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  End to Violent Protests
But There Is an Environment for Peaceful Demonstration


It¡¯s a relief the protest rally by the Federation of Korean Trade Unions ended in a rare peace Saturday. Still most Koreans, even the FKTU members themselves, would admit it was not the norm but an exception. Few people expect the ``experimental assembly¡¯¡¯ will set a precedent for similar future events, including the umbrella union¡¯s ``all-out struggle¡¯¡¯ against the government¡¯s labor reform in January. But far more urgent is the second protest Wednesday against the Korea-U.S. FTA.

Rampant violence marred the nationwide demonstration against the bilateral free trade agreement last week, with several dozen protestors and policemen injured and public facilities destroyed. The kinds of equipment mobilized _ steel pipes, gasoline bombs and bamboo sticks _ show the violence was not impulsive but planned beforehand. No matter how justifiable a cause is the use of violence cannot be excused. It also fails to win the sympathy of watchers but instead invites their anger.

The government, too, should accept part of the blame. It announced a statement on Thursday _ the sixth one this year _ to warn violent protestors. The difference this time is its determination, declaring a ``zero tolerance¡¯¡¯ principle for violators of the law. It remains to be seen whether the police will turn its words into action, however. So far, the law enforcement officers¡¯ responses have always been like ``repairing stable door after the horse is stolen.¡¯¡¯ We think there are some reasons for it.

Seoul has failed to persuade unionists and farmers by not addressing their complaints about policies. The lack of two-way communication has turned the protestors into mobs. John Naisbitt, a visiting U.S. scholar, wondered why the biggest beneficiaries of free trade should oppose the FTA. The answer: The fruits of growth have been so unfairly distributed as to negate globalization itself. The media turning a deaf ear to the underdogs and the one-sided criticism of protestors has left them little other means to attract attention.

Come to think of it, Korea is the only ``democratized¡¯¡¯ country that still restricts constitutional freedom of assembly and demonstration with lower decrees. Also, it is probably the only country that turns what should be the regular army into riot police. These notwithstanding, violence only begets more violence and it¡¯s past time for both sides to come forward to sever the vicious circle, and show their willingness for peaceful dialogue. The government should sternly deal with law violators, while securely guaranteeing people¡¯s basic rights.

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11-26-2006 18:01


 
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