Seoul: Farm protest paralyzes the city

December 21, 2004 - Angered at government action to allow more rice imports into Korea, farmers blocked five major bridges over the Han River in Seoul yesterday, causing havoc on the roads.
As police worked to free an immense traffic jam across the city, they smashed the windows of the farmers' vehicles. More than 300 arrests were made.

The protest later spilled over into the offices of two U.S.-based multinational grain dealers, Purina and Cargill. Police said about 20 farmers broke into the companies' branches in Seoul and staged noisy protests.

The authorities said by blockading bridges over the Han River, 1,000 farmers in 50 trucks were able essentially to paralyze a broad swath of the capital for more than an hour. Included were the Cheonho and Jamsil bridges in eastern Seoul, the Seongsu and Hannam bridges in southern Seoul and the Mapo Bridge linking Yeouido to central Seoul.

In Seodaemun-gu, four farmers, who said they were from Jeju island, scaled the 14- meter (46 feet) Dongnimmun, or Gate of Independence, and shouted, "We should protect our food."
In Gongdeok, near the Mapo Bridge, some policemen broke the windows of the farmer's trucks and dragged the occupants from their vehicles. A Korean correspondent for a French news wire SIPA Press was reportedly hit by the riot police while he was taking pictures of the melee.

The spokesman for the Korean Peasants League said, "We staged surprise rallies in protest against government deception toward rice farmers."

Only about 500 managed to gather at a rally held later in the day in Yeouido.

Meanwhile, 10 executive members of the peasant organization met in front of the Blue House for a press conference to explain the reasons for outburst yesterday.

"We demanded transparent negotiations, but they closed the doors on us and decided the issues for themselves," said Moon Gyeong-sik, chairman of the farm organization. "We want a television debate or any kind of open debate so that farmers can participate in the decision making process of opening the rice market." But some farmers said they were tired of everything, even the protests in which they participated.

Noh Hyeong-tae, 35, a rice farmer from North Jeolla province, said he used to only farm rice, but now he raises chickens as well because rice paddies are not enough to make ends meet.
"Along with all this, now I have to go on protests as well," he said.