Скачать или смотреть SOUTH KOREA: FARMERS CLASH WITH POLICE OVER RISE IN PRICE OF RICE

(14 Dec 1996) Korean/Nat

About seven-thousand South Korean farmers have clashed with riot police in the capital Seoul during a protest against what they say is an unfair rise in rice prices.

The farmers are demanding a 12.3 per cent price hike for rice, but the South Korean National Assembly has approved only a four per cent rise in the 1997 budget.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters on Friday, while angry farmers retaliated by throwing rocks.

Some seven-thousand farmers protested in front of the South Korean National Assembly on Friday after branding the four per cent increase in rice prices as too small.

South Korea maintains a two-tier price system for rice under which the government buys a set amount of rice at higher than market prices.

Farmers are demanding that the price should be 12.3 per cent higher than last year.

But the 1997 budget has allowed for only a four per cent increase.

One farmer slashed his fingers with a knife and wrote an angry protest on a banner in his own blood.

During the three-hour protest, farmers' leaders shaved their heads in a show of protest.

Farmers argue that with a 22.4 per cent inflation rate and a wage rises of more than 40 per cent, the increase in rice prices is unfair and unrealistic.

SOUNDBITE: (Korean)
"Farmers are humans too. We need to be treated properly. Economically we need to be treated properly. Economic justice must take place. Getting the right price for rice means getting the right price for all farming products. This is economic justice. There can't be democracy or social justice where there is no economic justice. Therefore we must obtain economic justice and true democracy."
SUPER CAPTION: Lee Soo Keum, President, National Farmers' Union

Rice is South Korea's most important crop, with about 7.3 (m) million of South Korea's 44 (m) million people involved in farming.

During the protest, riot police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Some farmers retaliated by throwing rocks at the police.

No injuries have been reported and no arrests were made.

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