ID :
28780
Thu, 11/06/2008 - 19:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/28780
The shortlink copeid
Protest organizers arrested near east coast month after escape
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Five civic activists who allegedly led U.S. beef protests in the summer were apprehended in a remote coastal town on Thursday, a month after they slipped through a police stakeout.
The five were wanted for organizing massive candlelight rallies against a
decision to resume imports of U.S. beef that rocked the nation. The government
has insisted the protests were illegal.
The alleged organizers were tracked down at a hotel in Donghae, 270 km east of
Seoul in Gangwon Province, at around 1 a.m., police said. Four other suspects,
including Lee Suk-haing, head of the country's major umbrella labor union, the
Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, had yet to be located, they said.
The civic and labor activists took refuge inside Jogye Temple, the headquarters
of the country's largest Buddhist sect, in central Seoul in late June after
warrants were issued for their arrest.
Korean law strictly bars political protests after sunset, though many question
the constitutionality of the legislation.
Reluctant to raid a religious sanctuary and antagonize the influential Jogye
Order, the police began 24-hour surveillance around the temple grounds, waiting
for the activists to come out and surrender. They were found to have escaped in
late September.
Police said the apprehended activists include Park Won-seok, a member of the
leading People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and Han Yong-jin of
Solidarity for Korea Progress.
The Seoul government's decision in April to resume U.S. beef imports prompted
tens of thousands of citizens to protest almost every night for four months. Many
Koreans were concerned the imports would expose the country to mad cow disease,
and were furious that President Lee Myung-bak had gone ahead without first
gauging public opinion.
The massive protests subsided in August, weeks after the deal took effect with
additional safeguards.
The prolonged demonstrations also drew a backlash from merchants and
conservatives. A restaurant owner stabbed three supporters of the beef protesters
who were camped out at Jogye Temple, causing them serious injury.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
The five were wanted for organizing massive candlelight rallies against a
decision to resume imports of U.S. beef that rocked the nation. The government
has insisted the protests were illegal.
The alleged organizers were tracked down at a hotel in Donghae, 270 km east of
Seoul in Gangwon Province, at around 1 a.m., police said. Four other suspects,
including Lee Suk-haing, head of the country's major umbrella labor union, the
Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, had yet to be located, they said.
The civic and labor activists took refuge inside Jogye Temple, the headquarters
of the country's largest Buddhist sect, in central Seoul in late June after
warrants were issued for their arrest.
Korean law strictly bars political protests after sunset, though many question
the constitutionality of the legislation.
Reluctant to raid a religious sanctuary and antagonize the influential Jogye
Order, the police began 24-hour surveillance around the temple grounds, waiting
for the activists to come out and surrender. They were found to have escaped in
late September.
Police said the apprehended activists include Park Won-seok, a member of the
leading People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and Han Yong-jin of
Solidarity for Korea Progress.
The Seoul government's decision in April to resume U.S. beef imports prompted
tens of thousands of citizens to protest almost every night for four months. Many
Koreans were concerned the imports would expose the country to mad cow disease,
and were furious that President Lee Myung-bak had gone ahead without first
gauging public opinion.
The massive protests subsided in August, weeks after the deal took effect with
additional safeguards.
The prolonged demonstrations also drew a backlash from merchants and
conservatives. A restaurant owner stabbed three supporters of the beef protesters
who were camped out at Jogye Temple, causing them serious injury.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
