Police on Alert to Block Violent, Illegal Demonstrations


By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Despite the government’s warning to crack down on evening assemblies, a civic coalition will hold massive candlelight vigils around the nation Saturday to demand the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun be made void.

Kim Ki-shik, secretary general of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, one of the 551 civic groups that allied for anti-impeachment rallies, said he expected about 500,000 people to turn out onto streets on Saturday. As many will go online to wage protests at major websites run by police agencies and pro-impeachment groups, officials said.

``This would be the largest night rally since the impeachment motion was passed last Friday,’’ Kim said.

Police were on alert after Hanchongnyon, an alliance of college student councils, threatened to join forces with civic groups to turn up the voice against the impeachment and the National Assembly, which passed the impeachment motion with a “yes” vote by 193 opposition lawmakers last Friday.

``We’ve decided to stage rallies nationwide beginning this weekend,’’ the alliance said in a statement issued following a meeting at Kwangwoon University in Seoul. ``We believe the impeachment of the president is an attempt by conservative forces to take the helm back with their power.’’

Police expect some violent clashes to occur in Seoul and other cities. The National Police Agency (NPA) said it has issued orders to police in major cities to have all available riot police get ready to prevent any violent and illegal demonstrations.

On Tuesday, police said they wouldn’t condone night assemblies by anyone any more, saying the rallies are illegal. The government backed up the police decision on Wednesday and said it will mobilize all possible means to clamp down on organizers of such rallies.

The authorities worry some organizers may attempt to spearhead illegal pre-election campaigning during the rallies ahead of the April 15 general elections. Hanchongnyon dismissed the claims and vowed they will hold campaigns against conservative and corrupt politicians through until the elections.

Police see many of the slogans shouted and the messages shown on pickets and leaflets pit support for President Roh, while slandering the opposition parties which initiated and passed the impeachment motion in a vote unattended by pro-Roh lawmakers.

The decision has backfired for opposition parties. The pro-government Uri Party is leading in all opinion polls conducted since the Assembly decision, while opposition parties are being drawn into an internal feud due in large to their falling public support ratings.

Roh’s earlier remarks on the impeachment encouraging the people to rally behind Uri Party members and his desire to use the outcome of the general elections as a yardstick to judge the level of public confidence for him are the prime reasons the opposition parties cited for his impeachment.

The presence of police on the streets prepared to block illegal night rallies is fueling anger in many citizens and pro-government groups.

Braving cold weather, hundreds of citizens have gathered in Kwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, every night since the impeachment and staged candlelight vigils for anti-impeachment.

Concerns of clashes between pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment groups are escalating with a coalition of war veteran and other conservative groups set to take to the streets to conduct their own demonstrations.

The conservative group’s concerns are centered on the atmosphere being built in society following the impeachment with the crucial general elections with less than a month away.

The conservative coalition has held rallies in front of the state-run KBS and the MBC, the two biggest broadcasting companies, denouncing what they called biased reporting against opposition parties. The leaders of the opposition parties have visited the firm’s offices to express their concerns, but many of the firms’ executives and employees consider the visits as political pressure.

On Thursday, the MBC made its stance clearer by airing in its evening news programs some editorial comments denouncing the opposition parties as threatening the press freedom.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr