The row over the planned relocation of U.S. military bases to Pyongtaek, Kyonggi Province, is turning into a conflict between progressives and conservatives as each party will hold a separate rally for or against the issue. A coalition of civic groups said it would stage their planned demonstration on Sunday in Taechu-ri, Pyongtaek, in protest against the relocation. Police say the illegal rally would be blocked.
``Police have refused to allow our rally without any proper reasons. Banning a peaceful rally is illegal,’’ a member of the coalition said.
The group demanded the government set up a committee for peaceful resolution of the issue, and release protesters arrested for last week’s violent rally.
Last Thursday, activists and villagers opposing the relocation clashed with riot police and military who drove them out at an elementary school inside the planned military site. Some 210 were injured during the violent clash.
However, Lee Taek-soon, National Police Agency commissioner general, said that as the rallies are likely to become violent like the previous one, police would ban protest rallies at the site and would block roads to Taechu-ri.
With 10,000 protestors expected, police plan to dispatch 20,000 riot police to Pyongtaek. They have already started blocking roads and inspecting drivers entering the region.
The Ministry of National Defense has said soldiers would use bamboo sticks _ distributed for self-protection _ to push demonstrators from of the site.
The military also warned earlier that it would court-martial civilians who trespass the site allocated for the U.S. military base.
Also up to 10,000 people are expected to take part in a candlelight vigil organized by the civic coalition in Kwanghwamun, central Seoul from 5 p.m on Saturday.
On the other hand, about 300 conservative groups, including the New Right Union and Free Citizens’ Alliance of Korea, claim the project should be carried out as planned.
They plan to hold rallies in Pyongtaek on May 20 and in Seoul on May 23, to urge the government to carry out the relocation plan and to deal sternly with illegal demonstrations.
Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook on Friday appealed to contending parties to solve disputes through conversation and compromise, not through violence.
``Another large-scale demonstration is scheduled this weekend, and I worry that society’s internal discord is worsening. I ask for public understanding and cooperation for a desirable resolution of the situation,’’ Han said.
