Actually for Feb 29 we planned a rally and demonstration in Anyang (a industrial town near Seoul), but we’d to learn that Ansan Migrant Shelter also is organizing for a demonstration. So we decided to join them, because two more small demonstrations the cops easily could attack and smash.
After arriving in 안산 in the beginning it was more a disappointment, because only few people were on the place in front of Ansan stn. Over around one hour not more than 200 migrant workers and Koreans (mainly Da hamkke/All Together, a leftwing youth organization, several student solidarity groups and KCTU members) gathered there. But at least from the point of our arrival the atmosphere was great! After several struggle speeches, above all demanding the release of Gupta, K.B., Samar and Haq and all the other migrant workers from detention centers, legalization and work visa for all migrant workers, and several cultural performances a demonstration through Ansan’s inner city started. Here more and more migrant workers joined us. On the apex of the demonstration at least 500 migrants from many different countries, you could see Africans, Chinese, Filipinos, Iranians, people from Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India… Even our block was joined by around 400 migrant workers, Koreans and some Westerners (하, we know nearly every foreigner is in Korea a Westerner, because there are not many countries east of Korea!).
After more than one hour marching we finished the demonstration with a powerful rally.
On the whole it was a real great success and showed our power to the government and their creatures such as the riot cops and immigration officers.
Back in Myeong-dong we got a invitation to a concert given by protest singer Yeon Yeong-seok & friends – a great event with a nice atmosphere. After the concert, until after midnight, we’d there a great party, and you can believe, it was not boring, not at all!
Our comrades in detention centers are still in hunger strike except Haq (because of his bad health condition he had to give up) and the humanitarian situation is invariably terrible, so we are forced to take action from tomorrow