Anti-American beef imports rallies show two aspects ― peace and violence. In the top photo, a family lights candles and holds leaflets that read: ``Lee Myung-bak Out'' in central Seoul, while in the bottom photo, demonstrators break the window of a patrol car, which is parked at Gwanghwamun intersection in downtown Seoul to block them from approaching Cheong Wa Dae, Saturday. / Korea Times/Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
After mothers pushing baby strollers go home, college students in raincoats replace them. After a peaceful cultural candlelit gathering is over, demonstrators brace themselves for water cannons and clash with riot police.
The protests against the imports of American beef are showing two faces with the rallies continuing for more than one month beginning May 2. On the one hand, they are peaceful demonstrations with family participants. On the other, violence breaks out, with both demonstrators and police sustaining injuries.
The anti-U.S. beef demonstrations were first organized as a ``cultural event.'' The main participants were teenage students, and mothers and fathers bringing their children out of concern for food safety.
They lit candles, made speeches and sang songs, and these peaceful gatherings looked more like cheerful events than social demonstrations.
However, these demonstrations have begun to change since protestors began to take to the streets on May 24, angry at the government's failure to answer their calls.
Now, candlelit demonstrations are held at Seoul Plaza in central Seoul at 7 p.m. every evening. However, approximately two hours later, these same demonstrators march on major roads downtown heading for Cheong Wa Dae.
They clash with riot police trying to prevent them from approaching the presidential office. During an all-night demonstration on May 31, police used a water cannon to physically disperse the growing crowd. Many were injured, including riot policemen, with the forceful measures used fanning public anger, in turn leading to more violent confrontations. Since then, students and labor groups have joined in the demonstrations.
Another big clash occurred Saturday night, the last night of a marathon 72-hour rally. Dozens of protestors climbed atop patrol buses blocking the roads to Cheong Wa Dae, while others tore down barricades set up there. One demonstrator fell off a bus during the scuffle, and police arrested 10.
Police and protestors clashed, with many demonstrators hurling water bottles and other objects at the police officers. Angry demonstrators broke bus windows and removed iron bars from the windows using small saws. This was the first time that demonstrators, angry over U.S. beef imports, have wielded weapons, which were obtained from a nearby construction site.
Police used a water cannon again. ``We will have to use it if we decide it is the only way to protect state facilities including Cheong Wa Dae or if demonstrators directly use violence against the police,'' a police officer at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.
``We'll take stern legal action on violent protestors in order to prevent the situation from becoming worse. We urge people to hold peaceful, nonviolent rallies,'' he said.
The government also urged protesters to refrain from violent acts. In a statement under the names of Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han and Public Administration and Safety Minister Won Sei-hoon, the government said Sunday, ``Using iron pipes in a protest is illegal. The government will take stern measures against such acts according to the law and principles.''
An online community opened on June 2 to oppose the violent rallies has drawn more than 8,200 members.
``We have organized this site to protest any form of violent, illegal demonstrations,'' the community operator said. ``We urge people not to rally `without thinking.' We know many people rally peacefully with good purposes, but no one can deny that there are also people who participate in rallies with no specific purpose, out of youthful folly, for fun, or because others do.''
A member of the site said, ``Demonstrations are democratic when they are staged within legal boundaries.''
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