Amnesty Int`l head meets families of Yongsan fire victims

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Kahn met
Sunday with families of protesters killed in a clash with South Korean riot
police and promised to pay keen attention to the government's handling of the
incident.
In January, a police SWAT team raided a dilapidated four-story building in
Seoul's Yongsan ward, where dozens of protesting tenants were occupying the top
floors to block the area's redevelopment. Six people, including a police officer,
were killed in a blaze that erupted during the pre-dawn raid.
In the aftermath of the incident, Kim Seok-ki, then head of the Seoul
Metropolitan Police Agency, resigned from his post and withdrew from his
nomination as head of the country's police. Kim had faced fierce public criticism
for permitting the raid, despite knowing the protesters were armed with fire
bombs and other flammables.
Kahn visited the memorial hall of the victims, and also held a meeting with their
families for about 30 minutes, promising to keep a close eye on the government's
handling of the matter, according to families.
"I hope a more thorough investigation would be conducted for the matter to be
settled properly," Kahn was quoted as saying.
Kahn also met with a number of former sex slaves who were forced by the Japanese
military to serve in frontline brothels during World War II. They now organize
weekly rallies in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to demand an apology and
compensation from the Japanese government.
The secretary general was scheduled to meet with senior officials at the Justice
Ministry and the National Human Rights Commission Korea on Monday and Tuesday,
respectively, before leaving the country later this week.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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