By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
A fear of bloody clashes engulfed the Ssangyong Motor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Monday as thousands of riot police prepared for the possibility that they will move into the plant to physically remove fired workers from the factory.
Tensions mounted after last-ditch negotiations between management and laid-off workers aimed at ending a months-long occupation of buildings to protest the company's layoff plan were broken off Sunday.
After the marathon talks ruptured, the company cut electricity in the buildings Sunday night, a move aimed at making it easier for police to storm the buildings. Food and water has been cut off for more than a week.
``We are ready to storm the buildings, but have delayed the operation over safety concerns,'' said a police officer at the scene.
Police helicopters resumed spraying liquid tear gas over a paint shop from Monday morning and huge speakers installed on the ground blared messages ordering protesters to disperse of their own accord. Protesters resisted firing nuts, bolts and other metal objects from large slingshots.
Minor clashes took place in the evening as members of a militant umbrella labor union attempted to enter the factory's compound to provide water and food to the protesters. Around five people were taken to hospital, but no serious injuries were reported.
With one day left for Ssangyong creditors to submit to a court a request for its liquidation, around 4,500 retained workers considered moving into the buildings to disperse their former colleagues by force.
Creditors said they have no choice but to seek liquidation unless the factory is normalized by Wednesday.
``We will take control of the factory to resume production,'' said a company official representing retained workers. ``We will take action this week, but the exact timing for the operation has yet to be decided.''
Police are considering cooperating with the move.
Since the talks broke down, more than 100 out of the 680 striking workers have quit the plant where tons of flammable materials are stored.
Ssangyong said Monday it sold only 71 cars last month.