Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL1605
2006-05-12 08:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

PROTESTS PLANNED IN SEOUL AND PYONGTAEK OVER USFK

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR KS 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #1605 1320825
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 120825Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7867
INFO RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J3 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001605 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KS
SUBJECT: PROTESTS PLANNED IN SEOUL AND PYONGTAEK OVER USFK
EXPANSION

REF: SEOUL 01518

Classified By: A/POL Sung Y. Kim. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001605

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KS
SUBJECT: PROTESTS PLANNED IN SEOUL AND PYONGTAEK OVER USFK
EXPANSION

REF: SEOUL 01518

Classified By: A/POL Sung Y. Kim. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (U) The Pan-national Committee to Deter the Expansion of
U.S. Bases, a coalition of 138 leftist civic groups, plans to
hold mass rallies in Seoul and Pyongtaek over the weekend to
protest USFK's expansion in Pyongtaek and last week's removal
of anti-USFK activists (reftel). Approximately 10,000
demonstrators are expected to converge on Daechuri Village,
the area designated for the expansion of Camp Humphreys.
Another 10,000 activists are expected to stage a
demonstration in Seoul. Currently 8,000 riot police are
stationed in the Pyongtaek area to deter protestors from
entering the expansion site, and the ROKG plans to deploy
additional 18,000 riot police in Seoul and Pyongtaek over the
weekend in anticipation of the planned rallies on Sunday.
Embassy has issued a warden message to U.S. citizens and a
security notice for the Embassy community advising caution
during the protests.


2. (C) According to MND and MOFAT interlocutors, the
possibility of violence is high. The organizers of the
planned rallies include extreme, anti-U.S. groups such as the
radical student association Hanchongryon. ROK officials are
worried that the protestors will try to provoke the riot
police, who showed remarkable restraint last week, into
taking a more assertive approach this time. In an effort to
avoid violent clashes, the Prime Minister went live on
national TV this morning to express concerns about the
planned protests. PM Han Myong-sook explained that the
expansion in Pyongtaek was related to Yongsan Garrison
relocation, which would result in the return of valuable land
in central Seoul to the Korean people, and emphasized the
importance of the U.S.-ROK alliance on Korea's security and
economic development. Noting that Pyongtaek was carefully
chosen based on important strategic and economic
considerations, Han asked for the public's understanding and
cooperation and urged restraint on the part of the
protestors. In an indication that the law enforcement
authorities will prosecute violent protestors, the
prosecutor's office requested arrest warrants to formally
charge 60 anti-U.S. activists from last week's operation.
However, the Suwon District Court has formally granted a
limited number arrest warrants and only 10 of the 630
activists arrested last week are still in detention.


3. (U) Public reaction to the removal of demonstrators last
week has been relatively subdued, and recent surveys indicate
that a large majority of Koreans oppose violent protests
against the base expansion. According to a public opinion
poll taken by the Office of the Prime Minister, while 49.3
percent of the respondents approve of peaceful
demonstrations, overwhelming number of respondents (81.4
percent) disapprove of the use of violence to protest the
expansion. In a separate development, some 300 pro-alliance
civic groups plan to hold a rally next week in Pyongtaek to
show their support the base relocation plan.
MINTON