For farmers like Yoon Il Kwon this is a critical time, as this is the period that he must plant his crop---house cucumber---in order to ensure a successful harvest. Nevertheless, it was more important for him as well as the rest of us to return to Hong Kong to show that our struggle against the WTO was a legitimate one and more importantly to keep a promise to the Hong Kong people who have so earnestly and wholeheartedly supported our struggle. 

The more than three and a half million Korean farmers are extremely to grateful to the people of Hong Kong and the numerous organizations in Hong Kong that have expressed their immense love and support to those who were unfairly arrested and imprisoned. We will never forget the love and interest you have expressed to our members during their struggle. As a result it has undoubtedly brought the people of Hong Kong and Korea much closer together.

The WTO struggle is far from over. While the WTO is solely focused on profits for big business and the rich, in one hour at least 4,000 people are going hungry. At the same time our environment is being destroyed and pillaged and the war against is increasing. In a united front with the people's movement around the world, we will continue to fight against the anti-democratic institutions like the WTO that continually perpetuates neo-liberal policies. This is the road for Korean peasants. This is the road for peasants all over the world. This is the road which I believe will guarantee a just world for all of us. 

        Again two Korean peasants must face trial.  However, this is not a lonely struggle, as we know that there is support from the people of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong movement as well as the international community.  More importantly, we know as we face this legal struggle that the two peasants have committed no crime and that their actions and struggle is a legitimate one.

        Not for a single minute did we believe that our struggle was against the Hong Kong government, business, or event the Hong Kong police. Our struggle was against the anti-democratic bureaucratic institution of the WTO that failed to listen to the voices and concerns of the people impacted by the free trade polices institutionalized by the WTO.

We believe that we, the peasants are victims of the WTO just like in many ways are the Hong Kong authorities and the police. The WTO bureaucrats and the government ministers have all left Hong Kong. It is unfortunate in the end; the struggle is left between the Hong Kong authorities and the Korean peasants.   

        In the back drop of all of this, I have an urgent request to the Hong Kong authorities and the legal system. In order to keep our agreement with the Hong Kong authorities and the legal system we have once again returned to Hong Kong. I would like to reiterate again that we are peasants and for us this is the most important period. Clearly we believe it is important to continue with this trial; however, we hope that the Hong Kong legal system will be wise not to prolong the legal process if there is no need to do so. 

I hope we can work and struggle together for a day in which we are all free from injustice and exploitation. Let us work together for a day when everyone in the world can enjoy peace and equality.

February 27, 2006

Moon Kyung Sik, President of the Korean Peasants League