| Koreans angry over rice markets agreement Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/17/national/main563855.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStorieshttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/17/national/main563855.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories
Caught On Tape: Parliament Tussle NEW YORK, Nov. 28, 2005
(CBS) Caught On Tape is a collection of strange and offbeat happenings captured on video for all to see. Check back each day, Monday through Friday, for a new video adventure. Compiled by CBSNews.com's Nicola Menzie.
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On Nov. 23, South Korea's parliament ratified a trade pact that would slowly open its rice markets, and farmers who have clashed with police began a fresh standoff as they rallied against the move.
Members of the minority Democratic Labour Party, whose constituencies include rural farming areas, occupied the speaker's podium and tried to block the bill that ratifies a rice market agreement from going to a vote in parliament. They were pushed off the podium by ruling and other opposition members before voting began.
Backed largely by the ruling Uri Party and many in the opposition Grand National Party from urban areas, the bill was approved by a vote of 139 to 61 with 23 abstentions.
"I now announce that the bill has been approved," said parliament speaker Kim Won-ki.
Outside parliament, about 100 angry farmers and farm activists burned a paper mache replica of the parliament building and said more protests would be staged to denounce the bill.
"The fights put up by farmers and the public will probably become stronger and the lawmakers who passed this bill will have to be responsible," said DLP Chairman of Committee Kang Byung-ki.
Farmers had staged violent demonstrations in recent weeks demanding the withdrawal of the plan and a new deal that would protect the domestic rice market from imports.
The vocal farm group has said more than 1,500 of its members will travel to Hong Kong next month to disrupt a key WTO ministerial meeting.
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