8.19/20/21 STRUGGLE REPORT (Seoul, S. Korea)

In the frame of a campaign, organized by several trade unions and civil right unions, today (Friday, 8.20) it came to clashes between criminal gangs, hired by S. Korean construction Mafia and union activists. Since yesterday KCTU/ETU-MB, National Union of the Urban Poor(NUUP), Equality Trade Union, Korean Union of Fired Employees and several others are protesting with the mewan of a propaganda tour through Seoul against oppressing of trade unions activities, for defending of houses are threaten to turn down, because construction Mafia plans to build expensive appartment monsters there and for the rights of migrant workers in S. Korea.
Today during a final protest in front of a new building downtown Seoul. Until last year here shops, restaurants and flats were located. Last year after a mysterious incedent - after that just a huge hole was left in one the houses - everything had to tear off... and only few weeks later a brand new hous was errected (actually just an advertisement building for a skyscraper to build in the future. Because of the totally speed during the errection of the new building everony from the shop and restaurant owners connected this to the very active construction mafia here.
So today the concerned, members of NUUP and all the other members of the propaganda tour wanted to protest in front of the new building.
Short after arriving there at 6:10 pm the protesters were attacked at 6:3 pm by so called "information prsonnel", but in fact nothing else such as from the construction mafia hired criminals. They beaten up some of the activistes - the leader of the NUUP was taken by the emergency ambulance car to hospital.
At 6:27 large units of the riot police arrived on the scene and imediately encircled 35 of the 50 protesters. Ten minutes later they arrested 34 of the encircled persons.
But even until now, it is here 10 pm, no one of the arrested is free, tomorrow, how planned we will continue with the struggle propaganda tour!

Here the first pctures from the clashes, made by Jang Eu-gene

ps.: Even after more than two hours fighting in front of Jong-no Police Station our comrades are not free. One elderly woman was captured by the cops during the fight, but later sent to hospital.
Today at 10:00 am (KST) the struggle continued in front of Jong-no District Office, but except a short clash with the riot cops, no special occurrences. But the rally there was very powerful, and even with cops' actions from yesterday to scare potential supporters around 100 activists participated.
Here you can the a documentary about y'day's clashes and arrestings.

RELEASE ALL MIGRANT WORKERS FROM DETENTION CENTERS!
FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN S. KOREA!
LET’S FIGHT TOGETHER FOR A WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION!
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, ONLY IF YOU WANT AND FIGHT FOR IT!