The Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of
Canada sent the following message of solidarity to the Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on January 31, 1997.

      "The Communist Party of Canada joins with all other
democratic, left and progressive forces the world over in expressing
our continuing solidarity with our Korean sisters and brothers, led by
the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), in your brave
struggle to defend trade union, social and political rights in
opposition to the vicious, deceitful and anti-democratic actions of the
Kim Young-sam government.

      The unprecedented mobilization and strike actions of hundreds
of thousands of South Korean workers and their supporters, even in
the face of police attacks, beatings and arrests, has profoundly
shaken the regime, forcing it to make manoeuvres and partial
retreats. We pledge our continued support to your struggle until all
of the anti-labour and anti-democratic measures--passed secretly by
the corrupt and anti-democratic Kim Young-sam clique--are
rescinded unconditionally and in full.

      We also take this opportunity to assure you that the despicable
behaviour of the recent Canadian government delegation to South
Korea--led by Prime Minister Chrétien and other high-ranking
officials--in conducting "business as usual," while the labour and
human rights of the Korean people are under ferocious attack, is not
in the least representative of the views of the vast majority of
Canadian workers, and the Canadian people."