Another Base Clash Looms This Weekend

With large-scale demonstrations scheduled for the weekend, tensions are mounting high around Daechu-ri, Pyeongtaek, with police drastically increasing security measures on May 12.

Since early morning, police forces blocked the main roads that lead to Daechu-ri and Dodu-ri, Wonjeong and Bonjeong intersections, setting up two to three lines of police barricades as well as checkpoints.

Preparing against the illegal demonstration, military engineers also wore protective gear and strengthened their security posture by increasing the number of guards. Furthermore, they established a multi-level defense line by digging deeper the ditch surrounding the outer fence perimeter up to a depth of three to four meters, and setting up additional barbed wire inside the water-filled ditch.

Daechu-ri villagers, meanwhile, continued farming by plowing their rice paddies with tractors and sowing rice seeds. Police concerned with a possible clash with the villagers did not halt the plowing.

Two Simultaneous Weekend Demonstrations in Pyeongtaek—

The committee opposing the expansion of USFK bases in Pyeongtaek announced it would hold a massive demonstration in Daechu-ri, on May 14, while the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions decided to hold a separate demonstration in front of Pyeongtaek City Hall on the same day.

Police announced, “The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which is one of the main pillars of the committee, requested permission to hold a demonstration on May 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., and we authorized it on the condition that they hold the demonstration peacefully.”

Hence, police view the possibility of two demonstrations being held simultaneously as very high, and are busy in preparing security measures.

Opposing Illegal Violent Demonstrations—

The Pyeongtaek Civic Group Leaders’ United Committee, a civic group composed of about 70 conservative civic groups in the Pyeongtaek area, held a press conference at Pyeongtaek City Hall on May 12. They demanded police deal firmly with illegal demonstrations waged by outside activists. The civic group urged, “anti-American and anti-governmental activists, who have waged illegal protests for 20 months by inciting local residents, should leave. The government should firmly punish those responsible for the illegal demonstrations in Pyeongtaek.”

Furthermore, the violent demonstration opposing the Paengseong Storekeepers United Association also plans to hold a demonstration supporting the relocation of USFK bases in front of Camp Humphreys on May 14, with about 200 members participating, making demonstrations both of supporting and opposing the relocation be held on the same day.

Kyung-Hyun Nam bibulus@donga.com