By Bae Ji-sook
Staff reporter
Police will post information about nighttime demonstrations on the Internet in a move to prompt residents to oppose such rallies in their neighborhood beforehand by filing to prohibit them.
Police officers will also visit each resident to notify them if "serious mass" protests are scheduled to take place in their precincts.
According to the National Police Agency, the measure is intended to encourage more residents to assert their rights to block mass gatherings after sunset. Regular citizens have limited information about the location and timelines as well as the objectives and host of the events.
Yet, there are a few measures to stop noisy rallies since they constantly cause disruptive noise, extreme traffic jams, piles of garbage and other problems as well as serious security issues, a police officer said.
"Residents or owners of facilities and buildings nearby could file for interdiction and if the possible threat is verified, the police could ban the protest within 48 hours," he said.
The plan comes as authorities are concerned about a lack of restrictive measures against nighttime protests from July, when the current law banning vigils after sunset expires.
The Constitutional Court ruled the pertinent law unconstitutional in September but granted a grace period until June 30.
Lawmakers are expected to revise the law, but since the ruling and opposition parties are poles apart regarding the issue, the chances are slim that the vigils will continue to be totally banned.
"Allowing noisy, crowded events at night will cause a great annoyance, including more damage," a police officer said. "Moreover, police suffering from chronic manpower shortages will be even more burdened since nighttime vigils require even more caution," he said.
Currently, police have been informed about 61 planned nighttime outdoor meetings for July.
"People have the right to demonstrate, even at nighttime following the Constitutional Court's decision. But still, there are plenty more people who have the right to live in a peaceful and serene environment at night," the officer said.
Lee Jae-geun, a member at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, denounced the plan, calling it a scheme to restrict civic rights to conduct mass rallies.
"Frankly, nobody wants to have large-scale protests held in their front yard. But many people feel it is necessary to guarantee the rights to gather and express ideas freely. By putting 'civic rights to live peacefully' at the forefront, the police are trying to distort the Constitutional Court's ruling," he said. "What police are hoping for is practically no protests at all," he added.