Global briefs
SOUTH KOREA: Around 10,000 riot-equipped police used tear gas, water canons and fire extinguishers in a battle against thousands of farmers and students protesting outside Parliament in Seoul. The protest was against a free trade agreement with Chile which could flood their markets with cheap produce. Parliament backed off passing the legislation. This is the third time that parliament has moved to pass the legislation but not done so. General elections are looming on April 15. Another contentious bill, to send troops to Iraq, which had been approved by the Defence Committee, failed to see the light of day.* * * NICARAGUA: A solidarity meeting in the northern Nicaraguan city of Esteli demanded the release of the Miami Five imprisoned in the United States as well as the end of blockade against Cuba. More than 200 people gathered to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.* * * PERU: The Peruvian Workers' Union (CGTP) and civic and social movements from various parts of the country have announced a national day of protest for March 11 to draw attention to social demands. The national day of protest will call on the government to put aside the recent scandals of corruption and focus on making financial and political policies demanded by the majority of Peruvians.* * * USA: The US corporations Dole Food Company, Shell Chemical Company and Dow Chemical Company have accused Nicaraguan peasants of fraud and threatened them with a US$17 billion law suit. Nicaraguan farm workers affected by toxic pesticides used by the US transnationals said they would continue their protest in the capital Managua until they achieve an official condemnation of the US companies. The companies have been found guilty by a Nicaraguan court of poisoning workers with banned pesticides.* * * PAPUA NEW GUINEA: A judge in Papua New Guinea rejected former defence force commander Jerry Singirok's bid for immunity from charges of sedition. The charges relate to the 1997 Sandline crisis when the PNG Government brought in private mercenaries to fight in Bougainville and the military downed weapons.* * * SOUTH AFRICA: The strike of 950 workers at Equity Aviation has gone on for seven weeks and there is no immediate end in sight. The dispute hinges on the company's insistence that workers accept an increase in hours of work from 40 to 45 hours a week without compensation. The company wants to backdate this change in hours to April 2003 — effectively meaning the extraction of additional free hours from workers. Other cuts include changes in the way in which overtime is calculated, a ban on taking a Saturday and Sunday off except in "special circumstances", a reduction in sick leave, and a change in shift arrangements. A meeting of ANC and the SACP representatives was held with both organisations pledging support for the strikers.