CINA

What did push him to suicide?

Oct. 12, Lee Geunjae who had been a pitchman for 13 years in the City of Goyang (north of Seoul) was found dead with a tree that his neck was tied to.
"He left home to get an odd job early in the morning" his wife Mrs. Lee sobbed out. But he must failed to get the job.

 
Lee Geunjae, 48 years old, and his wife had earned a living by selling street food in Goyang, Kyeonggi province.
They was making their lives in the day before Mr.Lee died as they had done so far. But the afternoon of the day was not usual.

At 2 p.m. Oct. 11, about 200 men with angry looks, black caps, black vests and combat boots got off from trucks suddenly and attacked approximately 30 street stalls including Mr.Lee and his wife's one.

The 'employed gangs' dragged the traders into their herd and beat and kicked without mercy so as nobody could take a picture and even witness the scene.

They also broke the traders' booths into pieces and took those to the district office as they could be paid about more than $350~550 per booth while their daily wages were $65 each.

The employed gangs' exposed bodies during the battle were entirely covered with scaring tattoos. The pitchmen who tried to take pictures their bodies and violence were especially assaulted.

The same crackdowns were also performed in the places of Goyang.

Of course, it was not the first crackdown for the pitchmen. The crackdown of the day, however, was on a different level since the local government of Goyang enforced the control harder from April. The trades got back their broken cameras without the film from the police after the happening was over.

 
Supprisingly, dozens fo local government officials and plainclothesman were at the spot but nobody stopped the violence.
"It is the 'official duties' and anyone who interrupt it could be arrested" They insisted instead.

The municipal authorities of Goyang budgeted $3.4 billions for the crackdown on the illegal street stall and the district office given the money made contracts with the service companies composed of the gangs. An municipal official of Goyang said that 150 of employees from the service companies and 300 of the government officials were called for the crackdown in the day.

Lee Geunjae and his wife were drubbed too.
Mr.Lee was very sorry to his wife. They consoled each other hand in hand through the night.

At 4:30 a.m. Oct. 12, Mr.Lee said his wife that he must get an odd job as the crackdown became tighter.
"Darling, I'm deeply sorry that you have been badly off since you married me. I don't want you to be anymore" he told his wife.
"Please, just come back to home as early as you can" his wife replied.
It was their final talking.

Mrs.Lee said his fellow Mrs.Yoon next morning that she was in a sulky mood on the wat to the meeting to protest the cruel crackdown.

At 12:30 p.m. Mrs.Lee was called from the police of Ilsan district and heard that her husband was in a critical condition. But it was a lie.
High school students found his body hung from the tree and the official reported from them comfirmed that he was died already.
The official made a white lie considering her shock. But she fell down with the news.

She had kept fainting and recovering for three days after she met his body in a funeral hall.

The pitchmen angry for his death met and demand the punishment of the responsible officials, apology from the Mayor of Goyang and stopping the crackdown.

It was, however, also suppressed by the violence of police.

Of course, somebody can criticeze his suicide. But after he answer to the question. What or Who pushed him?

 
http://www.voiceofpeople.org/new/news_view.html?serial=89362

Last week in Goyang City: Street battles between riot cops and street vendors: