Wednesday, November 16, 2005

In the lead-up to the APEC forum, thousands of South Korean farmers clashed with police on Tuesday in the capital, Seoul, to demand the withdrawal of a bill to open up the country’s rice market.

Local police said that about 40 farmers were arrested. Protesters drove back ranks of riot police in full combat gear as they marched towards the national assembly.

Police put the number of protesters and farm activists at about 10,000.The farmers were stopped just short of the assembly and entered in a standoff with the police, who used water cannon to subdue the farmers and disband the protest.

“No to WTO, No to APEC, No to BUSH,” the protesters chanted. A representative for the farmers said one activist suffered a severe eye injury. Three police buses were burned in the protest. South Korean media reports that 70 protesters and 10 police were injured in the action.

Busan Mayor, Hur Nam-sik, said the protests should be contained. “I cannot block all the protests and demonstrations at APEC at all,” he said. “If the protests and demonstrations happen, it has to be in an orderly way, not to harm the image and progress of APEC.”

South Korean farmers regularly take to the streets demanding protection for the domestic rice market from imports. The farmers oppose government’s plans for wider liberalization of the nation’s rice market.

“The government must come up with realistic policies for the rice market and the farming industry to allow farmers to live comfortably,” said the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation.

The rally follows the death of a South Korean farmer, who allegedly committed suicide last Friday in protest of APEC policies.

About 2,000 South Korean farm activists plan to travel to Hong Kong next month to protest during a meeting of global trade ministers.