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Introduction of KPL
What does the KPL do?
We are working together with 9 provincial associations and 100 district branches all over the nation to?
Fight against the indiscriminate opening of the agricultural market by WTO neo-liberalism, to prevent the indiscriminate import of agro-livestock products and achieve self-sufficiency in food and preserve the environment.
Fight against farmers’ debt and policies that destroy agriculture, to secure peasants’ political, economic and social rights and safeguard their welfare.
Build an independent economy in the coming era of national reunification.
The path that KPL has taken
The years leading up to the founding of KPL
In the late Chosun dynasty, exploitation of Koreans got worse after the Gab-o peasant uprising in 1984 and with the plan to increase rice production and the land survey project under Japanese colonial rule. Peasants started to organize tenant farmers’ associations and farmers’ unions to put up mass struggles by tenant farmers and to launch a peasant movement against the Japanese rule. Korean peasants have always risen to the occasionto protect our nation from foreign invasion. Succeeding the spirit of such traditions, peasants began to form autonomous organizations such as the Catholic and Christian Farmers Associations in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, farmers started the struggle for compensation of losses in sweet potato cultivation in Hampyeong, and this served to create a popular base for the peasant movement.
Due to government policies aimed at opening up the agricultural market, the price of beef, garlic and red pepper dropped drastically, and the exodus of farmers from the country began to accelerate regardless of geographic location. The problems faced by peasants were not limited to a specific region or particular crop. The peasants’struggle in response to such problems, such as the struggle against water taxation, against the plunging rep pepper prices, and the February 13 rally in Yeouido, Seoul, served to unite the various peasantgroups, which in turn provided the basis for the founding of the Korea Peasants League to act as the pivotal organization that would unite Korean peasants as one.
1987
7 August
Formation of the National Farmers Committee under the People’s Movement for Democracy
1988
26
National’ rally againstthe import of agro-livestock products
19 July
Massive rally by members of the National Livestock Co-operative against the import of beef at Yeouido Square
September ~ December
National struggle for compensation of losses in red pepper cultivation
Struggle for the reform of medical insurance system for rural communities
(over 30 regions)
1989
13 February
National farmers’ rally to get the government to purchase entire red pepper harvest and abolish water taxes
2 March
Founding of the National Union of Farmers’Movements (held in Daejeon and attended by over 90 leaders from various regions)
15
National farmers’rally demanding that the government purchase the entire rice harvest and guarantee rice prices (participated by more than 10 thousand peasants from about 100 regions all over the nation)
18 December
Founding of the Korea Women Peasants Association
1990
24 April
Founding of the Korean Peasants League
Years following the founding of KPL
1990
24 April
7 provincial associations and 72 county farmers’ unions join the KPL
7 September
First nationwide KPL rally to oppose Uruguay Round negotiations, condemn the government’s initiative for rural and fishing community development, and demand fair prices for agricultural products
2 September
Founding of a national committee for countermeasures to the Uruguay Round negotiations
1991
23 March
National rally to get the government to purchase rice harvest and reform the medical insurance scheme
26 November
National rally to stop the import of US rice, guarantee fair prices for local rice, and make the government purchase all locally-produced rice
1992
1 September
National rally for agricultural reform, complete government purchase of rice, and fair rice prices
1993
15 February
National rally against Uruguay Round negotiations and for complete government purchase of rice
10 July
Demonstration against Clinton’s visit to Korea and for overall revision of the New Agricultural Administration initiative
7 December
National citizen rally against the import of rice and other basic agricultural products
1994
1 February
National rally to oppose ratification of Uruguay Round agreements, start re-negotiations, and reform agricultural policies
7 July
Simultaneous county-level rallies all over the country
29 November
National rally to guarantee rice production costs and oppose ratification for the launching of the WTO
8 December
National struggle denouncing the National Assembly for railroading WTO ratification (carried out simultaneously in over 50 counties)
1995
23 April
National rally for the early implementation of special laws on WTO rules compliance and the integration of medical insurance schemes
28 September
First round of struggles by Mannyang red pepper farmers and sit-in strike calling for compensation
1996
1~2 February
National rally for integration of medical insurance schemes, rice self-sufficiency, direct payment system and fair agricultural prices
16~30 August
Nationwide demonstrations at ports to stop the import of staple rice and achieve self-sufficiency in rice
10 September
National rally for integration of medical insurance schemes and rice self-sufficiency
1997
7 January
Declaration by one thousand peasants calling for nullification of railroaded bills on the labor market and Korean CIA
5~22 September
National rally denouncing policies that drove down agro-livestock prices and calling for fair prices and cancellation of farmers’ debts
18 November
National rally to guarantee fair agro-livestock prices and cancel farmers’ debts
1998
16 May
19 peasant organizations including KPL, Korea Alliance of Farmers and Korea Association of Farmer Groups deliver a joint emergency proposal regarding agricultural issues to the ruling party and two other opposition parties
15 September
National rally to guarantee fair agro-livestock prices, cancel farmers’ debts and guarantee food self-sufficiency
9 October
Conference on agricultural policy reform "The Direction and Future Tasks for Agricultural Policies"
1999
14 November
First people’s rally for cancellation of farmers’ debts, reduction of working hours, abolishment of the National Security Law, protection of economic sovereignty and guarantee livelihood rights
8 December
National farmers’demonstration for scrapping National Security Law, for solving farmers’ debt, and against the opening of imports by WTO
2000
1 April
First people’s rally condemning Neo-liberalism andthe Kim Daejung administration and calling for the people’s livelihood rights
25 July
National rally to guarantee fair agro-livestock prices, cancel farmers’ debts, and oppose agricultural imports
21 November
One-million peasants rally for the enactment of special laws on farmers’ debts
2001
6 March
Launching ceremony of ship headed for North Korea with vinyl used in rice planting
17 April
International Farmers’ Day of Struggle during the International Week against Free Trade Agreements and Investment Treaties
17~24 May
Demonstrations due to losses sustained by garlic famers in Muan county, Yeongcheon city and Uiseong county
17 July
Inter-Korean Farmers’ Rally for National Reunification
13 November
First National Farmers Rally opposing WTO-led rice market liberalization and calling for fair rice prices and abolition of policies to liberalize agricultural market
2002
30 June
Launching ceremony of 100-people-100-day Walkathon to protect local rice production
22 July
Farmers’ rally denouncing closed-door negotiations for the Korean-Chile FTA and secret negotiations on garlic with China
13 November
Massive protest by 3 million farmers to protect local rice
2003
20 June
General strike against the National Assembly ratification of the Korea-Chile FTA, with farmers driving into Seoul with ten thousand vehicles loaded with farming machinery
7-18
Struggle to derail the WTO Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico
19 November
National rally to commemorate the spirit of comrade Lee Kyung-Hae, guarantee the livelihood of farmers and safeguard rice and agriculture
2004
9 February
National rally to stop the National Assembly from ratifying the Korea-Chile FTA
March ~ September
Nationwide farmers’ referendum (turnout of 2.5 million voters from 44 counties with 94.8% against the opening of rice market)
1 September
Establishment of headquarters for the national movement to protect our rice market and food sovereignty, and the holding of the inauguralconference
10 September
County-level rallies to commemorate the spirit of comrade Lee Kyung-Hae and safeguard rice and food sovereignty (with first round attended by 1.4 million peasants from 94 counties and cities)
13 November
National rally to calling for a halt to rice market liberalization negotiations and a national referendum
7 December
Third round of farmers’ demonstrations (simultaneous county-level protests using farming vehicles)
20 December
Fourth round of farmers’ demonstrations (with ten thousand vehicles driven into Seoul)
2005
20 June
Farmers’ general strike
10 September
National rally to commemorate the spirit of comrade Lee Kyung-Hae, oppose the WTO and protect our rice market
-Major works
KPL have been doing following works.
□ We will strengthenthe county committees through finding out 5 thousand people who will bein charge their regions, and foster them. We will also realize the generalization of KPL.
The work that finds out and fosters 5 thousand people who will bein charge is�
→ to promote momentum of KPL
→ to generalize the policy and direction of KPL .
→ to strengthen county committees which are the root of KPL substantially
□ We will win the struggle of stopping National Assembly’s ratification of rice negotiation from and the Cabinet meeting in Hong-Kong then we will be free from the trap of globalization
- We will realize the farmers’ interests about every problem we have.
- Our works is for realizing solidarity with all the level of societies.
- Our works is for making people judge the present agricultural policywhich promotes the opening of the market by neo-liberalism.
□ We will reborn to national leaders through education of political idea to all executives.
- Our work is for finding out the future of farmers’ movement.
- Our work is for helping farmers to be leaders of the society by education.
- Our work is for informing all citizen of policy and direction of KPL with prepared contents.
KPL’s foundation declaration
We declare solemnly the foundation of Korean Peasants League that is representative of all 7 million farmers in our nation. From now on, farmers’ organizations unite as one. All local farmers’ organizations are associated strongly under the flag of KPL. On reflection, after Gabo farmers’ battle which was occurred with the slogan "Excluding western power and Japan, Promoting the national interests and providing the welfare of the people", our history of farmers movement was really full of harshness and sadness under Japanese ruling, American ruling and military dictatorial regime. The meaningful and cheerful launch of KPL that would be new history during a hundred year history of farmers’ movement will give all farmers overflowing hope and bright future.
Meanwhile, many organizations which had nationwide level and system have been worked hard to make common solidarity and struggle. But the momentum of movement was decreased because the organizations were separated from each other. KPL overcomes this error, found a new organization and accomplish the nationwide solidarity. This is also the result that we attained independent popularity, struggle, and united system of farmers’ movement through struggle for price of rice, 2.13 Yeoido farmers’ demonstration in the last year and struggle for taxes on water, red pepper in 1988. Now, KPL will win farmers’ political, economical, and social rights with organization system covering from small local region to big city.
History has been developed by production by the sweat of workers. So workers including laborers and farmers who develop the history should be the owners of this society. Although farmers are working really hard to produce foodstuff, their rights which they deserve to have as working masses have been deprived and treated with contempt. That’s why the ruling class, military dictatorial regime, is not based on civilians but based on capitalists and foreign power. They mobilize law, regulation, police, military and all administration power to oppress farmers becoming the real owners of this society.
KPL proclaims that we will do our best to let the working masses be the owners of the society. Especially, we will make strong solidarity with democratic party and workers to fight against ant-democratic power(반민중적, 반민주적, 반민족적).
After monopolistic capital seized control of our country, our farmers were forced to produce more foodstuffs than before in 1960s and 1970s. The song of Making New Town(새마을)movement was spread widely, and ruling class had a rosy illusion about the future, so they deceived farmers. Farmers couldn’t help tightening their belt more and more. In other words, monopolistic capital and Park Jeong Hee’s administration deprived farmers to increase production in the name of development focused on industrialization that was based on sacrifice of farmers.
In 1980s, the colonialistic pillage of the United States was starting with their surplus in agricultural products. In Jeon Doo Hwan’s administration opened the market to import beef, tobacco, and some other products under the pretext of 개방농정, 복합 영농. So basic agriculture, which was the root of nation’s survivalwas destroyed very rapidly. The opening of imports farming products was the same with the policy that reinforces the monopolistic capital to exploit the farmers by low-price of farming products. While farmers set the fire on products and threw away red pepper, Chaebols were focusing on making money through import revenue of 고추장.
In the early 1990s, however, Noh Tea-Woo’s administration infringed the basic rights of the people and was scheming to hold the power permanently. The administration had no sooner made 민자당 than they legislated ‘농어촌 발전 종합 대책’ as 농업 구조 조정 정책 for national and foreign monopolistic capital to strengthen eviction of peasants and policy destroying agriculture. That is to say, the policy is unprecedented that effaced farmers because it made over a million of farmers be out of rural area per a year.
This is the last frantic attempt for the United States and monopolisticcapital to exploit farmers more and more under the premise overall liberalized import of farming products.
Look! Hitherto, only farmers have been forced to scarifythemselves, the policy that was made by the ruling class was not for our nation and farmers but for ruining our nation and exploiting farmer’s effort. Therefore we, KPL, will work to accomplish the agricultural policy for farmers truthfully.
The more building and cars are in the urban area, the poorer condition and more debt are made for farmers. There’s no crop farmers can cultivate anymore. The domestic agriculture was destroyed long ago and the lives of farmers are infringed thoroughly. So the saying, the crisis of agriculture and farmer, is not the words. How could we endure the consistent days with pain and sorrow!
Don’t you think we deserve to farm in our own land, to get guaranteed the pay of our labors? We should stop importing foreign farming products. We hope the life that we don’t need to be worried about debt, education of our children and afraid of going to the hospital. Also we deserve to have cultural lives that other people have. We, farmers, should gain our bright future by ourselves with independent strength.
Now, KPL, which is the weapon of struggle and solidarity for all farmers, starts to march with resonant shout. It is the very KPL that 7 million farmers turn to and participate with joy. KPL is deep rooted organization into farmers. We will step forward to make active organization that tries to improve the condition of farmers through implementing the all businesses for the farmers’benefits with voluntary participation from farmers. In addition, we will seek for benefit and solidarity of farmers by cooperation between production and sale.
Farmers can help living as slaves without any political freedom. But, it’s time for us to cut the chain tied by military dictatorial regime, capitalist and foreign power, and start to march for the bright future.
Look! The flag of KPL is waving in all over the country! Let’s gather all of the power to KPL for human lives and building democratic and equal society. Let’s fight for the day we finally win the freedom of farmers and our victory!
1990. 4. 24. Korean Peasants League
KPL Platform
1. We will establish the system of land ownership and usage by principle that farmers should have their own land and extent agricultural production basis.
2. We will stop the opening imports of agro-livestock products and establish the self-sufficient type of agriculture
3. We will guarantee the price of agro-livestock products and realize the income-guaranteed agriculture.
4. We will preserve the environment in rural area, supply safe foodstuff to protect the health of our citizen. So we will develop eco-friendly agriculture.
5. We will promote agriculture to prepare the day of reunification and to protect food sovereignty and 민족자존
6. We will construct the cooperation of agriculture based on family farmers.
7. We will extend the farming management by associating production with processing, storage and distribution of agro-livestock products.
8. We will reform distribution system and strengthen the competitiveness of agricultural industry.
9. We will develop the practical technology centering on the spot and improve the productivity by specializing education.
10. We will institutionalize prevention of agricultural disasters, relief, and compensation through complete preparation of countermeasures against natural calamities.
11. We will secure the welfare of the aged.
12. We will accomplish the heath of farmers by establishing the system of medical insurance for farmers.
13. We will improve the condition of education in rural area and accomplish equal opportunity of education for the children of farmers.
14. We will improve the living condition in rural area and expand cultural facilities then we will spread productive community culture.
15. We will expand the rights and interests of women as productive farmers and eradicate the vestige of feudal system that oppresses women in rural area.
16. We will make the democratic and independent cooperative associations relating to agriculture such as National Agriculture cooperative Federation.
17. We will accomplish the participation of farmers to politics by democratic administration relating to agriculture.
18. We will accomplish the financial, tax, and monetary policy that support the development and protect the agriculture.
19. We will activate the regional agriculture by expanding democratic operation of local government and participation of farmers.
20. We will achieve to democratize our nation, to be independent nation, and to make peaceful reunification. |
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