Alert on rallies jacked up

By Park Si-soo

Police have been put on the highest alert ever as labor unions and civic groups are threatening to stage large-scale rallies in the capital during the G20 summit that kicks off today.

More than 50,000 armed police officers and troops have been mobilized around Coex, the main venue for the two-day historic gathering. The government has designated a 2 kilometer radius of Coex a “protest-free zone” and pledged to punish those involved in any collective action in the area.

To keep the venue off-limits, movable 2.2-meter-high security fences that stretch out for 1.6 kilometers have been placed around the venue.

Yet labor and civic groups are gearing up to capitalize on the international gathering.

A number of rallies are scheduled in the high-security zone between Thursday and Friday, according to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. The authorities have banned 327 rallies, since the protesters may turn violent.

The militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and about 80 civic groups will hold a large-scale anti-G20 joint rally Thursday at the plaza in front of Seoul Station.

An organizer of the rally says about 10,000 will gather at the plaza, including hundreds of foreign civic activists. Other issues activists are trying to highlight include the government’s policies on immigrants and social welfare.

Police said they will allow the demonstrators to march in the street in front of the station for an hour until 6:30 p.m.

But the police will make sure that they do not turn destructive. “Some hard-line activities turn violent after rallies. We are going to react sternly to any violent demonstrators,” a police officer said.

The prosecution also said it will not tolerate any illegal rallies and will crack down on unauthorized, impetuous protests in the area. “Those challenging the security of the meeting will face the consequences of their actions,” a prosecutor said.

경찰, 집회 움직임에 초비상

경찰은 오늘 열리는 G20 정상회담 중 서울에서 대규모 시위를 열겠다는 노조와 시민 단체들의 위협에 초비상상태다.

5만 여명의 시위 진압전경을 2일간 열리는 역사적 모임의 주 행사 장소인코엑스 주위에 동원됐다. 정부는 코엑스 반경 2km내의 지역을 ‘항의 시위금지 구역으로 지정하고 이 곳에서 어떤 집단 행위에 관련되건 이들을 처벌하기로 했다.

접근 금지를 위해 이동성 2.2m 높이의 담장을 1.6km에 걸쳐 세운다.

그러나 노조와 시민 단체는 이 국제 모임을 이용하려고 하고 있다.