Farmer's family seeks gov't compensation

Lawyers for a Democratic Society Secretary General Cho Young-sun, right, speaks at a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday, about a damages suit against the government and police by the family of Baek Nam-ki, a farmer who has been in a coma after being hit by a police water cannon at an anti-government rally last year. / Yonhap

State, police blamed for injury during protest

By Chung Ah-young

Relatives of Baek Nam-ki, a 69-year-old member of a farmers?union who has been in coma after being hit by a police water cannon during a rally last year, have filed for damages against the government and police personnel.

Lawyers for a Democratic Society, a group of progressive lawyers representing Baek’s family, said Tuesday that it filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court, seeking a total of 730 million won from the government and six police officers in compensation for his critical condition.

The family will seek 240 million won from the government, 150 million won from National Police Agency Commissioner-General Kang Sin-myeong, 100 million won from former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Goo Eun-soo and the rest from four police officers in charge of water cannon operations at the rally.

Baek was taken to Seoul National University Hospital after being knocked down by a sustained blast from the water cannon at the anti-government rally on Nov. 14. He has remained unconscious since then, despite undergoing surgery.

“The government has not taken any action or made any apology although Baek remains in coma after 131 days,” the group said at a press conference in Seoul.

Lee Jung-il, a lawyer also representing Baek and other injured ralliers, said that police mobilized some 20,000 officers, 19 water cannon vehicles, 10 police buses and 580 pepper sprayers under an emergency order from Kang given a day before the rally.

“The number of water cannon vehicles used to suppress the protesters on that day was the highest ever,” Lee said. “Police are required to aim the water cannon under a target’s chest according to safety guidelines. But police directly aimed the water cannon at Baek’s head.”

The group revealed surveillance camera footage capturing the scene in which Baek was repeatedly hit by the water cannon even after being knocked to the ground.

After the rally, police admitted that they used the water cannons at 10 atmospheres of pressure, a dangerous level when directed at people. The guidelines recommend setting the water cannons at less than seven atmospheres of pressure if protesters are within 20 meters. Baek had been standing less than 20 meters away from the water cannon while taking part in the demonstration.

“Police operating the water cannon committed a severely barbaric act,” the group said. “To prevent such abuses, we should hold them responsible and request they come up with safety measures.”

Baek Doraji, a daughter of the farmer, said that they earlier filed a criminal complaint with the prosecution against the police officers but prosecutors have not questioned any of them yet. “We will use all possible legal means for my father,” she said.

During the Nov. 14 rally, violence erupted between police officers and protesters comprising labor, civic and farmers’ groups. Some of the ralliers attempted to destroy police vehicles, and police suppressed them using water cannons, injuring dozens of them.