South Korean Students Hold Anti - U.S. Rally

[cal04]

Thousands of South Korean students rallying Sunday against the U.S. military's five-decade presence clashed with police after trying to enter the American base, and at least 12 people were injured and more than 20 were arrested.

Demonstrators marched through Seoul before attempting to enter the main Yongsan U.S. military base in the city center. They called for the withdrawal of the 32,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. Demonstrators also gathered near the U.S. Embassy in downtown Seoul demanding talks with the ambassador.

Television pictures showed masked protesters repeatedly charging helmeted riot police, who wielded truncheons and carried shields. At one point, students lay in the street outside the base, chanting and clapping. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the protest was the largest of its kind in recent years.

Such rallies were common in the 1980s and 1990s but have lately given way to peaceful candlelight vigils. There were no exact figures on the number of protesters, although Yonhap said they numbered in the thousands. Several thousand U.S. soldiers based in South Korea have been reassigned to Iraq, and more are slated to depart in the next few years, leaving about 24,500.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-SKorea-US-Protest.html?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Wouldn't you say

that Bush's bullying, beligerant attitude encourages less than peaceful demonstrations against him overseas? No one likes to be treated with contempt.

[acmejack]

2. Perhaps

But the Korean students historically have gotten a little carried away. That said, the tide has been turning against the US for a long time. Anti Americanism was becoming pretty powerful in the 70's (when I was last there). It is not that surprising since we have made ourselves right at home since the 50's. A big military presence does nasty things to the host country, think bars, "hostesses", etc.

[bennywhale]

7. "..the Korean students historically have gotten a little carried away"

How patronising. Its called passion in your beliefs and values.

I'm sure i'd get a little carried away if my country were some acquiescent part of a global empire.

[brentspeak]

8. Actually, they have (and still do)

For example, last winter olympics when one of our speed skaters won a gold in a contest where the S.Korean was disqualified, there were student protests at the U.S. embassy protesting "American cheating" and demanding an apology.

And then, when Jay Leno made a crack about the disqualified S.Korean skater "returning home to kick his dog -- and then eating him!", there were more protests.

[bennywhale]

9. Yep, you're right they should just behave themselves like good little

colonials. Protesting and shouting about silly little things, and racist slurs.

They should accept who there master is, be grateful we are saving their ass, and realise they have no right to behave in their country how they want to behave. They should accept the judgement of us, and if we think what they are doing is over the top, they should stop it.

noodle eating surrender monkeys.

[brentspeak]

13. Guess so n/t

[NNN0LHI]

3. Sounds like they are tired of the US occupation? n/t

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Reminds me of my S. Korean ESL student

We talked politics every now and then, and let's just say he's very, very anti-American, anti-Bush, etc... The strange part was his admiration for Kim Jong Il, and Osama. :shrug:

[struggle4progress]

5. South Korean Students Hold Anti-U.S. Rally

Sunday May 29, 2005 12:28pm

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Thousands of South Korean students rallying Sunday against the U.S. military's five-decade presence clashed with police after trying to enter the American base, and at least 12 people were injured and more than 20 were arrested. Demonstrators marched through Seoul before attempting to enter the main Yongsan U.S. military base in the city center. They called for the withdrawal of the 32,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Demonstrators also gathered near the U.S. Embassy in downtown Seoul demanding talks with the ambassador.

Television pictures showed masked protesters repeatedly charging helmeted riot police, who wielded truncheons and carried shields. At one point, students lay in the street outside the base, chanting and clapping.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the protest was the largest of its kind in recent years. <snip>

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0505/231988.html

[bennywhale]

6. The colonials are restless. The cracks in the empire are appearing

[Moderator]

10. kick to combine

[sintax]

11. S. Koreans Clash With Police in Anti-US Protest

S Koreans clash with police in anti-US protest


SEOUL: Some 1,000 South Korean students marching towards a US military base to protest against America’s North Korea policy clashed with riot police on Sunday. At least 10 students were injured, police and a witness said. The march towards the base in the centre of Seoul was called by a major students’ activist group demanding the US scrap a policy it says heightens tensions with North Korea.

Medical staff arriving by ambulance treated students for broken noses and cuts on their faces and arms, a Reuter’s photographer said. Nearly 30 students were taken into police custody, he added. A police officer said by telephone the students were taken from the scene to isolate them and all were later released. The protest came as the international community sought to bring North Korea back into six-party talks to end its nuclear arms programme.

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/may2005-daily/30-05-2005/world/w2.htm

[amandabeech]

12. Aren't student riots at this time of year something of an annual event

in South Korea?