By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday that his administration will no longer tolerate violent rallies to protest the deal to resume beef imports from the United States.
The President instructed his Cabinet to take stiffer disciplinary measures against ``illegal and violent street rallies,'' the presidential spokesman said.
Lee defined illegal and violent street rallies as a challenge to the ``national identity.'' Protestors using violence account for a very small portion of those participating in candlelit rallies.
The government has to carefully listen to some voices critical of state policies, Lee said. ``But street demonstrations challenging the national identity or illegal violent rallies must be sternly dealt with.''
The President also said police experienced much difficulty in curbing outdoor candlelit rallies, but fortunately, there were few casualties in the clashes.
The spokesman reacted negatively to speculations that President Lee may meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8.
Lee will travel to Beijing to attend the ceremony, and China recently invited Kim to attend the event. U.S. President George W. Bush will also be visiting China at that time.
It has triggered speculation about a possible encounter between Lee and Kim, or even a tripartite contact involving Bush.
``It is unclear whether Kim will come to Beijing or not. Furthermore, a meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas is not such a simple matter,'' the spokesman said.
He said an inter-Korean summit is certain to be an event that draws multilateral attention. ``Such a meeting won't be easy to come by.''
The President also instructed Prime Minister Han Seung-soo to map out emergency steps to conserve energy if oil prices surpass $150 per barrel. He cited China's case of reducing vehicle driving by 50 percent among its civil servants. He hoped that the government, companies and workers can join hands to save energy. He reemphasized the need to stem inflation as it was directly linked to the livelihood of ordinary citizens.
kys@koreatimes.co.kr
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