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From K. Times' latest edition:

Second Round of Candlelit Rallies Looming
 

Thousands of civic group members held a candlelit rally in downtown Seoul, Saturday for the first time in two months, hinting at a fresh round of rallies going forward.

Unlike past rallies against U.S. beef imports, they were protesting the conservative President Lee Myung-bak administration's key policies.

Some 3,000 members of online communities and civic groups, including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, staged the demonstration at Cheonggye Plaza.

The candlelit protests against the resumption of American beef imports, which started in early May, stopped after the 100th rally on Aug. 15.

The groups plan to hold another gathering next Saturday and form a new civic coalition for democracy and public welfare. It is yet to be seen whether the rally will be the start of a second round of candlelit protests.

The participants denounced government policies, which they say oppress democracy and favor only the rich.

Demonstrators claimed the government's plan to ease rules on property taxes will only benefit the rich, while ordinary people are becoming impoverished amid the economic slump.

They also criticized the law enforcement authorities' investigation into candlelit demonstration organizers and bloggers who campaigned against conservative newspapers, calling their punishment "anti-democratic oppression.''

"We urge National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo and Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin to resign, as they infringed on the freedom of assembly,'' the groups said in a joint statement.

Lawmakers from progressive parties, including Democratic Labor Party leader Kang Ki-kab and New Progressive Party co-leader Shim Sang-jeong, joined the rally to denounce public officials and politicians who illegally pocketed subsidies meant for rice producers.

No clash took place between demonstrators and police.

In the meantime, police arrested the leader of an online community that led the anti-American beef import protests.

The leader, Baek Eun-jong, who took refuge at Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul to avoid arrest for organizing ``illegal and violent'' street rallies, was caught around 4:40 p.m. Saturday while sneaking out of the temple compound.

Baek reportedly attempted to participate in the candlelit rally nearby.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/117_32925.html

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