Guest Writer Fergus: The World Trade Organization

Fergus is represents the radical protesters of the anti-wto movement. I asked him to write for Glutter to present an alternative interpretation of the events of the last week. More often that not, I disagree with him but I do believe in open forums to allow different points of view to be heard, without it there is no progress. Fergus always suprizes me on his way of seeing the world and make me question mine. Yan

The World Trade Organization limped out of this week’s ministerial in Hong Kong with the weakest document imaginable being trooped out as a success for the dilapidated organization. The delegates ignored the key issues of agriculture, services and none agricultural market access. This was seen as a huge victory for the anti capitalist movement, which mobilized in force to oppose the talks.

Since Tuesday the city as seen massive protests with thousands joining every day. Around 3000 Korean farmers and trade unionists made up the largest force in the protests but they were joined by large groups from La Via Campesena, migrant workers from Hong Kong and a growing number of Hong Kong residents. Initially the media frightened many Hong Kongers from the protests, but they gradually warmed to the struggle of the anti WTO protesters. By the end of the week parcels of food, water, clothes and money were pouring in.

The demonstrations started with an act of defiance by the Korean farmers on Tuesday when around 100 jumped into Victoria Harbour, which had earlier been the seen of a flotilla of fishing boats from Thailand and the Philippines, they then preceded to swim towards the conference center showing that nothing would stop them in their quest to shut down the ministerial.

At the same time as the demonstrations there were numerous meetings and discussions happening around the protest zone. One of the main debates was how our actions could encourage the participation of Mainland China. This couldn’t be more appropriate coming as the events did in a week which has seen the biggest crack down on the mainland since Tianaman Square with a possible 20 villages being shot by the police.

On Saturday the protests escalated as a concerted attempt was made to shut the WTO. Faced by lines of police the demonstrators tried to push their way into the conference center, but were met by vicious attacks by the police who used pepper spray, riot shields and batons to beat back the protest. At one point the police used a water cannon and fire extinguishers against the demonstration, and then without warning three rounds of tear gas were fired into the crowd scattering it back away from the police lines. Another 5 rounds were later fired at the remaining protestors until all were cordoned off on a main road. As riot police surrounded us we were unable to leave or even go to the toilet. We were held for hours, until at around 2.30am the police came in and arrested around 900 Koreans. Only those without a Korean passport were allowed to leave unarrested. Many of those are still being held in the police stations and detention centers of the SAR including a 13 year old boy and 2 members of our sister organization All Together.

The next day a large demonstration occurred again in defiance of the police. A large contingent of Hong Kong people, condemning the police violence led a break away march to the police HQ shouting for the resignation of the police chief Dick Lee Ming Kwai. C K Ho of the Hong Kong democratic organization ‘people at democar’ said that “the police acted shamefully, they continued to arrest people until 12 pm the next day. The intention is clearly to prevent them joining the next days demonstration and to protect the WTO.” Argo Yeung a student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University told me how he was going to the detention center and start a hunger strike with 6 others until all those arrested are released.

Mabel Au, an organizer for the Hong Kong People’s alliance on the WTO said that she was “delighted with the strong voice of the Korean’s. They have taught the Hong Kong people a grate deal over the last few days. She condemned the excessive violence of the police; over 70 people were hospitalized on Saturday.

“ I’m glad that the public have been so supportive and I hope that in the future the encouragement and good will will forward the democratic movement in Hong Kong. The undemocratic organizations like the WTO come as a package to those fighting in this country. We will continue the fight for a better world.”

Currently many protestors are still being detained. There will be demonstrations outside Chinese embassies worldwide. This week saw another step towards a knockout blow for the boss’s organization but we will need all of our brothers and sisters to continue the fight against the WTO.