Local government criticizes third Hope Bus campaign

Posted on : 2011-07-20 14:23 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
An 80-organization committee has expressed support for the campaign and requested understanding from local residents

By Kim Kwang-su, Staff Writer 

 

Opinions in Busan are divided over the forthcoming visit, on July 30, of the third “Hope Bus” campaign, a movement conducted by citizens from across Korea to demand the reversal of the mass firing of workers at Busan’s Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC).

Some residents and commercial associations in the Yeongdo ward of Busan, where 51-year-old Kim Jin-suk, a member of the Direction Committee of the Busan branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is conducting an aerial protest at Yeongdo shipbuilding yard, as well as some commercial associations near Busan Station, where the Second Bus of Hope held a concert, are expressing opposition to the third bus.

“We have no choice but to oppose the third Hope Bus Campaign, because it is local residents alone that will suffer if the event organizers and police clash in the streets again,” said Kim Han-su, an official of residents’ councils in Yeongdo ward.

On July 12, the conference of resident council chairpeople, as well as seven of the nine members of Yeongdo’s ward council, stated, “Residents suffered a lot of damage during first and second Hope Bus campaigns including an array of discarded garbage, loud shouting and singing, and road closures. If the third Hope Bus Campaign comes to Yeongdo, we will not hesitate to make significant efforts to block it.”

On July 18, 15 commercial associations, including one representing businesses near Busan Station, stated, “We will block the third Hope Bus Campaign if plans for it forcibly go ahead.”

On July 13 in a press room at Busan City Hall, Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik, Busan Metropolitan Council President Je Jong-mo, head of Busan’s local office of employment and labor Jang Hwa-ik, and Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Shin Jung-taek made the criticism that “The Hope Bus Campaign constitutes third party interference.”

In contrast, a Busan civic committee for saving HHIC and the Busan economy, comprised of more than 80 local civic, social and labor organizations including Citizen’s Solidarity for Participation and Self-Governance of Busan, the Busan branch of an association of parents working for better education, and Green Busan, intend to actively band together with the third Hope Bus Campaign. These groups did not lead the march through the streets when the second Hope Bus traveled to Busan, but they are actively looking into playing a leading role in organizing cultural festivals if participants in the Third Bus gather in specific areas of the city such as Haeundae.

“The HHIC redundancy problem has become more significant than just a single workplace and symbolizes the conflict between chaebols [South Korea’s major family-run conglomerates] and workers,” said Pastor An Ha-won of Saenal Church. “Therefore, I hope the citizens of Busan will show understanding. Participants in the Hope Bus movement also need to show a mature stance, including taking their garbage away with them.”

On July 18, the 118 workers who were dragged away by 150 personnel hired by court law enforcement officers on June 27 while conducting a sit-in protest at HHIC‘s Yeongdo shipbuilding yard filed a suit at Busan District Court against the law enforcers and HHIC demanding compensation of 2 million won ($1,895) per person, or a total of 236 million won, saying, “Labor union members suffered emotional harm after being forcibly dispersed by personnel hired illegally by law enforcement officers.”

 

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