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This morning, Korean riot police carried out picketing E.Land workers from stores at Seoul's World Cup Stadium and the city centre

Just after 9 this morning, Korean riot police struck at the Homever hypermarket inside Seoul's World Cup Stadium and at the New Core Outlet and Kim's Club stores in the city centre. They carried out the picketing workers, almost all of whom were young girls and women, and transported them to police stations around the Korean capital.

It is obvious that the police intervention was caused by tonight's high profile football game between FC Seoul and visiting Manchester United. If the authorities thought that this would be a way to save face and avoid embarrassment in front of the visiting team and the world media, they have quite apparently made a mistake.

UNI has made sure that Manchester United and its world-class football players are aware of the events that took place only hours ago at the stadium where they meet the Korean team. And while they are playing, the young women shop workers from the former Carrefour store downstairs are being held at police stations.

As UNI said in an urgent message to Manchester United Manager Sir Alan Ferguson, and to the football players, the game should go on and the evening should be a celebration of the sport. But at the same time, they should make clear to the Korean hosts and government that they are concerned over the fate of the arrested workers, and that they should be immediately released - also out of respect for the visiting club and players.

The employer E.Land and its workers' union were involved in negotiations when the police attack took place. Although final results had not yet been reached, it is apparent that some progress was being made. Now, totally misguided concerns of Korean government representatives for tonight's sport event has back-fired through the ill-advised use of riot police to quash the strike instead of supporting a solution through continued talks.

UNI has also intervened with the President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, as well as once again with the Director General of the International Labour Organisation ILO, Juan Somavia.

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