2006年3月28日, 南韓的反南韓美國FTA (Free trade agreement) 運動中心(Center for national movements against the south korea-U.S FTA)成立. 自從世貿, 南韓示威者回國後, 一直在反 FTA, 而且不斷跟我們說, FTA的遺害比世貿更嚴重. 反FTA中心的就職宣言裡第一句話是: "南韓美國 FTA 最終會重複日本吞併韓國的歷史, 我們要反 FTA來拯救這個國家！"
究竟 FTA 係 mut?
如果說 WTO 係貿易談判的框架, FTA就是雙邊談判的具體內容, 假若南韓和美國達成某些具體協議, 其他國家也可以引用協議, 要求 "公平" 對待.
自05年的談判開始, 南韓和美國已達成以下的協議:
1. 05年10月, 停止藥品價格下調(使國內生產的藥物價格不能下降)
2. 05年11月, 降底汽車廢氣排放量的標準 (全世界講環保的都要提高標準, 美國卻要求人家降低)
3. 05年12月, 強迫議會接受開放稻米市場協議
4. 06年1月13日, 重新開放美國的進口牛肉
5. 06年1月19日, 同意美軍於南韓的彈性軍事安排 (Pyeongtaek 的美軍基地擴張就是在這背景下提出的)
6. 06年1月26日, 宣佈減低電影配額數量
中心指出整個FTA談判並沒有諮詢人民, 沒有得到人民的認受, 亦不代表國家利益. FTA中有關美軍彈性軍事調動的協議是美國新的霸權策略, 以防止北韓核武為借口, 於東亞駐軍, 制衡中國.
目前, 南韓不同的群體, 包括工人, 農民, 學生, 文化界, 演藝界, 醫藥界, 公共服務部門, 環境保護, 反戰份子均作好準備, 對抗 fta, 只有支持美國霸權的保守政客, 記者和當權者支持 fta. 估計這次抗爭將為盧武鉉政權帶來很大衝擊.
前兩天, 首爾網上媒體工作者舉行了反 FTA的工作坊, 討論反 fta的媒體策略, 一共四十人參與. 他們更打算每兩個星期舉辦一次.
回看香港, wto的談判始終是黑箱作業, 一般市民想反對也不知從那裡反起. 聽說已經有國家要求香港把教育放在開放的服務業清單裡, 教育私營化的壓力會越來越大.
以下是反 fta 運動中心的就職簡介:
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Inaugurating the Center for National Movements against the South Korea-U.S. FTA.
March 28, 2006
The South Korea-U.S. FTA Will Only Reenact the Historical Annexation of Korea by Japan. Let Us Stop the FTA and Rescue the Country!
An Evil Spirit Haunts Korea
The agreement on suspension of pharmaceuticals price markdown in Oct. 2005, agreement on lowering standards of automobile exhaust fume in Nov. 2005, forced settlement in the National Assembly on sanction over rice negotiation in Dec. 2005, agreement on resumption of American beef importation on Jan. 13, 2006, agreement on the strategic flexibility of American forces in Korea on Jan. 19, announcement of screen quarter reduction on Jan. 26, dismissal of the hearing committee on Korea-US FTA on Feb. 2, surprise announcement of Korea-US FTA negotiation on Feb. 3, commencement of Korea-US FTA preliminary negotiation on Mar. 6, the State Council decision of screen quarter reduction on Mar. 7. These are the measures that took place over the last four months, a breathtaking schedule to launch the negotiation let in the evil spirit called the South Korea-U.S. FTA into the country.
We now fear that the evil spirit of the FTA threatens an imminent landing. Unless this landing is blocked, Korean economy, nay, the whole Korean society will soon fall under U.S. unilateralism built upon transnational capital, Korea-U.S military alliance, and of course the new gained strategic flexibility of the U.S. forces in Korea. The FTA with South Korea whose economy now ranks as the 10th largest in the world may provide a crisis-solving breakthrough for the U.S. now verging on national bankruptcy as a consequence of the "twin deficit." But this only means that South Korea, still enraptured by the dreamy notions of neoliberalism and globalization, shows once again its inability to say "No!" to the United States and risks a breakdown of its society.
The FTA Respects No National Interests and Has No National Approval
"The Korea-US FTA is absolutely necessary to overcome the social polarization of Korean people." "Given the growing intensity of Sino-Japanese competition, the strengthening of Korean-American Alliance will contribute to striking balance among North-east Asian countries." "Regardless of fierce nation-wide protests, I will dedicate my remaining terms of office to realizing the FTA." "For our competitiveness, we ought to be able to contend with top-business groups of the world." With these groundless delusions, the "Participatory Government" began a secretive move resembling a military operation to prepare the FTA. Sadly, we are here reminded of the dark days of the authoritative regimes. For does not the “Participatory Government” act like a wolf in sheep's skin as an insidious missionary of neo-liberal globalizaion? Is it not about to cross the point of no return to real democracy? The government representing the exclusive interests of Korean and American financiers and capitalists is not to be considered 'our' government. President Roh and his government officials are throwbacks of the Pro-Japanese who sold out the country a century ago. These similarly argued that "The open-door policy is the way out," and that "The only alternative lies in the importation of Japanese civilization."
With the FTA and the Strategic Flexibility of American Forces in Korea, the United States Will Strengthen Its Dominance over the Korean Peninsular
What the United States demands in the FTA is nothing less than a 100% open-door policy from South Korea. It will not admit three basic labor rights. Nor will it allow Korea's sovereignty over food, culture, environment, and jurisdiction. Utilizing the terms of the existing military alliance between the two countries, the United States also high-pressured South Korea into agreement on strategic flexibility for a rapid dispatch of American and Korean forces to troubled areas of the world. We interpret that the demand for the FTA and strategic flexibility derives directly from the desire on the part of the United States for absolute dominance over Korean Peninsular. There is no doubt that the FTA and strategic flexibility constitute U.S.'s new plan for world hegemony. The measures attempt to turn South Korea into an outpost for U.S.'s strategy to contain China.
Like Torrents under Frozen Ice, Nation-wide Protests Are under Way
Last winter in the turmoil of protest a couple of farmers died, and last February film directors and actors took to the streets to protest against the reduction of screen quota. Workers, farmers, intellectuals, artists, and other conscientious people in every walk of life are coming to form a unified front to stop the FTA. Countermove councils and committees comprising as various social sectors as film, agricultural-fishery, professors and academics, health-medicine, audio-visual media, cultural-artists, educational-PTA's, and intellectual property rights have already been organized. Still in other sectors such as labor, law, public service, environment, feminism, and finance, attempts are being made to form similar organizations to prevent the agreement. These efforts are not confined to the metropolitan area either; they spread throughout the country. It is only policy-makers and bureaucrats of commerce, plutocrats, conservative journalists and politicians who have opted to support the FTA. Deaf to nation-wide protests against it, they have just become traitors to their country.
In the Name of History and People, We Stand up to Check Korea-US FTA
Now, an all-out people's war is inevitable. We march against U.S unilateralism. We oppose its neoliberal globalization, its strategic flexibility, its demand for an FTA with South Korea. We say "No!" to economic exploitation by transnational capital. For us, there can be no sidesteps, no hideouts. People gather all over the country to protest against the FTA. United, we shall overcome small differences. Let us raise our torches up above to signal that we have risen up. We shall create festivals out of people's uprisings. In our joyful revolution, we shall terminate the U.S. attempts to exploit the Korean people. We shall also bring the treacherous supporters of the Korea-US FTA before the tribunal of conscience and justice.
Today, thus inaugurate "The Center for National Movements against the Korea-US FTA.
" We hereby proclaim a war against the forces supporting the agreement and predict that with people's united struggle we shall prevail. We appeal to every citizen of the country to join us to save our country. We need each everyone's participation. "The Center for National Movements against the South Korea-U.S FTA" will become a wild fire on the prairie to start a nation-wide fight against the Korea-US FTA. Let us open up a new world for our future! END
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