Police clash with demonstrators at Seoul rally

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; headline; ADDS byline, details of rally; RESTRUCTURES, TRIMS
throughout)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- Despite a police blockade, thousands of South Koreans
gathered in downtown Wednesday, accusing the incumbent administration of
undermining the nation's hard-won democracy and demanding an apology over the
suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun.
June 10 marks the 22nd anniversary of South Korea's pro-democracy struggle and
comes just weeks after Roh, once a champion of democracy and clean politics,
leapt to death amid a pressing corruption probe. The liberal leader's death has
fueled anger among South Koreans, with critics charging the investigation was too
harsh and politically driven.
Although the rally was proceeding peacefully without major clashes, dozens of
demonstrators and policemen tussled, pulling and shoving.
Police, who had disallowed a rally outside the city hall, unsuccessfully
attempted to form a barricade of riot buses to prevent the rally from getting
bigger.
Lee Jung-hee, a female lawmaker of the progressive Democratic Labor Party,
fainted and was taken to a hospital while trying to block a police bus from
breaking up the rally. The party's leader Kang Ki-kab threw himself on top of
several policemen, shouting "Don't you dare block us!" The two lawmakers were
among dozens who camped on the streets from Tuesday in protest against the police
ban.
Police warned they will resort to force if demonstrators defy the ban and go
ahead with a candlelight vigil in the evening, expected to be joined by nearly
10,000, according to civic groups.
"We will hold all illegal demonstrators responsible, by collecting evidence
through video clips even after the rally breaks up," an unnamed police officer
told Yonhap.
Rallies were held in other major cities nationwide, including Gwangju, Daegu and
Busan.
Progressives here claim democracy has been backtracking since Lee took office
last February, beefing up police control of the central Seoul area to prevent
protests. The conservative administration has been cautious in permitting events
that could develop political overtones, especially after the months-long rallies
against U.S. beef imports last summer.
Wednesday's rally also overlaps with escalating ideological conflict following
the suicide of Roh, who served as the country's leader from 2003 to 2008.
Despite allegations his family received millions of dollars from a local
businessman, Roh's May 23 death led to an outpouring of grief by South Koreans.
President Lee, in a speech read by his home affairs minister, claimed "illegality
and violence" were distorting Korea's hard-won democracy.
"We Koreans created a brand new democratic history 22 years ago by peaceful
means," he said. "Let's strive further to establish social unity," he said in a
ceremony commemorating the democratization movement.
University students, professors, lawyers and other social groups continued to
issue statements critical of the government.
"The government must halt its anachronistic authoritarian rule and policies,"
said a statement signed by 50 Hanyang University professors, the most recent
among academic groups to add their names in the mounting campaign.
The campaign started after liberal professors from the state-run Seoul National
University issued a statement on June 3, denouncing several political and
diplomatic policies of the Lee administration.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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