By Lee Kyung-min
Residents of Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, and a coalition of civic groups continued to protest the installation of the four remaining launchers of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery Thursday.
"The clandestine transportation of some of the anti-missile defense system here pushed ahead with by President Moon Jae-in with the help of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) showed how the government has yet again betrayed the trust of and failed to keep a promise with the public," they said. "This action is no different from that of the ousted former Park Geun-hye administration."
They vowed to continue rallies until the THAAD system is removed.
"We cannot express how much we feel deserted and betrayed by President Moon, who became the leader of this country precisely due to his predecessor whose state affairs management was marked by ignoring public opinion. We will continue to protest the administration that trampled on the dignity of the residents of Seongju."
They added Moon lacked procedural legitimacy by failing to convene a public hearing prior to the deployment.
"President Moon clearly failed to keep his earlier promise that he would seek National Assembly ratification before deciding to deploy the anti-missile system, which would have far-reaching consequences to the residents. We have no other option but to continue our rallies.
"The government has mobilized forces to railroad its unilateral decision, against which we have every right to protest. This shows it has absolutely no regard for the residents whose lives are directly affected by the decision," they added.
Their renewed commitment to having the THAAD system withdrawn came about two hours after four launchers were moved to a former golf course, where two truck-mounted launchers and a powerful X-band radar are already in operation. The THAAD battery now with six launchers is now set to operate as a complete system.
Before the equipment began arriving at the site, more than 8,000 police officers wearing heavy protective gear and holding shields were mobilized between midnight and 8 a.m. to respond to any potential physical clashes with 400 rally participants.
Following this, at least 27 protestors were transferred to a nearby hospital, most of them with non-life threatening injuries such as broken wrists, ribs and bruises.
The protest comes after 2,550 people including residents of the county and regions nearby filed a petition with the Constitutional Court, April 6.
They claimed the deployment of the THAAD battery infringed on their right to pursue happiness, and lead healthy, peaceful and environmentally safe lives.
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