By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Amnesty International called on the Korean government to thoroughly investigate ``excessive use of force'' by police against anti-American beef import demonstrators, expressing concern over human rights violations.

Wrapping up a two-week fact finding mission here, Norma Kang Muico, the watchdog's East Asia researcher, said during a press briefing in central Seoul, Friday that she has found many cases where protestors' human rights were infringed on in the candlelit vigils.

``The protests were largely peaceful, but there were incidents of violence as riot police sought to control surging crowds and some protesters attacked and vandalized police vehicles,'' Muico said.

Hundreds of citizens and police officers were injured in the candlelit protests after Seoul signed an agreement with Washington in mid-April to resume the beef imports.

She said police used excessive force against demonstrators, including hitting a 14-year-old boy on the head with a shield, adding police should use force only in limited situations.

Some other human rights violation cases included arbitrary detention of protestors and onlookers; a targeted crackdown on some protestors, such as rally organizers; and no medical care for those in detention.

``We have concerns regarding non-lethal riot control devices, such as water cannons and fire extinguishers fired at close range,'' she said, adding she has collected testimony about injuries to the eyes and eardrums of protesters.

She also expressed concerns over the impunity of police who used violence, saying officers had no name badges or identification tags.

``The Korean government should conduct a prompt, effective, independent, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of arbitrary arrests and other human rights violation. It also should hold officers accountable for human rights violations, as well as ensure that all victims receive fair and adequate compensation within a reasonable time,'' Muico said.

She said she learned that most of the police officers were young conscripts aged between 20-22. ``I was concerned at the amount of pressure that riot police were under,'' she said, saying they suffered from lack of sleep, irregular meals, and no police medic was provided at the site of the protests.

Before announcing her findings, Muico said that Amnesty International acknowledged the protests were a tribute to Korea's strong civic society and its legal institutions. ``South Korea has come a long way from the days of an authoritarian rule and pro-democracy struggles. There will be no erosion of the democratic gains of the past decades.''

The Ministry of Justice refuted Muico's claim, saying the use of force was a fair measure conducted in a very limited way to prevent law-breaking activities by some violent ralliers. ``Amnesty's research result just enumerated individuals' one-sided claims, and this can have a negative influence on Amnesty International's authority and fairness,'' a ministry official said.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr