By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Police are sending clear signals that they will use tougher measures against ``violent'' demonstrators. Their tougher stance comes about one month before President-elect Lee Myung-bak's inauguration and foreshadows that rallies deemed illegal will face stern reaction from the police under the upcoming government.
They are threatening to apprehend demonstrators trespassing police lines and considering using Tasers in handling violent protests. These moves, however, are stirring up new concerns. Some call the planned use of Tasers a human rights infringement, while the police backtracked explaining the move is just under consideration at the moment.
Cho Hyun-oh, an official of the National Police Agency, said Monday at a news briefing that they would act sternly against protests, especially ones involving violence. He said they are considering using Tasers, water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds.
The plan also includes using police barricades, ensuring protestors and the police as well as civilians keep a certain distance from each other. He said they should be respected and those who trespass the lines will be arrested on the spot and could face prosecution.
He said the riot police will be evenly dispersed, encircling protesters.
The spokesman said the police already started training according to the new strategy last Monday.
Another police insider said they have had enough of violent protestors injuring police and the public. There were several cases of riot police being beaten during angry ``riots'' and they often ignored police lines, causing traffic jams and chaos in the city, he said.
However, the use of Tasers as well as other devices, and the arresting protestors on the spot, was severely criticized by civic groups and labor unions.
Using Tasers is of the utmost concern. In October, a Polish immigrant died at Vancouver Airport after being stunned by a police Taser, highlighting the ``weapon's'' lethal potential. The Korean police have already adopted the device, but they are restricted to ``emergency situations,'' where robbery, rape or other serious crimes are being committed.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions spokeswoman Oh Moon-sook said the police's announcement is almost a ``prohibition on any kind of protest, guaranteed by law.''
People suspect that the move is to satisfy President-elect Lee Myung-bak's request to respond sternly to any kind of ``illegal collective action.''
Police toned down their position Tuesday. A police officer in charge of security and the new plan, said that it is nothing new but just an emphasis on principles, and the adoption of Tasers was just discussed.
He did not answer whether violating police lines is as grave as robbing people and houses or raping people, nor did he answer why the police suddenly came up with such harsh measures.