Activists threaten rallies ahead of G20

By Park Si-soo

Tension is mounting ahead of the G20 summit in Seoul next week as anti-government activists here take it as an opportunity to make their voices heard worldwide.

Representatives of 83 civic groups held a press conference in downtown Seoul, Friday, unveiling their plan for large-scale rallies against conservative President Lee Myung-bak, which will be staged in Seoul during the high-profile meeting.

Police have warned that they will not tolerate the moves and will crack down on unauthorized, violent rallies near the meeting venue in southern Seoul. But many progressive civic groups remain undaunted, seeking to stage protests as planned.

Among key issues activists are trying to highlight are the government’s policies on workers, immigrants and social welfare.

“The government has cracked down on human rights campaigns on the grounds that it could pose a threat to smooth preparations for the summit,” they said in a joint statement, Friday. “We have made it clear that no state event provides a cause for a crackdown on human rights campaigns in a democratic nation.”

Nearly 15,000 state leaders, delegates, business leaders and journalists from more than 20 major economies are expected to stay in Seoul during the meeting.

Another left-leaning civic group, called “G20 Collective Move,” said it will keep organizing protests from Saturday until the last day of the summit, Nov. 12, near Seoul Station.