Police vow stern action on illegal rallies

SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- Police on Tuesday pledged to take stern action should massive street rallies set to be staged by students and labor unions later this week turn violent or cause illegal activities.
About 30,000 students, labor union members and farmers are scheduled to stage massive street protests on Wednesday evening in central Seoul in a bid to stop South Korea's free trade agreement with the U.S. as well as demand a cut in college tuitions and an increase in the minimum wage.
"Police will arrest or seek civil and criminal responsibility on protest groups or leaders launching violent, illegal protest activities," Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Lee Sung-gyu said, referring to unauthorized street occupation and violence against riot police.
Protesters sought police permission for their plan to launch a street march in part of central Seoul, but police rejected it, citing heavy traffic congestion.
Police plan to dispatch nearly 9,000 policemen near the rally site in order to ensure safety. It will also resort to physical anti-riot tools including water cannons and capsaicin spray in case the rally escalates to violence, police said.
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