In demand of radical social reform

In demand of radical social reform The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the National Federation of Peasants Association held a rally at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul on July 8 with attendance of 1 500 unionists and citizens at which they demanded hike of 10 000 won minimum salary and withdrawal of THAAD deployment.  The acting chairman of the KCTU said that today’s rally is a venue to launch struggle in the wake of general strike started on June 30. He continued that two months have passed since the Park group was replaced by the new regime, however, the workers’ life and their working condition have not been changed, demanding hike of 10 000 won minimum salary in next year.    Chairman of the National Federation of Peasants Associations said that 600 days have elapsed since the death of peasant Baek Nam-gi, however, no one, who was involved in his death, was punished. The people should unite to remove the social evils which took lives of the workers as well as Baek, he noted.    On the same day, 25 civic organizations including the Cheju headquarters of the KCTU held a meeting in front of the Cheju municipal office to urge the south Korean authorities to initiate radical social reform. They strongly demanded a guarantee of basic right to live of peasants, removal of THAAD deployment in the Korean Peninsula, investigation into sunken ferry Sewol and punishment of those responsible for it, total nullification of agreement on sexual slavery for the Japanese army and raise of 10 000 won minimum salary. Co-chairmen of the promotion committee for release of conscientious prisoners held a rally at the Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul on July 8 to demand acquittal of conscientious prisoners including KCTU chairman Han Sang-gyun and Lee Seok-gi, a former member of the Unified Progressive Party. The present south Korean authorities, styling itself speaking for candlelight mindset, have paid lip-service to elimination of evils of the Park regime. However, they are following in the steps of the predecessors’ policy of dependence on foreign force, inter-Korean confrontation and against the people. The south Korean people’s action against the present south Korean authorities will spread across south Korea.