Minor scuffles with police marred a largely peaceful march by 4,000 protesters against the World Trade Organization meeting that opened Tuesday in Hong Kong.
Police in riot gear contained the protesters, who shoved and shouted as they approached giant water-filled plastic barriers surrounding the Hong Kong Convention Center, where the six-day ministerial conference opened in the afternoon.
The largest group included more than 1,000 South Korean farmers, many beating drums and carrying signs saying: "WTO kills farmers."
Philippine fishermen, Indonesian migrant workers and Taiwanese trade unionists were also among the marchers.
Many businesses along the route were closed and shops were shuttered to guard against possible violence, such as that which disrupted previous ministerial talks in Seattle in 1999 and Cancun, Mexico, in 2003. A South Korean farmer stabbed himself to death in Cancun.
Seo Jungeui, spokesman of the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation, told UPI that there would be no extreme action at this year's meeting. "We will demonstrate peacefully and cooperate with the police," he said.
About 300 Philippine, Indonesian and Thai fishermen staged a protest on a boat in Victoria Harbor near the Convention Center.
Inside, a small group of activists disrupted the opening session by shouting slogans as Pascal Lamy, director general of the WTO, addressed delegates.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
