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The People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease, which has been organizing candlelight vigils against the import of U.S. beef, warned Wednesday it would launch an impeachment campaign against President Lee Myung-bak if the government fails to begin an all-out renegotiation of the beef deal with the U.S. by June 20. In a statement, the coalition of over 1,700 civic groups including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, urged the government to nullify the existing agreement and negotiate the deal from scratch. ¡°If the government decides to ignore the mandate from the people, who hold the sovereign power in this country, we will not hesitate to launch a campaign to drive President Lee Myung-bak out of office,¡± the statement read.
The Association added it will continue candlelight vigils until June 20. The protesters are organizing large-scale rallies on Friday, which marks the sixth anniversary of the death of two schoolgirls killed by a U.S. armored car, and also on Saturday, the funeral of the late Lee Byung-ryeol who burned himself to death to protest against the import in Jeonju. They will also hold a big event on Sunday, the eighth anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit. The candles will not be snuffed out for at least this month, as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is scheduled to lead summer strikes soon.
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Protesters perform during a candlelight vigil against U.S. beef imports in Seoul on Wednesday. /AP
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The Korean Transportation Workers' Union, which warned it would go on a general strike while demanding support to tackle surging oil price, is now using the beef issue as an excuse for refusing to go out on delivery. Prior to a general strike scheduled for Friday, some members of the union in Ulsan, Gwangju, and South Chungcheong Province have already been on a strike since Monday. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs has warned of a distribution crisis. Although the number of vehicles driven by union members accounts for just 5 percent of the total, if non-unionists join in the strike and the unionists obstruct other drivers, it could cause serious problems.
In addition, there is also speculation that U.S. President George W. Bush¡¯s visit to Korea, which has been expected to take place from July 7 to 9 after he attends the G8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan, could be postponed amid virulent anti-government protests in downtown Seoul. With no signs of the nightly candlelight vigils ending and fears that Bush¡¯s visit would only stir up public sentiment, some are skeptical that the visit could be made in early July.
Some are suggesting that Bush could instead visit Korea right before or after the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in August.
¡°Both Korea and the U.S. worry about the possibility that prolonged candlelight vigils would transform into anti-U.S. protests, and that a state visit by Bush would only exacerbate the situation,¡± a diplomatic source said. However, Cheong Wa Dae and the Foreign Ministry deny the speculation, saying there has been no discussion of moving Bush¡¯s visit to Korea to an alternative date. A senior official at the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that the U.S. is only preparing for the July event.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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