Gov't urged to reduce riot police deployment THAAD base

Police officers attempt to disperse protesters blocking the delivery of equipment onto a U.S. THAAD base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, April 28. Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

A human rights committee under the National Police Agency (NPA) has recommended the law enforcement authorities to reduce the number of riot police deployed to a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile base in the southeastern county of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

“As the current number of riot police there can lead to a violation of the protesters' freedom of assembly and demonstration, the authorities should actively take necessary measures,” the committee said during a regular meeting held late September.

The NPA committee consists of 13 members ― 12 external members and one police officer from the audit and inspection division.

The committee further asked the authorities to submit additional data, based on which it can judge whether the police are guaranteeing the protesters' freedom of assembly and demonstration.

The THAAD missile battery system was deployed in 2017 to better respond to rising North Korean missile threats.

But local residents and civic activists have long opposed the deployment citing environmental and other reasons.

They have staged multiple rallies blocking the delivery of construction equipment and supplies to the base, often resulting in the use of force by riot police to disperse them.

The law enforcement authorities, who define the rallies as illegal, have been mobilizing hundreds of police officers to counter the demonstrations. The two sides have clashed over 40 times this year alone.