By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Police arrested Wednesday the head of the Korean Progressive Alliance for violating demonstration law in organizing candlelight protests.
Park Seok-un is one of the leaders of the People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease, police said, and he should be held accountable for ``illegal'' protests in central Seoul against American beef imports. Park has also appeared in numerous news conferences demanding renegotiation of the beef deal with the United States.
Police also implemented tougher measures against Internet users who oppose the beef deal. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency also detained nine netizens for alleged libel of shop owners around central Seoul, applying for an arrest warrant for one of them.
The nine disclosed the names of merchants who said they suffered losses due to the protests. The business owners are suing civic groups that led the demonstrations last month.
The list contained the names of the shops and owners, their addresses and phone numbers. Those on the list said they have been blackmailed and sworn at by strangers.
Police said they are searching for another seven netizens who posted threats.
``We will focus on those who have damaged other people's property or business, based on unsubstantiated online information. It is clearly libel,'' a police officer said.
The civic groups responded by crying ''government suppression.'' The mad cow association demanded the resignation of National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo's and dismantling of the police unit designed to stop rallies.