By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Police will use pepper spray against violent protestors at illegal demonstrations to protect themselves and more effectively disperse them.
The National Police Agency (NPA), issued new guidelines Thursday on ways to control demonstrators. From now on, police officers are encouraged to enforce the law in a more ``active'' manner, moving away from its past passive defensive mode.
``Until last year, we focused on keeping order at illegal demonstrations by means such as blocking the path of ralliers with buses. But now we'll take a sterner attitude toward illegal collective action by arresting violent protesters at the scene or tracking them down after the rallies end,'' an NPA officer said.
To detect violent protesters, police have distributed evidence-collecting devices such as video cameras. They have already distributed 880 pepper spray dispensers as well, but have not used them yet. ``But we will use them actively,'' the officer said.
The spray is a chemical compound containing capsaicin, the component in black pepper and red pepper which produces a burning sensation. The vegetable material, extracted pepper powder, is not physically harmful but, just like tear gas, irritates the eyes and causes tears and temporary pain.
``Police officers will use the spray when they need to protect themselves from attacking protesters armed with steel pipes and other blunt weapons,'' the officer said.
The measure comes after riot police officers were beaten and injured by demonstrators in recent demonstrations.
In early March, a group of protesters assaulted 11 officers in central Seoul, and one of the assaulters stole a wallet and used the credit card to purchase a jacket and pack of cigarettes.
During last year's months-long candlelit rallies against the resumption of American beef imports, dozens of police officers were injured in clashes with ralliers.
A total of 34 mobile riot police units will be on a standby to crack down on violent protests. They will also strengthen the monitoring of ``professional or habitual ralliers'' who lead illegal and violent demonstrations.
Police will hunt those participating in illegal rallies even after the gatherings are over and make such rally organizers pay for damages occurred during their activities. ``We'll guarantee freedom for peaceful, law-abiding demonstrations, but take a strict attitude toward those that are illegal,'' the officer said.