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403개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.

  1. 2008/07/20
    미친 獨島'항의'
    no chr.!
  2. 2008/07/06
    反(李)정부 투쟁 #12
    no chr.!
  3. 2008/06/24
    反(李)정부 투쟁 #8
    no chr.!
  4. 2008/06/22
    48시간촛불투쟁
    no chr.!
  5. 2008/06/20
    反(李)정부 투쟁 #7
    no chr.!
  6. 2008/06/16
    反(李)정부 투쟁 #6
    no chr.!
  7. 2008/06/10
    反(李)정부 투쟁 #5
    no chr.!
  8. 2008/06/09
    反(李)정부 투쟁 #4
    no chr.!
  9. 2008/06/08
    72시간촛불투쟁 #2
    no chr.!
  10. 2008/06/06
    72시간촛불투쟁 #1
    no chr.!

국정원/법무부 만세!!

"South Koreans can thank their spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS)...", according to an article in Korea Times (9.12).
Exactly! The S. Koreans should be proud of "their" spy agency!
The NIS, the successor of KCIA, is "famous"-notorious for torture, murder of innumerable members/activists of the (left and democratic) opposition, kidnapping, faking of "evidences" etc, etc..
And of course: until today NIS is defending the semi-facsist National "Security" Law (and its existence)..



NIS public advertisement for denunciation:
"Inform against N.K. spies, Communist agents, left radical activists.."


In another case the S.K. Ministry of "Justice" (MoJ) is presenting its newest "funny idea" to the public (via K. Times, 8.25): MoJ "will build a refugee-only detention center next year to accommodate the soaring number of asylum seekers"..
Yeah, what a warm reception for political refugees: locked up/imprisoned in a detention center!!
Well, finally it's just a f****** "great" idea to deter further possible asylum seekers!!




진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

'촛불아! 힘내자!'



For more informations:

9.6(土): "촛불아! 힘내자!" 네티즌 연합 문화제 행사안내

 

 

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

국가보안법 철폐하라!!

 

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

[8.27] 불자 20만 운집...

  

8.27 Buddhists' Mass Demonstration Against Discrimination:


"In what was the first event of its kind, approximately 200,000 Buddhists belonging to 27 Buddhist denominations protested in downtown Seoul on August 27 against what they called religious discrimination on the part of President Lee Myung-bak’s administration.


The Ven. Wonhak, head of the organizing committee for what was called the 'All Buddhists’ Assembly for Denouncing the Lee Myung-bak Administration’s Constitution-Destroying Religious Discrimination,' said that Korean Buddhism is in the most 'distressful' state it has been in “since it came to Korea 1,700 years ago.'


'Buddhism has been kicked out into the street by thoughtless fanatics who dream of a Christian republic,' he said.


Monks and regular believers filled the streets in front of Seoul City Hall, from Taepyeongno and Deoksu Palace to the corner of the Hanwha Building..", The Hankyoreh reported today about the event (here's the entire article!).

 

 

Yesterday also Korea Times (Buddhists Urge President to Apologize) reported about it..
But, in my opinion, very "remarkable" are some of the comments to the article! Here just a few examples:


jsburgeson   (59.5.86.36)   08-27-2008 18:44  
These monks are harboring anti-state fugitives wanted by the law. If the police searched a monk's car leaving the temple grounds looking for one of these fugitives, it is not "religious prejudice or persecution." It is simply treating a monk the same as any other person whose car might be searched by the police if it looked suspicious. Are monks now above the law? Who's more arrogant here?


jsburgeson   (59.5.86.36)   08-27-2008 18:45  
I was at the "peaceful" Buddhist rally today they were handing "Lee Myung-bak OUT" placards, so if calling for the impeachment of a president is not hostile and poltical then I don't know what is. If Korea Times cannot report the true nature of this rally, then I hope all readers on this site will see clearly through their biased BS. Democracy cannot thrive without a REAL media to spread the TRUTH!


jsburgeson   (59.5.86.36)   08-27-2008 18:51  
"They also demanded the removal of members of the People's Association against Mad Cow Disease hiding in a Buddhist temple from a wanted list." On what grounds? Are these arrogant monks now in charge of the Ministry of Justice? These anti-government protest organizers have sent 500 police -- innocent young military conscripts -- to the hospital and I personally saw these protesters attacking ordinary citizens, hitting and kicking them over the course of weeks. These monks are simply pathetic!
 

Some more questions? I don't think so (^^)..


Related articles/reports/contributions..

 

by VoP

by OMN

by KCTU

by JoongAng Ilbo

by Chosun Ilbo

by "kotaji"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

다음주: 한국사회포럼

 

 

* 이주노동자 차별철폐와 인권·노동권 실현을 위한 공동행동 (이하 이주공동행동) 은 올 8월 28일부터 열리는 '한국사회포럼'에서 이주 문제로 부문 토론회를 개최하려고 합니다.
이명박 정부 들어 이주민 전반에 대한 통제 강화와 정책의 후퇴가 노골화되고 있습니다.


이에 이명박 정부의 이주민 정책 전반에 대한 문제점을 비판하고 함께 대응 방안을 찾아가기 위한 취지입니다.


많은 참가바랍니다.

 
"이명박 정부의 이주민 정책 비판"


일시 : 8월 28일(木) 오후 3시 40분
장소 : 경희대 308호
주최 : 이주공동행동


-사회 : 미누 (이주노동자의 방송 대표)
-발제 : 정정훈 (공익변호사그룹 공감 변호사)
-패널 : 박선희 (국인이주·노동운동협의회 집행위원)
          김대권 (이주인권연대 활동가)
          서울경기인천이주노동자노동조합
          케밀리아 디누까 (스리랑카 여성이주활동가)

 


For more informations about the Korean Social Forum 2008:
http://www.socialforum.or.kr/2008/

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

815 100차 촛불'문화제'


While the S.K. anti-gov't movement is preparing for tomorrow's 100th Candle-

light Protest Rally/"Culture Festival", KCNA published before y'day following

"news" (*):


Program for August 15 Event Announced in S. Korea


Representatives of civic and public organizations in south Korea including the

Solidarity for Progress and the South Side Committee for Implementing the June

15 Joint Declaration on August 7 inaugurated the Committee for Promoting the

August 15 Meeting for National Reunification and announced its action program.


At the inaugural ceremony held in Seoul that day speakers said that the said

meeting would be focused on the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration

and the October 4 declaration and the realization of peace on the Korean

Peninsula.


They said that during the period of the meeting they would make public the

August 15 declaration on national independence, hold a national rally vowing the

struggle against the distortion of history and for liquidation of the colonial

remnants and defence of Tok Islet and conduct August 15 grand march and

cultural event for independence and sovereignty and thus demonstrate the

Korean nation's will for independent reunification.


August 15 will mark the 100th day since the candlelight actions were launched

against the import of American beef, they noted, stressing that the promotion

committee would vigorously conduct the movement against Japan's shameless

moves for grabbing Tok Islet and the Lee Myung Bak group's confrontation policy

towards the DPRK, holding the slogan "Turn candlelight against mad cow disease

into candlelight for national dignity and independence and sovereignty!"


An appeal read out at the ceremony underlined the need to clearly show the spirit

of national independence to the flunkeyist traitors who are selling off the people's

right to existence, yielding to foreign forces. It called upon all the people to turn

out as one in the work to ensure the successful holding of the August 15 meeting.


* Sorry, but if you have such "friends", then you don't need enemies anymore!



Hankyoreh last Friday published following article:


[100 days of candlelight] Activists say candlelight

protests continuing to develop


Despite feelings of fatigue and disappointment, most feel demonstrations have

been significant


“The changed nature of the candlelight demonstrations is disappointing, but they

still continue.”


Major players in recent candlelight protests who met with The Hankyoreh

expressed their fatigue and disappointment over the last 100 days, over the

course of which they could not produce tangible changes. They stressed,

however, that the demonstrations are not yet over. In in-depth interviews

conducted by The Hankyoreh with 28 people including teenagers, the directors of

online policy cafes and general cafe administrators, the leaders gave their diverse

opinions on the last 100 days.


The thing to note in their answers was their judgment of the current situation, in

which the demonstrations have tailed off. Some 13 respondents, almost half of

the total 28, expressed a sense of defeat and disappointment. This was a very

high number, twice as many as the five who said they felt new possibilities.


In particular, of the 11 teenagers interviewed, eight expressed disappointment, a

very high ratio. The teens generally expressed disappointment about the slide of

the candlelight demonstrations into violence. 18-year-old Kim Eun-jin, a senior at

Yeongdong Girls High School in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, said she was

most disappointed in this transformation in the candlelight ceremonies, and the

vigils should continue to stick to nonviolence like they did in the beginning.


When asked what they felt was most disappointing in the course of the

demonstrations, the opinions proved most diverse. This showed that with the

demonstrations still in progress, evaluations of the last 100 days could only differ.

Ten of the 28 pointed to insufficient energy to keep the protests going, while six

were disappointed that the protests could not stay peaceful to the end.


Nine gave different answers; one member of an SLR camera club who did not

give his name said that demonstrators needed time to rekindle the cause after the

protests had continued for a bit, but they could not.


“Sijipeu,” an administrator of the “Citizens Alliance Opposed to Policy,” said he

was most disappointed that cracks in the group’s resolve began to appear due to

the group’s inability to communicate opinions as the group began to work with

outside Internet users.


Opinions differed, too, about the People’s Countermeasure Council against Mad

Cow Disease, which led the candlelight protests. “Citizens Alliance Opposed to

Policy” administrator Ahn Nuri, 37, said that the April 19, 1960 Revolution did not

need leadership to work, but the candlelight protests had difficulty setting a

direction due to the large number of Internet users and lack of political power and

organization.


Gang Jeon-ho, the vice-head of an anti-Lee Myung-bak Internet cafe, said the

candlelight demonstrations were produced by the People’s Countermeasure

Council against Mad Cow Disease and Korean Internet users.


As opposed to their evaluation of the last 100 days, the interviewees were united

in their opinions on where the protests should go from here and their significance.

Some 24 of 28 respondents said the candlelight protests must continue. Only

four said the protests should stop to give the government time. There was a split

in opinion, 9 to 10, between those mainly involved in online policy cafes, who

believed a minority should continue to resist to make their voices heard, and the

teenager groups, who thought the demonstrators should organize more explosive

protests after taking a breather. When asked about the significance of the

protests, most said that, in reality, no major changes had taken place, but the

protests are still continuing to develop.


http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/303090.html

 

 


Related:

Massive Rally Set for Liberation Day (K. Times)
 

Civic groups plan to hold a large-scale candlelight vigil Friday, the 63rd Liberation Day. The People's Association for Measures against Mad Cow Disease will stage its 100th rally at Seoul City Plaza against the administration and the resumption of American beef imports.


The association said it will continue to fight for renegotiation of the U.S. beef deal and campaign against other policies favoring the rich and privileged.


Police pledged a stern response to the rally, calling it illegal and unauthorized.


They also said they will arrest violent protesters on the spot. "Those who simply participate in the rally as well as rally leaders will face prosecution,'' an officer said.

Authorities 'to Crack Down' Liberation Day Violence (Chosun Ilbo, 8.14)

 

 



 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

[8.5 대회] '선전포고'..

While the S.K. poet Kim Seon-woo (in her column in y'day's Hankyoreh) described the new hard-line tactic by the state and/or its police to oppress anti-gov't street protests as a "declaration of war against the public", the reactionary (and of course pro-LMB) Chosun Ilbo today  - surprisingly (^^) - in fact praised/hailed the new development:


Police Get Serious in Cracking Down on Protests
 

Police have become more active in their response to illegal street protests after being accused of passivity in the last couple of months. On Tuesday night, police issued verbal warnings to some 2,700 anti-Bush demonstrators every time they tried to occupy the streets and did not hesitate to arrest anybody who violated the law.

 
Protesters, apparently used to rather lax treatment, seemed taken aback by the prompt action taken by the police. Thanks to strict law enforcement, traffic in downtown Seoul was back to normal before midnight. Demonstrators seemed to have learned the lesson from the night before, and after only three warnings from the police, those who rallied in front of KBS in Yeouido on Wednesday night dispersed without much resistance.


Police took unprecedentedly swift action on Tuesday night, having earlier warned they would deploy water cannon and arrest violators. They tracked down especially violent protesters and arrested them when they fled, a task made easier by spray cans they turned on them. Protesters scattered into smaller groups of 100 to 300, and the crowds dispersed to Euljiro, Toegyero and the Myeongdong Cathedral. Traffic downtown was normalized by 11:30 p.m.


Up until a few days ago, police reacted with forbearance and did not prevent demonstrators from occupying the roads, and even after issuing warnings they waited for hours overnight until the protesters dispersed voluntarily. Water cannon were used only to protect barricades set up by police buses. Accustomed to lax reaction from the police, the demonstrators did not flinch when the police issued warnings, and did not give into water cannons. On July 26, some 1,500 demonstrators freely walked along the streets downtown for 12 hours, and kidnapped, stripped and beat two police officers.


Police promised rewards to officers to encourage them to act against illegal protesters. Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Seok-gi said, "Actions disturbing law and order have continued throughout the demonstrations in recent months. We decided to introduce the reward system to boost the morale of police officers since there were officers who avoided arresting protesters because of the danger at the rally scenes."

 
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200808/200808070022.html


*****


Citizen Quota: “We’ve afforded you a very warm welcome, although there are some opposed to your visit out back,” says President Lee Myung-bak to President George W. Bush.
“Out in back,” the police are busy “citizen hunting,” for which, it has been proposed, they might receive financial reward for making arrests. (Hankyoreh, 8.7)


 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

[8.2] '..촛불문화제'

About y'day's anti-GWB/MB  K. Herald and K. Times "reported" only in few words. Well, according to S.K. "independent" sources - such as NewsCham, VoP.. - at most 5000 people participated in the protest, because it was (likely) just a "rehearsal" for coming Tuesday's mass demo against Bush (GWB) who will visit Lee Myung-bak (MB) - his new friend in the S.K. presidential office.


But as we could see in the comments to K. Times' "report" about y'day's protest Scott B. - once again - became an eye-witness and (likely) very angry...

So he commented: "Since the reporter wasn't there, there is no mention of how the protesters attacked a normal citizen in Myong-dong who disagreed with them, an increasingly disturbing pattern amongst these lunatics. They also blocked the main road in front of Myong-dong Station for an hour, causing great inconvenience for buses and regular motorists. Why can't these people just protest at Ch'onggye Plaza, instead of blocking roads every weekend? Is this BS going to happen for the next 4.5 years?"


And he wrote an own, really impressive(^^) report about last night's events. And - surprise, surprise!! - his report isn't positive, not really:

Another Saturday Night in Chongno Redux

Very "impressive" here: the part where he turned from a observer to an "activist", by calling the cops ("..I'm going to have to go complain to the police," and immediately walked over to one of the traffic police in the street..)!!

But Scott B's (strange) reports are actually nothing against some "pieces of advice" for the S.K. police
("A. SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES TO POLICE OPERATIONS"), included in following contributions/"analyses" by ROK Drop:

Predictions for Future Protests (Part I)

Predictions for Future Protests (Part II)

Predictions for Future Protests (Part III)
Well, even it's really hard stuff (f.. long articles) you MUST READ it, to "enjoy" it!!



CHEERS!!

 

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

'백골단' 부활

Special Riot Police Unit Established (K. Times, 7.30)
 

Police launched a special riot police squad to crack down on illegal protesters(*).

It will replace the current riot police beginning Thursday.


Civic groups denounced the move, saying the special police are reminiscent of

the "BaekGolDan (or White Skull Squad/백골단),'' a group of plain-clothes policemen wearing white helmets in the 1980s and 90s.



At that time, they brutally suppressed demonstrators who took to the streets to fight dictatorship.


The National Police Agency had an establishment ceremony for the team at a

police station in Sindang, Northeastern Seoul, Wednesday.


The special unit includes roughly 1,700 highly skilled police officers. They had to

complete a 6-month-long training session to join in the group, NPA said. NPA

plans to increase the number of special riot police to 14,000 by 2013.


The agency expects the special members will efficiently control protesters.


* i.e. (likely) almost all anti-gov't protests!

 


Demonstration of suppression (Hankyoreh, 7.31)

 


The riot police demonstrate how to suppress a demonstration at a ceremony for

establishing the riot police force held at their headquarters in the Sindang

neighborhood on July 30. Since February, 990 riot police officers have been

trained in demonstration suppression techniques. There were 240 riot police

officers present at the mock demonstration and all wore the standard suits of

armor.


Following the demonstration, Eo Cheong-soo, the chief of the National Police

Agency, said, “Riot police will arrest anyone who engages in illegal activity.” The

newly-trained force will begin their service in August.


On the same day, the People’s Countermeasure Council against Mad Cow

Disease held a press conference and announced that it was against the

establishment of the riot police force. At the press conference, Lee Jeong-hee, a

lawmaker with the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party said, “In 1991, a

university student died after being hit by the White Skull Squad (an organization

similar to the current riot police force). After that, our society reflected on the

excessive violence used by the police and abolished organizations like it from the

police force.”


Oh Chang-ik, the secretary general of Citizens’ Solidarity for Human Rights, said,

“I am afraid that the riot police have been trained to strike first against citizens.”



More articles about the issue:

Protesters to face special unit of new riot police (JoongAng Ilbo, 7.31)

‘백골단’ 1700여명 공식 부활.. (VoP, 7.30/incl. video)

“백골단 부활” 경찰관 기동대 창설 (NewsCham, 7.30) 

 

 

THE COPY: The new riot cop unit (aka the "New BaekGolDan") performed their "skills":


 

 


THE ORIGINAL: The "BaekGolDan" in real action (late 1980s):


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

이길준 #2


Lee Gil-jun - A Riot Cop In Resistance #2


While the (reactionary) media of the S.K. ruling class is still lamenting about "protest violence", the "lack of respect for the law", "police impotence" (Chosun../JoongAng Ilbo) but also some Internet sources (such as OneFreeKorea), Kim Gil-jun, a young police officer, decided to refuse to continue his service in the riot police units (a part of the S.K. army!!), i.e. he refused his duty to oppress, if "necessary" with extreme violence, the daily mass protests (since late April) against the gov't. While refusing the service as riot cop, he decided to desert, sheltering himself in a cathedral and call publicly for the dismantling of the riot police units.


7.25: Press conference with Lee Gil-jun


The Internet magazine OhmyNews published y'day following impressing contribution (incl. interview) about Lee Gil-jun's case:


'I Left the Army to Save My Conscience'
Riot police officer takes a stand over candlelight vigils


'Putting Them Down, I Could Not Bear the Guilt'

 
Lee Gil-jun, a riot police officer, held a press conference on Friday, declaring his decision to leave the army. Lee made his decision during a leave of absence awarded for his hard work in suppressing the candlelight vigil protests. He made up his mind to no longer be a tool of suppression.


In the early dawn of June 1, protesters were still wide-awake with their candles in front of the presidential Blue House when the riot police rewarded them with water cannons and metal clubs.


Lee stood in the front line facing the protesters that day. He and the troops forced the people up to Guanghwamun. It was then that he realized what he was doing. From that moment, he could not bear the guilt.


He explained that his decision was not for some heroic reason but for his own conscience. He showed worries of all the pain and obstacles that lay ahead of him. The press conference was to be held on the day he had to rejoin the troop at 4 p.m. on July 25. Luckily, we were able to interview him the night before at 9 p.m.


The Riot Police Officer Who Longed to Join

the Candlelight Vigil


When were you assigned as a riot police? When you volunteered for it, weren't you aware of having to go out in riots?


"I was assigned as a riot police last February. I went to university for two years and decided to take three years off doing part time in press agencies and libraries, etc. … I was not an activist of any kind but I was rather interested in social problems [and] also had some critical views on the army and the military draft. Volunteering for a riot police was a compromising point for both. I think I was a bit too vague when I thought that there were other ways to serve as a riot police without having to use force. Looking back I have been too naive. [There are two kinds of police forces; one is a crime patrol police and the other one is a riot police. Lee was a crime patrol police officer with Seoul Joonglang Police Station and would patrol around the district maintaining public security. He would also be mobilized to government departments from time to time. However, things changed as he was sent to the candle vigil protests.]


"I heard the news about the candlelight vigil protests concerning the beef issues through a friend's letter early this May. You don't get all the news when you are inside so I was not aware of the details. Hence, it is true that I assumed the protest would cool down after awhile like other protests.


"So while I was out I participated in the candlelight vigils. I was astounded to see how furious the citizens were and how irresponsible the government could be towards this fatal issue. Then I had to return to the troop and stand against these people with no choice. For that moment I thought to myself that I was only standing guard. I guess it was only my own rationalization.


"A day after I returned the whole atmosphere changed. It was May 31. We were in standby on riot buses when an order was given to us to get out of the bus. Then [they] ordered us to run somewhere with our riot suits and shields. We ran until we stopped and we stood facing the protesters with me in the front line. I recall that it was university students in the front facing us and we were at Hyojadong that moment. Others alerted each other that things might become more serious and the whole situation was just too surreal for me. But as soon as I heard the water cannons were coming, I came to my senses. Are they serious? I thought. The water cannons actually waited for two hours for the protesters to strike first."


'Strike Them, But Don't Make It Obvious'


"'Wait for them to strike first? Isn't it a rather subjective judgment?' I asked. The higher officials told us, 'For us to win this strike was to wait for the people to strike first and have a clearer reason for us to fire the water cannons.


"'Strike them. But don't make it obvious. You might get caught by all the cameras so just hit them at the shin holding the shield up a little.'


"The suppression started as the water cannons were fired. Many people bled and fell to the ground of Guanghwamun as the sun came out.


"While firing the water, we were ordered to push forward. People at the back kept on pushing so I headed forward too. As we suppressed the people up to Guanghwamun, the sun came out and it was already morning. I slopped down on the ground dehumanized, wondering what I was doing. It is true that there were some people who were a bit violent. I was hit by a soju bottle too, but I was not angry though. It is because the protesters were unarmed while I was armed with a shield. For the citizens it must have been a scary sight.


"If we did not shout loud enough and be ferocious, we were told we would be strictly disciplined afterwards. Punishment in the police community is way more violent than any other punishments in the army.


"I was told, 'Having a dominant atmosphere is what makes a rival to the protesters. And we consider defeating them only as a part of our job.' A suppression route is made only to stop serious accidents but not to protect the people's safety is what I was also told. Therefore, the country has used the many young men solely as a tool for the sake of their own power and somehow allowed them to use a more violent force every time they faced the protesters."


From a Tool of Suppression to Acting Through One's Conscience


"After the protests were put down, I realized something as I heard our head's abusive language. I realized that something was wrong, that I wasn't thinking. We all gathered to block the vigils all throughout June and we worked overnight continuously. I could stand the physical exhaustion but I couldn't bear the meaninglessness of it all.


"I realized that there's no way to justify acting in such violence towards my fellow citizens. It was difficult to see demonstrators picket in front of my riot shield. It was so painful to hear people talking down at the police and tell us to disobey our orders. Sometimes I would cry, hidden behind my helmet.


"At first, I would try to just escape the situation. I tried to break my leg, thinking that if I were injured I wouldn't be in the frontlines. I tried to figure out if I could be moved to a different branch. But nothing worked out and the month of June was too long and difficult. Luckily, I wasn't in the lines that were in charge of breaking up the protests, but in regular street guarding posts. I couldn't bear it otherwise.


"As July passed I came to realize that I have to stand up rather than just try to escape. I've lived my whole life up to now, by compromising. But this one time, I wanted to stand up. I couldn't live with myself if I had to compromise my beliefs again this time. I finally felt this good type of "self-interest" to live with dignity and courage. The candlelight vigils showed how easy it was to manipulate these young men as tools of power. I couldn't support something like that anymore."


'In Order to Break the Circle of Violence, the Riot Police System

Must Be Discontinued'


OhmyNews asked Lee if he was worried about all the criticisms that he would face following the press conference. It is predictable that people would denounce him for his "supposed" cowardice and inability to adjust to army life.


"I want to tell as many people as possible. But I'm not speaking as some ideologically motivated advocate -- I just want to tell people my story. I want to tell them that there are people like myself in the riot police. And I wanted to speak out as a whistle blower and show how violently that riot police organization operates. And I wanted to object to the government for throwing young people into that mess and forcing them to clash against the demonstrators.


"I prepared for this press conference with the support of members of the People's Solidarity for the Abolition of Riot Police System. I'm not sure exactly what I'll say. Instead of some general overblown opinions, I just want people to know that there are people like me out there. And I hope through this process that others like myself who have been worrying by themselves will be able to come forward.


"One of the reasons I came forward is because of the culture of violence in the internal organization. But I probably wouldn't have come to this decision without the candlelight vigils. I probably would have found some way to adjust. And maybe I would have tried to be better out there on the frontlines."


Did the internal organization (of the riot police) become far more violent as the candlelight protests continued?


"The internal organization's atmosphere became progressively uglier after the candlelight vigils began. The pretext was to put the men on edge and maintain discipline. Before and after the protests, we would be harassed and beaten up. The physical abuse and human rights violations escalated as the candlelight vigils continued. I think I was beaten up every day in July."


Lee was extremely hesitant about this point. He did not want another person to be harmed because of his decision to come forward. Lee attributed his experiences to "structural problems." Lee said that the current riot police system must be abolished in order to break the circle of violence. But not everything can be attributed to "structural problems." Lee hoped that fellow riot police members would be able to choose to resist instead. He wished that his decision would give them courage to do so.


'I'm Most Worried About My Parents'


Lee was asked whether he had spoken with his parents about his decision. The worry was that his decision may lead to his arrest and that was something his parents may not understand or accept.


"I will try to speak with them either tonight or tomorrow morning. They probably will not understand at all. I don't think I'll be able to change their minds. I can accept whatever difficulty or suffering that happens because it was my choice, but when I think about the suffering my parents will experience because of me, I feel much sorrow and guilt."


After the press conference, Lee will begin a talk at the Korean National Christian Congress (KNCC) at Jongro. After 8 p.m., Lee will have surpassed his leave time and the army will come to take him back. Seeing how the police have arrested average citizens, it's no surprise what they will do to get a conscripted soldier who violated his leave time and conducted a press conference. The ones in power will go through Lee Gil-jun's records in order to find something that will make him out to be a "bad guy."


Shouldn't we embrace him? This young man who cried inside his helmet wishing he could stand together with the candlelight demonstrators. This young man who said, "I don't know what to say to my parents. I know that I will go to prison, but what can I do for my parents?" This young man who has so much criticism and punishment right before his eyes.


http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=383266&rel_no=1

 

 

 

 

진보블로그 공감 버튼트위터로 리트윗하기페이스북에 공유하기딜리셔스에 북마크

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