Police raided the offices yesterday of civic groups that have led weeks of street rallies against South Korea’s resumption of US beef imports, after the government said it would not tolerate illegal demonstrations.
Authorities searched the Seoul offices of two civic groups and confiscated materials and documents related to their rallies, an official at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on condition of anonymity, citing policy. He did not provide further details.
The Korea Solidarity of Progressive Movement said police confiscated computers, placards, masks and other materials used during demonstrations along with office documents unrelated to the rallies. One senior leader was taken away by police on charges of instigating violent protests, group official Choi Ji-yong said.
Activists, students and ordinary citizens have staged daily candlelight rallies in Seoul to voice fears about the possible health risks of US beef, such as mad cow disease, following an accord in April to restart imports.
The protests have been joined by a variety of liberal groups angered by the policies of the conservative new South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Clashes flared over the weekend after officials began inspecting US beef on Friday before it can be put on sale as early as this week.
The government earlier halted implementation of the April accord in the face of weeks of protests and negotiated an update with Washington last month stipulating that the beef must be from cows younger than 30 months, believed to be at less risk of disease.
Jang Dae-hyun, a spokesman for the protest group, said on Sunday police should cease harsh methods against demonstrators.
“We’ve been supporting peaceful rallies, but the police crackdown is too harsh,” Jang said.
During a rally that began on Saturday night, about 15,000 people — some wielding steel pipes and hurling stones at police — fought with authorities who used barricades to prevent them from marching to the president’s office, leaving more than 200 protesters and riot police injured.
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said authorities may use liquid tear gas agents if violent protests continue. Police have voluntarily banned the use of tear gas since 1999 because of the legacy of its use in the 1980s against pro-democracy protesters that criticized the military-backed regime.
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