopted a protest statement against the Korea-U.S. FTA in timing with our mass demonstration the next day, which was attended by 15,000 people. This resolution stated opposition to the agreement for its secretive and undemocratic nature and its threat to the livelihood of farmers, the environment, cultural diversity, and public services such as heath-care, energy provision, and education. The full list of signators is published below.
On the other side of the world, ally organization and individuals demonstrated their support for our mass hunger strike with a 36-hour solidarity fast from 3:00pm, March 25, to 3:00am, March 27. Over 190 individuals participated from all over the United States, including California, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Ohio, and from Puerto Rico and from British Columbia, Canada. A list of the participants' names along with their resolution against the FTA was sent to Korean consulates and embassies, the White House, and the United States Trade Representative.
The Korea-U.S. FTA has been concluded, but our collective struggle goes on. We thank you for your efforts and ask for your continued participation as we fight to defeat the Korea-U.S. FTA and all other US-led free trade agreements.
Signatures to the Asia-region Protest Statement against the Korea-U.S FTA
Organizations
1. Biodiversity and Community Right Action Thailand (BIOTHAI)
Witoo Lianchamroon, Director
Thailand
2. Thai Volunteer Service
Kannikar Kuankachorn, Director
Thailand
3. Human Settlement Foundation
Nopphan Phrosri, General Secretary
Thailand
4. Local Action Links
Pongtip Samranjit, Director
Thailand
5. NGO Coordinating Committee on Development
Anusorn Chaiyapan, Coordinator
Thailand
6. Foundation for Consumer
Saree Aongsomweng, Director
Thailand
7. Agriculture Alternative Network
Tussanee Verakan, Coordinator
Thailand
8. Focus On The Global South, Thailand
Chanida C. Bamford, Deputy Director
Thailand
9. Foundation of Reclaiming Rural Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Action
Montawadee Krutmechai, Director
Thailand
10. Sustainable Development Foundation Thailand
Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk, Director
Thailand
11. Alternative Energy Project for Sustainability
Watcharee Paoluangtong, Director
Thailand
12. Aids Access Foundation
Nimit Tienudom, Director
Thailand
13. Confederation of Consumer Organization Thailand
Sairong Thongpong, Manager
Thailand
14. Weman Action Network
Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk, Coordinator
Thailand
15. CODEC
Mohommed Mamin Or Rashid, Program Officer
Bangladesh
16. Center for Human Rights and Development
Y. Mandkhaitsetsen, Program Coordinator
Mongolia
17. Movement for Democracy and Anti-Corruption
Badrul Hisham B. Shaharin, Executive Coordinator
Malaysia
18. Karmojibi Nari
Mafuja Akhtar, Program Officer
Bangladesh
19. Laywers for Human Rights and Development
M. N. K. F. Mauthrianayaki, Legal Officer
Sri Lanka
20. Foundation for Community Educational Media
Pinpaka Ngamsom, Editorial Staff
Thailand
21. GRAIN
Renee Vellve
Philippines
Individuals
1. Jang Ik-su
Staff
UNESCO-APCEIU
2. Na Hyowoo
Director
Asia NGO Center
3. Banajit Hussain
Executive Council Member
Progressive Students??/SPAN> Union, India
(Currently at Sungkonghoe University)
4. Mohindolin Ahmed
Professor
Sungkonghoe University
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No FTA Newsletter 03.12.07
No FTA Newsletter |
2007/03/12 14:16
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No FTA Newsletter
Official News of the Korean Alliance Against the Korea-US FTA
www.nofta.or.kr nofta@hanmail.net
Vol. 1, No. 4, March 12, 2007 In the Newsletter
Headline
Five-Thousand Rally against Free Trade amidst Strong Police ViolenceSolidarity Statements Five-Thousand Rally against Free Trade amidst Strong Police Violence
Monday, March 12, 2007. As the 8th round of Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations entered its third day, a peaceful mass rally was held on Saturday in protest of the talks. Police violence was heavy, but the protesters stood strong until the end, even when sticks came down and water cannon was fired on them. At the end of the day, ten were arrested, and as of today, five from labor and student groups are still held in jail.
The 8th round of talks is to be the last because an agreement must be reached by the end of March. The agreement then would be submitted to the U.S. Congress for an up or down vote by the end of June when Bush?셲 trade promotion authority expires. For South Korea, the 8th round of talks, which ends today, has been especially troubling. Except for automobile and agriculture, most issues have reached an agreement, including pharmaceuticals, procurement, textiles, and trade remedies. In order to bring the talks to conclusion, which has had strong pressures from U.S. lawmakers and presidents of both countries, South Korea is quickly giving in to the demands of capital and the USTR. A high-level talks will be held at the end of the month to finalize the deal.
On the morning of March 10, about five-thousand farmers, workers, students, and activists, marching from various locations, first gathered together near Ewha Woman?셲 University. The traffic at this busy junction was stopped for an hour. Then the mass dispersed and regrouped near the U.S. Embassy in Jongno. It was here that the police brought out the sticks and shields, which are used to strike at the protesters. Water cannon was fired despite the freezing temperature, but the five-thousand stood their ground and delivered their message. ?쏤ellow countrymen and women,??shouted Jung Dae-hwan, Organizing Director of the Korean Alliance against Korea-U.S. FTA (KoA), ?쐎ur spirit and struggle will not be stopped by police violence.??o:p>
The campaign to stop the FTA, which began in April 2006, has been a long battle. The farmers and workers??groups have been weakening since November 2006 when the South Korean government declared all anti-FTA activities as illegal and arrested dozens of protesters. However, on Saturday, mobilization and militancy were back to the level necessary for the struggle to continue.
Jong-hoon Kim, South Korea?셲 chief negotiator, said that automobile and agriculture remain as deal-breakers. Especially sensitive is the beef issue. Although South Korea announced that it would accept U.S. beef except for the boxes that contain bone fragments, the U.S. has judged this to be inadequate and is demanding an unexceptional import of all U.S. beef.
Strong actions are being planned by KoA until early April. A relay hunger strike begins today, and by the end of the month, a thousand is expected to participate. South Korea has not seen a hunger strike at this scale since the protest against the National Security Law in 2003. Police suppression has not been this strong in decades.
Anti-FTA Sentiment Growing in U.S. Civil Society
Over the last month U.S. religious, labor and civil society leaders have shown and organized and determine face opposing to the Korea-U.S. FTA, current with the last push in the FTA negotiations. This opposition was seen clearly during the 7th round of talks held in D.C. from February 11 to 14, when close to 50 organizations (including such groups as the AFL-CIO, Change to Win and Alliance for Fair Trade) adopted a ?쏹.S. Civil Society Declaration on the Kor-US FTA.??This statement reads in part: ?쏻e believe that the current model agreement, which so far has provided enormous benefits for a disproportionate few, will not likely generate widely shared economic prosperity for the majority of persons in the U.S. and South Korea. Indeed, some of the provisions under negotiation could jeopardize important public interest gains or narrow the policy space of governments to respond to the needs or wants of their citizens.??It concludes, ?쏻e stand in solidarity with the Korean people, and are resolved to press our government to reverse its course on trade. We call on our government to reject the failed NAFTA-style free trade model, and strengthen economic and trade relations with other countries based on the principles of mutual benefit, respect for democratic rights, and national sovereignty.??(The full text of the declaration is published below.)
U.S.-based religious organizations followed suit with a letter to congressional representatives and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab on March 8, which criticizes the ?쐄lawed and rushed??process carried out in negotiating the Korea-U.S. FTA and disrespect for healthcare and public services, workers, farmers and food sovereignty in the content of the agreement. Taking particular note of the situation of migrant workers in South Korea, the letter states, ?쏧n May 2006, the National Labor Committee documented widespread and grievous abuse of migrant workers under the auspices of the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement. Amnesty International has documented similar patterns of serious rights violations in South Korea, including verbal and physical abuse, the withholding of wages and the repression of attempts at organizing??Given migrant workers??significant contributions to the economies of both South Korea and the U.S., as trade increases between our two nations, the rights of all migrant workers must be respected, and they should share in the benefits of rising national prosperity.??SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
Most recently, U.S. civil society and labor groups including Americans for Democratic Action, Public Citizen and several labor unions, have initiated a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry, which strongly opposes the renewal of the Trade Promotion Authority (Fast Track), set to expire on June 30, 2007. Fast Track gives the U.S. president the right to sign FTAs before they are seen by Congress and requires Congress to vote them up or down without amendment. The letter states in part, ?쏧n recent history, Fast Track has only resulted in saddling the United States with destructive and widely unpopular trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)??We urge you to take all possible actions to ensure that the Bush Administration is not provided with the authority to determine the direction and terms of our nation?셲 engagement with the global economy??Fast Track?셲 expiration provides an opportunity for the new Democratic Congress to end the Administration?셲 disastrous trade agenda, and set a new course for trade policy based on our shared commitment to justice, fairness, and democracy.??In conclusion, the letter also states, ?쐎ur organizations and membership are very opposed to any future NAFTA/CAFTA type trade agreements, such as those proposed or being negotiated with Colombia, Peru, Panama and Korea.??
As the 8th round of negotiations draws to a close, we are keenly aware that the strong positions shown in theses letters and statements are vital to our success in defeating the Korea U.S. FTA. We thank U.S. groups for their partnership in this struggle and ask for continued support and solidarity in the weeks to come.
U.S. Civil Society Declaration on the KOR-US FTA
We, the undersigned U.S. civil society organizations, express our deep concerns over the proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). We believe that the current model agreement, which so far has provided enormous benefits for a disproportionate few, will not likely generate widely shared economic prosperity for the majority of persons in the U.S. and South Korea. Indeed, some of the provisions under negotiation could jeopardize important public interest gains or narrow the policy space of governments to respond to the needs or wants of their citizens. We wholly embrace economic and cultural relations with South Korea, but wish to make certain that the terms of that relationship are equitable to all. In evaluating any trade agreement, we will be guided by the following principles.
Democracy, Transparency, and Accountability: Trade agreements must be negotiated under democratic mechanisms with broad-based citizen participation including workers, women, and indigenous and ethnic groups. The draft text, member country proposals, and negotiating agendas should be made available to civil society at regular and timely intervals in order for civil society participation to be meaningful. Negotiators should also meet with civil-society groups before each negotiating session, in order to discuss the proposals being advanced, and afterwards in order to report back on the results of those talks. Trade agreements must be subject to regularly scheduled environmental and social reviews by an independent body, which include an evaluation of the agreement??/SPAN>s impact on workers, women, people of color and indigenous communities. Any dispute arising under the agreement must be resolved in an accountable and transparent manner, with due deference to domestic laws and court systems. Trade disputes must be open to the public, and accept submissions from interested outside parties.
Workers??/SPAN> Rights: Any trade agreement with Korea must ensure that all workers can freely exercise their basic rights as laid out by the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work: freedom of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, to refuse forced labor, to reject child labor, and to work free from discrimination. These rights must be recognized and protected in trade agreements and covered by dispute resolution and effective enforcement mechanisms. Any trade agreement with the region must also ensure that immigrant workers??/SPAN> rights are protected fully regardless of their status. Technical assistance to improve labor standards in Korea can complement, but not substitute for, enforceable rules on workers??/SPAN> rights. Finally, a trade agreement with Korea must include adequate protections and transitional assistance for rural and urban workers and farmers in Korea and the United States who are adversely affected by increased trade.
Protecting Family Farms: No free trade agreement should prevent countries from establishing their own domestic agricultural policies that promote food sovereignty, appropriate for their particular economic conditions, geographic characteristics and cultural practices and beliefs. Trade agreements must not interfere with the ability of countries to prohibit dumping of agricultural products that undermine the well being of family farmers and rural communities. Farmer??/SPAN>s livelihoods will be left at the whim of large agribusiness interests unless exporting countries of major commodities take the lead in establishing price floors to assure fair commodity prices worldwide and establish strategic international reserves to ensure food security. These mechanisms are necessary to prevent the pricing and export of commodities by agribusiness corporations at below a farmer??/SPAN>s cost of production. Countries must be allowed the flexibility to establish tariffs and appropriate types of subsidies to prevent a total collapse of rural economies and mass migration.
Environmental Protection and Natural Resources: Trade agreements must not undermine any environmental standards but strengthen and enforce them. Trade rules must ensure that private investors cannot challenge domestic environmental and other public interest laws and regulations before international tribunals. Agreements should also reinforce governments??/SPAN> responsibility to protect and promote farmer rights regarding plant genetic resources for food and agriculture as stated in the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, including not limiting any rights that farmers have to save, use, exchange or sell seeds and other propagating material as afforded to them by national laws.
Protecting Basic Services: Services that help meet people??/SPAN>s right to food, education, health and basic utilities should be exempt from trade rules. In Korea there is deep concern that applying trade rules to these services, especially public services, would make it harder for governments to adequately support and regulate these services, resulting in price increases that are prohibitive to consumers, reduced access and compromised quality.
Foreign Investment and National Development: Investment rules must allow governments the leeway to implement legitimate economic development strategies for domestically oriented growth, especially to promote decent employment, to support domestic industries and investment, and to encourage the emergence of new and infant industries. Investors must have binding responsibilities ??/SPAN> including compliance with international and national labor and environmental standards ??/SPAN> not just rights. Governments must have the authority to regulate capital flows in order to prevent and redress financial crises. Finally, investor-to-state lawsuits must not be part of trade agreements.
Intellectual Property Rights: A trade agreement with Korea should not include rules that go beyond the existing intellectual property rights agreement of the WTO that may adversely impact women, farmers??/SPAN> rights, food security, traditional knowledge and the protection of public health. Trade agreement??/SPAN>s rules should comply with the Doha declaration on access to medicines and with the Convention on Biological Diversity. Intellectual property rules must not limit countries??/SPAN> ability to prohibit patents on genetic plant resources for food and agriculture.
Procurement: Procurement rules must not prevent governments from using tax dollars to support responsible purchasing and contracting practices that favor local suppliers or contain other non-commercial criteria. National and sub-national governments must retain the ability to use government procurement policies to promote local employment, assist small and medium-sized businesses, safeguard workers??/SPAN> rights and human rights, and achieve other legitimate social and environmental goals.
Therefore, we the undersigned U.S. civil society organizations, declare our opposition to any trade agreement, including the Korea-U.S. FTA, should it fail to protect workers??/SPAN> rights, human rights, food security, and environmental standards, and undermine the ability of governments to regulate corporations to protect the common good. We stand in solidarity with the Korean people, and are resolved to press our government to reverse its course on trade. We call on our government to reject the failed NAFTA-style free trade model, and strengthen economic and trade relations with other countries based on the principles of mutual benefit, respect for democratic rights, and national sovereignty.
February 14, 2007, Washington D.C.
Signed,
ActionAid USA
Alliance for Democracy
Alliance for Responsible Trade
American Federation of Labor ??/SPAN> Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
Border Agricultural Workers Project
California Coalition for Fair Trade and Human Rights
Campaign for Labor Rights
Casa Baltimore/Limay
Change to Win
Citizens Trade Campaign
Columban Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Office
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES)
Congress for Korea Reunification
Corean Action Network for Unification
Essential Action
Fifty Years is Enough Network
Grassroots Global Justice
Green Delaware
Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA
Health GAP
Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project
International Labor Rights Fund
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Jobs with Justice
Korean Americans against War and Neoliberalism
Korean Americans for Fair Trade
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Advocates
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement-NYC Chapter
Laborers' International Union of North America
Mobilization for Global Justice
Movement for Peace in Colombia
National Association of Korean Americans
National Family Farm Coalition
Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala
New York City People's Referendum on Free Trade
Nicaragua Center for Community Action
Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
The Oakland Institute
Polo Democratico Alternativo
Project South
Sierra Club
Stop CAFTA Coalition
Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville
Sweat Free Communities
UNITE HERE
United Auto Workers
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE)
Vermont Workers' Center
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