CINA

S.K. prosecutors and the police today vowed to "deal sternly with any illegal rallies against U.S. beef imports as the initially peaceful candlelight vigils turned violent over the weekend", according to Korea Herald's newest edition.

'Justice' Minister Kim Kyeong-han has directed prosecutors to clamp down on any "illegal protestors".

"Illegal rallies are continuing with protesters blocking roads and even assaulting the police, causing inconvenience to other citizens. We must not allow the protests that have gone beyond what's legally acceptable to slip by," Kim added.

The chief of the National Police Agency, said, "The issue will be strictly dealt with in full accordance with law and principles." (i.e. daily police terror!!)

Yesterday and today, the riot cops detained 68 protesters on charges including "taking part in unlawful demonstrations, obstructing traffic and assaulting the police". Some clashes between large units of the riot cops and protesters were witnessed, but no serious injuries were reported.

"Police are currently investigating how the violence began and set to seek arrest warrants for those who actively participated in the illegal protests", today's K. Herald wrote.

Yesterday the cops used water cannons to break up sit-in protests in downtown Seoul.

"The protesters defied our repeated calls to disperse voluntarily, continuing to block the roads by lying on the ground. We cleared the roads of everyone who resisted our orders," the police said.

Yesterday's gatherings, held at various locations in Seoul, were filled with political slogans against the government and demanding the release of the detained activists...

Police arrest scores of protesters against U.S. beef (K. Herald)
 

Police detained about 30 people early Monday as candlelight vigils continued into the predawn hours demanding the Lee Myung-bak administration renegotiate its beef deal with Washington, reported Yonhap News Agency.

Thousands of protesters marched in the streets of downtown Seoul on Sunday, some clashing with police trying to block their move toward the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. The violent clash was the first of its kind since protests against U.S. beef imports started on May 2.

Despite mounting public concern over the safety of American beef, the government was set to implement its beef accord with Washington on Tuesday to lift almost all restrictions on American beef cuts including bones and intestines for the first time in five years.

About 400 people continued candlelight protests early Monday in the plaza along the Cheonggye stream, while 200 others protested in the Sinchon area, where several universities are located. Clashes occurred in the university district where police came to disperse the mostly young protesters. Police said they arrested 31 people in addition to 37 people they detained the previous day.

"Some people tried to intervene when several students were being detained by police, but a riot police officer wielded his shield, hitting a student on the forehead," a witness, Yun Ji-hak, 61, said.

 
Police Warn of Crackdown on Night Vigils (Korea Times, 5.26)
 

Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han warned Monday that protestors against imports of American beef will face criminal punishment if they turn violent and illegally occupy the streets.

In a special statement, he instructed the prosecution and police to round up illegal, violent street protestors, who disguised themselves as peaceful candlelit "vigilantes''.

The minister said the police roundup of protestors will continue if the candlelit vigils, supposed to be a cultural gathering, turned violent.

Those who led the protestors to the presidential office have been traced, according to police. Investigation is under way to trace rumormongers who inflamed the anti-American beef campaign. The tough action came about as thousands of demonstrators defied police warnings and gathered in central Seoul to protest the resumption of U.S. beef imports over the weekend.

Police rounded up 70 people for participating in the "illegal collective actions'' over the weekend, but more people turned up to denounce the police crackdown. The detention was in line with the government's strong willingness to crack down on demonstrators breaking the law. Vigil participants and police are on a collision course, neither group budging an inch. Civic group members vowed to hold more rallies until the government accepts their demands. According to the police, more than 68 people have been detained for participating in the protest last weekend, with more considered for arrest warrants.

Over the weekend, rows of protestors gathered at Cheonggye Plaza and Yeoeuido in Seoul, urging President Lee Myung-bak to scrap the beef deal. Then some tried to head to Cheong Wa Dae by road, which triggered police to round them up. Physical scuffles took place and protestors criticized police for using violence to suppress their rights to air political views.

Despite the government's "effort to soothe public fury'', more people are planning to further express their objection toward the beef import.

42-year-old Lee Byeong-ryul committed suicide Sunday by setting himself on fire in Jeonju, north Jeolla Province. He had spread out leaflets criticizing the beef deal and urged President Lee to resign. (*)

The progressive Federation of Korean University Students' Council said 80 leaders of the group will go on a fast to express their disapproval of the imports. Students from 90 member universities are planning larger protests for Friday, including shaving off their hair and jointly boycotting classes.

"The government is going backwards to the military junta era, a dictatorship, to oppress our democratic ways of expressing ideas. We disapprove of that,'' a citizen in the candlelit vigil said.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/05/117_24752.html

About the "events" on last weekend today's Hankyoreh reported following:

Demonstrators taken into custody after U.S. beef protest
Police plan to issue strict punishment to participants of sit-in candlelight vigil
 

Fifty one people who participated in an overnight, sit-in candlelight vigil held to protest U.S. beef imports on May 24-25 were taken into custody after the protest. This is the first time policemen have cracked down on candlelight rallies since they began on May 2. The prosecution and police announced a plan to punish the demonstrators at a joint meeting with the related institutions, including the National Intelligence Service, arousing a strong reaction from civic organizations and netizens.

After the protest, Guk Min-su, an official of the Seoul Central District Court, said, “Those that were taken to the police station had occupied the roads and waged an illegal demonstration,” adding that they would be punished strictly according to the law following an investigation.

The police action incited strong reactions from civic groups, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which said, “We will never accept the government’s provocation or suppression of candlelight events.”

On the Internet, netizens have continued to post stories denouncing the police crackdown on candlelight rallies.

About 14,000 citizens and students took part in the sit-in candlelight vigil, which started at Seoul Plaza in the evening of May 24. Members of the KCTU and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union joined the rally.

After the rally, about 5,000 protesters occupied the roads in the process of attempting to march toward Cheong Wa Dae, or the Blue House, and police forces confronted them. At dawn on May 25, policemen took 37 demonstrators, out of more than 200, to four police stations for investigation. An additional 14 people were taken into custody on the following day.

 
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/289680.html

* 광우병쇠고기 수입반대 전주시민 분신 (참소리, 5.25)

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