[Newsmaker] Justice minister warns against protests

The government Friday heaped pressure on labor unions preparing for another massive antigovernment rally next month, warning that it will sternly clamp down on illegal protests at any cost.

“Illegal and violent protests are serious and clear challenges to the country’s rule of law and to the public who love peace. Those who ignore the law and deride the government’s power will rightly pay the cost in the name of the public,” said Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong in a press briefing.
 

The remark came after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the country’s umbrella labor unions, vowed to hold another mass rally on Dec. 5 in protest of the government’s probe into the Nov. 14 demonstration.

On Nov. 14, some 130,000 demonstrators took to the streets in central Seoul against the government’s moves to adopt state-issued history textbooks and institute labor reforms. The protest turned violent, injuring tens of demonstrators and police. One protestor remains in a coma after being hit by a police water cannon.

Suspecting that KCTU officials premeditated the violent clash in the November rally with plans to assault the police with metal pipes and other items, the police launched a probe into a total of 331 protestors, arresting seven. The police also issued an arrest warrant for KTCU head Han Sang-gyun, who has taken shelter at the Jogyesa Temple in the city center to avoid arrest.

On Friday, the police raided the Gyeonggi provincial branch of the KTCU, following the first raid at the headquarters in Seoul on Nov. 21. Two officials from the Gyeonggi provincial branch are suspected of leading the violent clash, the authorities said.

The government and the ruling Saenuri Party have also been moving to ban masks at rallies, following President Park Geun-hye’s remarks at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. She compared those wearing masks and hiding their faces at violent rallies with Islamic State group terrorists.

“(Protestors) must not even think of avoiding punishment by wearing masks at demonstrations. Anyone using violence under masks will face tougher punishment from now on, even before the mask ban regulation is passed,” the justice minister said at the press conference. The Saenuri Party has submitted a bill banning protester from wearing masks Wednesday.

Protestors have claimed they wear masks to protect themselves from the capsaicin and PAVA spray used by the police.

According to police data, riot police sprayed 651 liters of capsaicin solution in the November rally. About 440 liters of PAVA spray was also used on Nov. 14.

Meanwhile, the association of the farmers union reported to police they will hold a rally in central Seoul to be attended by some 10,000 on Dec. 5, the same day the KCTU has planned their demonstration. The KCTU has not yet officially reported their plan for the rally to authorities yet.

By law, a plan for an outdoor rally must be reported 48 to 72 hours prior to police in the jurisdiction. Rallies do not need official permission, but police can deny a rally within 48 hours of receiving its report if it is deemed clear the demonstration could “directly threaten the public safety and order through mob violence, threats, destruction, arson and others.”

The police will determine their position on the safety of the farmers union’s rally Saturday.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)