7월 27일(월) 홍콩노총 노동자들이 금속노조 쌍용자동차지부에 대한 한국 정부의 탄압에 항의해 한국 대사관 앞에서 집회를 열고 이명박 대통령에 대한 항의서한을 전달했다.

- 홍콩노동자들은 파업 노동자들에 대한 경찰의 심각한 폭력에 우려를 표했다.
- 음식과 물 차단, 의료지원 차단, 3000명이 넘는 경찰 배치와 살수, 최루액 살포 등 심각한 수준의 폭력과 압박은 절대 일어날 수 없는 일이며 더 큰 참사를 부르기 전에 이를 당장 멈추라고 촉구했다.
- 쌍용차지부 정책부장 부인의 자결 사태에 대해서도 유감을 표했다.
- 홍콩 노동자들은 정부가 당장 공권력을 철수하고 즉각 노조와 대화에 나서길 촉구했다.


[항의서한]

Mr. Lee Myung-bak
President of the Republic
Blue House,
Seoul
Republic of Korea

Dear President,

On behalf of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, we are extremely concerned with the escalating violence by riot police against the striking workers of the Ssangyong Motor Pyeongtaek plant.

Since July 16, management at the plant has blocked all food from entering the factory.
On July 19, it began to disallow medical doctors and nurses from entering the compound.

At 10:00 am on July 22, riot police entered the factory compound with court officials and creditors who tried to deliver a forced eviction order. The police surrounded the paint factory where 800 workers are sitting in on the 63rd day of their strike.

Over 3,000 riot police and around 30 vehicles including water cannons, ladder trucks and helicopters have been mobilized for this operation.

After news came in that police had started to advance into the compound, it was learned that the wife of the Korean Metal Workers' Union's Ssangyong Motors Branch policy director had committed suicide. She was the 28-year old mother of an 8 months old baby and of a four-year old child. She suffered stress and anxiety from receiving subpoenas and a warrant for her husband’s arrest.

We are deeply concerned about the blockade on water, food, access to medicine and medical treatment for the workers as well as the constant battery with chemical substances including teargas concentrate dropped from helicopters. These represent violations against basic human dignity.

Violence and repression on this scale cannot lead to constructive industrial relations.

I urge you, as a matter of urgency and before further blood is shed, to end the brutal attack against the Ssangyong Motors Branch workers, withdraw all pending arrest warrants and release all imprisoned union leaders related to this strike.

I strongly urge your government to immediately begin negotiations with the Korean Metal Workers' Union to promote a peaceful resolution through dialogue.

Yours sincerely,
HKCTU

-------------
Lee Cheuk Yan
General Secretary

Dear Sir,

We, representative of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, will be visiting your office on July 27, 2009 (Monday) at 2:30pm to present a letter to the President of Republic of Korea.

We are deeply concerned with the escalating violence by riot police against the striking workers of the Ssangyong Motor Pyeongtaek Plant. We will come to hand in a letter of protest to your President and demand for immediate withdrawal of all forms of suppression to the workers.

We would appreciate if you will receive us at the designated time.

Thanks and regards,

Yours truly,

Elizabeth Tang,
Chief Executive