ID :
188999
Thu, 06/16/2011 - 11:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/188999
The shortlink copeid
USFK denies reports its solders aimed guns at protesters
SEOUL (Yonhap) - The U.S. military in South Korea on Thursday denied local media reports that some of its soldiers aimed guns at protesters near one of its bases.
Local media had reported that U.S. soldiers pointed their guns at protesters on Sunday near Camp Mercer in Incheon, west of Seoul. At that time, the protesters held a peaceful rally calling for the U.S. military to transparently probe allegations of environmental contamination at the base.
In a statement, the Eighth U.S. Army said a platoon of military police officers conducted routine anti-terror training in the vicinity of Camp Mercer on Sunday, and the training was "misrepresented" as a threat to local civilians.
"The fact is that the soldiers were pointing their weapons at the role players, not at protesters, and did not interact with South Korean citizens in any way," the statement said.
Concerns over possible environmental contamination at U.S. military bases have continued to grow since some American veterans revealed last month that they helped bury large amounts of the highly toxic defoliant Agent Orange at Camp Carroll in late 1970s.
Camp Carroll is located at Chilgok, a rural county about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. South Korea and the U.S. are jointly investigating the alleged Agent Orange burial.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
(END)
Local media had reported that U.S. soldiers pointed their guns at protesters on Sunday near Camp Mercer in Incheon, west of Seoul. At that time, the protesters held a peaceful rally calling for the U.S. military to transparently probe allegations of environmental contamination at the base.
In a statement, the Eighth U.S. Army said a platoon of military police officers conducted routine anti-terror training in the vicinity of Camp Mercer on Sunday, and the training was "misrepresented" as a threat to local civilians.
"The fact is that the soldiers were pointing their weapons at the role players, not at protesters, and did not interact with South Korean citizens in any way," the statement said.
Concerns over possible environmental contamination at U.S. military bases have continued to grow since some American veterans revealed last month that they helped bury large amounts of the highly toxic defoliant Agent Orange at Camp Carroll in late 1970s.
Camp Carroll is located at Chilgok, a rural county about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. South Korea and the U.S. are jointly investigating the alleged Agent Orange burial.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
(END)
