By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

The fired workers, who have occupied the paint shop of a Ssangyong Motor factory for 68 days, are living in dismal conditions as they have been denied food and water for about a week.

Visitors to the building, including doctors and medical staff said the situation will turn worse as dozens are already injured and around 10 occupants are suffering from depression.

"It's like a refugee camp," said Baek Nam-joon, a member of a humanitarian doctors' association. "Protesters have been living in a hell-like environment."

Baek said a sour, acid smell is lingering inside the building following days of tear-gas spraying by police helicopters.

"It was hard to breathe," he said. Many of them are exposed to dehydration as drinking water was drying up. Doctors estimated that 200 were injured.

"Six of them need an immediate surgery or medical care. Many have severe injuries, including broken ribs or joints incurred during clashes with riot police."

According to Baek, they are given one or two rice balls per day. "Toilets are in dismal condition as the water supply has been cut off."

Hundreds of protesters have complained of a lack of sleep, he said.

"They sleep just two or three hours a day as police helicopters above the building generate unbearable noise."

Lee Chang-geun, spokesman for the unionized protesters, said noise from helicopters and speakers installed nearby the building was adding to the terrible conditions. "We have no food, no water and no sleep."

Compensation Suit

The workers are also facing damage suits that could deprive them of all their remaining assets.

The company said Wednesday it will seek compensation of 5 billion won from the occupants in a damage suit, raising the cumulative amount to 15 billion won.

Meanwhile, Ssangyong creditors will submit a petition for early liquidation to the Seoul Central District Court. The court has set Sept. 15 as a deadline for the company's management to submit a self-rescue plan to avoid liquidation.

Choi Byeong-hoon, spokesman for the creditors said, "We have reached an accord that liquidating the firm is a better option than waiting until the deadline."

The petition will be submitted by Aug. 5.

Choi said they will also file a compensation suit against the company, saying the production stoppage inflicted about 89 billion won ($71.7 million) in losses to creditors.

Despite the warning, no development has been made in labor-management talks since the first round of negotiations broke down Saturday.

The two sides have not moved from their original positions on key issues. The union is demanding the cancellation of the layoffs, while management said it would not begin talks until that demand was dropped.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr