Police Raid Offices of Protestest Organizers
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Police Monday raided the Seoul offices of two civic groups, which have been organizing the weeks of street protests against American beef imports.
The raid came after the government warned it would no longer tolerate unauthorized demonstrations.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency searched the offices of the People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease and the Korean Solidarity for Social Progress ㅡ the two groups believed to have played key roles in spearheading the protests.
``We began searching the offices around 6 a.m. and confiscated computers, placards, masks and other materials used during the anti-American beef rallies,'' a police officer said.
They apprehended Hwang Soon-won, the solidarity's human rights division head, on the spot on charges of instigating violent protests.
This is the first time police have raided the anti-beef import civic group's office since the candlelight vigils began 53 days ago.
Police have not mobilized forceful measures so far in order to guarantee peaceful protests, but the anti-U.S. beef campaign was joined by a coalition of liberal groups angered by the policies of the conservative Lee Myung-bak administration and turned violent from last week.
The raid indicates that a forcible clampdown on instigators of the protests has started.
``We will bring an end to the ongoing `illegal' protests now turning to violence,'' said Prosecutor General Lim Chai-jim during a meeting with provincial prosecutors' office heads.
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han also vowed to crack down on violent protesters against the resumption of American beef imports. The government plans to seek criminal and civil legal action against law-breaking protestors.
Meanwhile, clashes between riot police and protesters erupted on Sunday night and continued until Monday morning, when thousands of protesters tried to march on Cheong Wa Dae. The clash left hundreds injured on both sides and destroyed 35 police buses. On Sunday, police detained 130 protesters at the scene; bringing the total detained to 958. Nine people have been arrested and 184 are being questioned.
The Korean Metal Workers' Union said Monday it would go on a general strike from Wednesday to oppose American beef imports.
The union, which represents workers at 230 companies, said that 76 percent of its members had voted for a walkout to demand a reworking of the beef deal and better working conditions.
Following the announcement, the Ministry of Labor called the strike illegal and said it will sternly deal with it.
The metal industry union is under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which has more than 600,000 members at companies including Hyundai and Kia motors.