By Lee Kyung-min
A district court ruled Wednesday that the government must pay compensation to protesters for injuries caused by a water cannon used by police to disperse them.
The Seoul Central District court ruled that the government pay Korea Youth Solidarity (KYSP) President Park Hee-jin and Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements (KAPM) President Lee Kang-sil 1.2 million won and 800,000 won respectively.
Park had her eardrums perforated, and Lee sustained a concussion because of a police water cannon fired at them during a rally to protest Korea's free trade agreements in front of the National Assembly on Nov. 10.
According to police, at the end of the rally, the protestors tried to enter the Assembly, for which the group had not previously requested permission.
Riot police fired water cannon at them to disperse the protesters, who they deemed were breaking the law.
The judge ruled the firing of the water cannon was not necessary.
"Police resorted to the use of the water cannon without appropriately warning the group. And they stared firing less than 10 minutes after the group started marching. The protestors were not violent during the protest, nor did they possess harmful weapons of any sort. Those 900 protestors marched only about 200 meters, and they did not pose any direct threat to public safety," the judge said in his ruling.
"The government is responsible for the emotional and physical harm caused by the direct use of the water cannon."
Park and Lee earlier filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court to ask it to rule on whether the use of water cannons was constitutional. They claimed that their use was a direct violation of basic human rights and the freedom of expression. However, the court ruled in June, in a six to three decision, that police can use water cannons in appropriate circumstances.
A district court ruled Wednesday that the government must pay compensation to protesters for injuries caused by a water cannon used by police to disperse them.
The Seoul Central District court ruled that the government pay Korea Youth Solidarity (KYSP) President Park Hee-jin and Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements (KAPM) President Lee Kang-sil 1.2 million won and 800,000 won respectively.
Park had her eardrums perforated, and Lee sustained a concussion because of a police water cannon fired at them during a rally to protest Korea's free trade agreements in front of the National Assembly on Nov. 10.
According to police, at the end of the rally, the protestors tried to enter the Assembly, for which the group had not previously requested permission.
Riot police fired water cannon at them to disperse the protesters, who they deemed were breaking the law.
The judge ruled the firing of the water cannon was not necessary.
"Police resorted to the use of the water cannon without appropriately warning the group. And they stared firing less than 10 minutes after the group started marching. The protestors were not violent during the protest, nor did they possess harmful weapons of any sort. Those 900 protestors marched only about 200 meters, and they did not pose any direct threat to public safety," the judge said in his ruling.
"The government is responsible for the emotional and physical harm caused by the direct use of the water cannon."
Park and Lee earlier filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court to ask it to rule on whether the use of water cannons was constitutional. They claimed that their use was a direct violation of basic human rights and the freedom of expression. However, the court ruled in June, in a six to three decision, that police can use water cannons in appropriate circumstances.
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