Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080630/article_365104.htm
S. Korean police raid groups leading rallies against US beef imports
Created: 2008-6-30 10:03:30
POLICE launched raids today on offices of two civic groups that have speerheaded weeks of street rallies against South Korea's resumption of United States beef imports, as the government pledged not to tolerate violent, illegal demonstrations.
Police officers searched the Seoul offices of the civic groups and confiscated materials and documents related to their rallies, said an official at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on condition of anonymity, citing an agency policy. He did not provide further details.
Yonhap news agency reported that police confiscated computers, documents, pickets and flags containing anti-government slogans and other materials used during demonstrations. Yonhap also said police arrested one civic group leader on charges of organizing illegal rallies. Calls to the civic groups were unanswered.
Activists, students and ordinary citizens have staged daily candlelight rallies in Seoul to voice fears about the possible health risks of US beef, such as mad cow disease, following an accord in April to restart imports. The protests turned violent after officials began inspecting US beef Friday, before it can reach markets as early as this week.
The government earlier had halted implementation of the April accord in the face of weeks of protests and negotiated an update with Washington last week stipulating that the beef must be from cows younger than 30 months, believed to be at less risk of disease.
The government subsequently said it intended to carry out the accord and urged activists to stop any illegal protests.
During a rally that began Saturday night, about 15,000 people _ some wielding steel pipes and hurling stones at police -- demonstrated in the capital, leaving more than 200 protesters and riot police injured. Hundreds of labor activists also blocked customs storage facilities.
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said yesterday that authorities would arrest those who instigate violent protests, which he said would aggravate national economic difficulties amid rising global oil prices.
Activists have been holding candlelight protests every night for several weeks despite a ban in South Korea on rallies after sunset. However, police began enforcing the ban yesterday. Angry protesters marched into downtown streets, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or clashes overnight.
US beef has been banned for most of the time since late 2003, when the first case of mad cow disease in the US was discovered. In the wake of public outrage over plans to resume shipments of American beef, the South Korean Cabinet offered to resign and the president reshuffled top advisers.
Earlier rallies opposing the beef import deal drew up to 80,000 people, but have since dwindled.
Jang Dae-hyun, a spokesman for the protest group, said yesterday police should cease harsh methods against demonstrators to prevent further violence. "We've been supporting peaceful rallies, but the police crackdown is too harsh," Jang said.
Police officers searched the Seoul offices of the civic groups and confiscated materials and documents related to their rallies, said an official at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on condition of anonymity, citing an agency policy. He did not provide further details.
Yonhap news agency reported that police confiscated computers, documents, pickets and flags containing anti-government slogans and other materials used during demonstrations. Yonhap also said police arrested one civic group leader on charges of organizing illegal rallies. Calls to the civic groups were unanswered.
Activists, students and ordinary citizens have staged daily candlelight rallies in Seoul to voice fears about the possible health risks of US beef, such as mad cow disease, following an accord in April to restart imports. The protests turned violent after officials began inspecting US beef Friday, before it can reach markets as early as this week.
The government earlier had halted implementation of the April accord in the face of weeks of protests and negotiated an update with Washington last week stipulating that the beef must be from cows younger than 30 months, believed to be at less risk of disease.
The government subsequently said it intended to carry out the accord and urged activists to stop any illegal protests.
During a rally that began Saturday night, about 15,000 people _ some wielding steel pipes and hurling stones at police -- demonstrated in the capital, leaving more than 200 protesters and riot police injured. Hundreds of labor activists also blocked customs storage facilities.
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said yesterday that authorities would arrest those who instigate violent protests, which he said would aggravate national economic difficulties amid rising global oil prices.
Activists have been holding candlelight protests every night for several weeks despite a ban in South Korea on rallies after sunset. However, police began enforcing the ban yesterday. Angry protesters marched into downtown streets, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or clashes overnight.
US beef has been banned for most of the time since late 2003, when the first case of mad cow disease in the US was discovered. In the wake of public outrage over plans to resume shipments of American beef, the South Korean Cabinet offered to resign and the president reshuffled top advisers.
Earlier rallies opposing the beef import deal drew up to 80,000 people, but have since dwindled.
Jang Dae-hyun, a spokesman for the protest group, said yesterday police should cease harsh methods against demonstrators to prevent further violence. "We've been supporting peaceful rallies, but the police crackdown is too harsh," Jang said.
Agencies
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