By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
The Seoul Central District Court issued arrest warrants for two demonstrators who wielded steel pipes during the 72-hour relay candlelit vigil over the weekend, police said Tuesday.
It is the first time that demonstrators have been arrested for assaulting police officers since candlelit protests ― started some 40 days ago ― against the resumption of U.S. beef imports.
The two, only identified as Lee, 44, and Yoon, 52, were charged with injuring two riot policemen with the steel pipes.
Other demonstrators who used violence during rallies have been given fines up to 200,000 won ($200) in summary judgments.
As of June 9, a total of 561 demonstrators have been taken to police stations in Seoul. Of them, 18 were released and 56 were sent to Seoul's five courts. Prosecutors charged 484 without physical detention and sought arrest warrants for three.
At the Seoul Central District Court, 10 people had summary hearings _ nine were a fine 100,000 won, while one was placed on probation. Police said the rest of the protestors at four other courts will receive similar fines, as according to the law, those who illegally occupy roads face a maximum fine of 200,000 won.
But police said the 484 demonstrators will be charged with actively and intentionally leading violent rallies, and could face jail terms of up to one year or a maximum fine of 1 million won.
Police built a barricade with containers in central Seoul to stop demonstrators against U.S. beef imports advancing toward Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. They put about 60 containers in the center of Gwanghwamun and two other areas surrounding the presidential house.
Police said they put up the barricade to avoid clashes with demonstrators. They had used police buses as barricades but demonstrators pushed them away and vandalized them. ``We used containers to avoid clashes with demonstrators,'' a police officer said.
They built a two-story wall with 2.7-meter-high containers, each weighing four tons.