[vol.3] [Positions] 1. The Unending Fight to Oppose Ratification of the Uruguay Rounds
WORKING WOMAN 2008. 1. 30. 15:58
In this article, 'Working Women' attempts to present the information necessary for farmers to understand the role of UR in deteriorating our country's agriculture and for readers to understand and sympathize with the continued farmers' struggle against UR.
On December 9. l993, amidst intensified national opposition to rice import liberalization, the Kim Young-sam government announced its abandonment of the countryside and Korea's national sovereignty by declaring its support of the Uruguay Rounds. This statement, which surrenders our position even before the UR negotiations have been settled, represents an outright violation of the president's electoral promise to 'stake the presidency to protect our rice.
In spite or such action. the government has also begun a national publicity campaign proclaiming the UR settlement to be a success. The publicity claims that the Korean agreement is much more advantageous than the Japanese one because of such measures as the ten-year extension of rice import tariffs and the agreement that foreign imports will not take up more than 1-4 percent of the domestic market.
However, as Korea still has a trade deficit and as rice farming makes up 23. 7 percent of all income from farming, claiming that our agreement is more advantageous does not give much comfort to Korean farmers. Import liberalization for rice and other basic farm products is certain to bring about the devastation of our farmers' 1ivelihood and our country's agricultural management.
Driving their farming vehicles, farmers stage a street demonstration in opposition to the country's ratification of the Uruguay Rounds. The UR agreement would liberalize imports of rice other basic farm products.
In response to this situation, the November IO National Women Farmers' Conference made clear its position of absolute opposition to import liberalization for rice and basic farm products. The November 12 National Farmers' Conference also drew national public attention to the issue.
This struggle against UR has proceeded in several ways, including the movement to return farm equipment to suppliers, demonstrations of protest before the National Assembly due to its lukewarm response to import liberalization, and a pan-citizenry signature petition drive to oppose rice import liberalization.
Currently, the government is attempting to bring up the UR ratification bill for passage in the upcoming special session of the Nationa1 Assembly. to be held this June 1994. The fact that Korea is taking such early steps to pass the UR agreement when no other country has made similar moves is an indication of politica1 pressures from the U. S. . a country which also faces strong domestic opposition and would find it easier to ratify UR if Korea did so first.
Continued U. S. pressure to liberalize imports of marine products and substandard sausage meat is another indication of the existence of U. S. political pressure.
The fight to oppose the ratification of the Uruguay Rounds is not yet over. The Korean Farmers League is planning another rally to oppose the ratification, and other student and 1abor groups, including the National Trade Union Representatives Association, are planning a united struggle.
This struggle to oppose rice and farm product import liberalization is a fight to reclaim our nation's sovereignty and our people's hea1th. It is a struggle to preserve our environment and natural ecosystem so as to pass down a healthy land to our children. We urge all citizens of our land to join in this national struggle for our people's health and livelihood.