hankyoreh

Pyeongtaek

Members of the Pan South Korea Solution Committee Against U.S. Base Extension in Pyeongtaek (KCPT), holding a peaceful march in one of the disputed former residential areas where a U.S. base is to expand were beaten by local business owners supporting the base relocation.

About 400 protestors, marching to the disputed Pyeongtaek district of Daechuri on July 8 after a candlelight vigil, were met by about 100 local merchants wielding metal rods.

A member of the KCPT, identified by his surname, Mr. Gwak, was among those attacked. Gwak said, "They cursed me and pulled me out of the car and beat me." He is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

In addition to the rods, the merchants used sticks to beat the protestors and threw stones and eggs at them. About 30 protesters were injured.

Police called to the scene, however, told the marchers to "return home" instead of subduing the merchants. No arrests were made on the scene.

About 80 of the protestors went to the Pyeongtaek police station to raise a complaint about the lack of arrests following the incident, and 45 were themselves arrested on charges of interference with the execution of official duties.

Regarding this incident, a group of local merchants said, "Due to two years of rallies and demonstrations, commercial areas around the U.S. military base have been greatly damaged and merchants hurt by the KCPT."

Fearing further protests, the police have since blocked entry into the Daechuri district.