CINA

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While thousands of protestors took the streets today/tonight (after the S.K. gov't today announced to resume the beef import from the USA), the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMP) sent thousands of riot cops to make advertisement for its most famous(*) product:

"CHICKEN CAGE CAR TOURS"

"닭장차 투어"

Let's enjoy a free trip, organized by the SMP (from the rally place to the next prison!!)

For more details please check out:

* Well, of course the "Chicken Cage Tours" are wellknown by S.K. resistance movement - since at least 20 years..

But at the end there will be no fun anymore:

"Thousands of riot police and armored vehicles with teargas launchers were dispatched." (K.Times)

Over 100 detained after beef rallies (Korea Herald, 5.29)  
  
Over a hundred demonstrators were detained during protests against U.S. beef imports held between Tuesday night and yesterday morning in central Seoul, officials said yesterday.

Police held 113 protesters for illegal acts, including obstructing traffic. Four high school students were immediately released while the remaining 109 are being questioned in nine separate police stations in Seoul.

It was the highest number of detentions in four successive days of protests. Most of the detainees voluntarily turned themselves in so as to avoid injuries and clashes with riot police.

"Today, the demonstrators voluntarily got into the police cars after they were besieged by police, which jacked up the number of the detained," said a police officer.

Between Sunday and Wednesday, police detained 211 protesters, mostly in their 20s and 30s. Seventy-six have been released while 135 still remain in police custody, according to the police. No serious injuries were reported.

Senior Cheong Wa Dae presidential secretaries, led by presidential chief of staff Yu Woo-ik, yesterday met to draw up measures to rein in the demonstrations, which are turning increasingly violent ahead of the official notification of beef import terms, slated for later this week. The beef agreement takes effect on the date of the formal notification.

During the meeting, they reaffirmed the government's stance that the right to freedom of expression and assembly through peaceful candlelight vigils must be protected, while illegal street rallies must be sternly dealt with so as to strengthen law and order.

They also stressed that law enforcement authorities must focus on dealing with protest leaders who "strategically and collectively" orchestrate the demonstrations, while building a watertight case for their clampdown on illegal protesters.

Since May 2, police have been investigating the leaders of five civic groups that organized the candlelight vigils in protest against the April beef deal with the United States.

Jongno Police Station has ordered 10 leaders of the groups to appear for questioning by June 2 on charges of violating the Law on Assembly and Demonstration. Police are also considering seeking arrest warrants if they refuse to respond. No formal arrest warrants against any of the protesters have been sought yet by the police.

On Tuesday night, about 2,000 citizens took part in a candlelight vigil in Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul, demanding the government either scrap the import deal with the United States or renegotiate it.

About 1,500 started marching onto the streets near Seoul City Hall and other major areas in central Seoul at around 9:15 p.m., causing serious traffic snarl-ups. They chanted slogans, calling for the release of the detained protesters and the nullification of the import deal.

Residents of many other cities also took part in candlelight vigils yesterday, including 900 in Busan and 300 in Ulsan.

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