By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han warned Monday that protestors against imports of American beef will face criminal punishment if they turn violent and illegally occupy the streets.
In a special statement, he instructed the prosecution and police to round up illegal, violent street protestors, who disguised themselves as peaceful candlelit ``vigilantes''.
The minister said the police roundup of protestors will continue if the candlelit vigils, supposed to be a cultural gathering, turned violent.
Those who led the protestors to the presidential office have been traced, according to police. Investigation is under way to trace rumormongers who inflamed the anti-American beef campaign. The tough action came about as thousands of demonstrators defied police warnings and gathered in central Seoul to protest the resumption of U.S. beef imports over the weekend.
Police rounded up 70 people for participating in the ``illegal collective actions'' over the weekend, but more people turned up to denounce the police crackdown. The detention was in line with the government's strong willingness to crack down on demonstrators breaking the law. Vigil participants and police are on a collision course, neither group budging an inch. Civic group members vowed to hold more rallies until the government accepts their demands. According to the police, more than 68 people have been detained for participating in the protest last weekend, with more considered for arrest warrants.
Over the weekend, rows of protestors gathered at Cheonggye Plaza and Yeoeuido in Seoul, urging President Lee Myung-bak to scrap the beef deal. Then some tried to head to Cheong Wa Dae by road, which triggered police to round them up. Physical scuffles took place and protestors criticized police for using violence to suppress their rights to air political views.
Despite the government's ``effort to soothe public fury'', more people are planning to further express their objection toward the beef import.
42-year-old Lee Byeong-ryul committed suicide Sunday by setting himself on fire in Jeonju, north Jeolla Province. He had spread out leaflets criticizing the beef deal and urged President Lee to resign.
The progressive Federation of Korean University Students' Council said 80 leaders of the group will go on a fast to express their disapproval of the imports. Students from 90 member universities are planning larger protests for Friday, including shaving off their hair and jointly boycotting classes.
``The government is going backwards to the military junta era, a dictatorship, to oppress our democratic ways of expressing ideas. We disapprove of that,'' a citizen in the candlelit vigil said.