Excessive Police Force at Fault for Death?

Activists (AKA-criminals) is blaming the Korean riot police for the death of one protester:

Junnong, an umbrella group representing farmers, and civic organizations held a candlelight vigil yesterday while designating December 20 as a day against excessive violence by the police. They demanded an official apology by President Roh Moo-hyun and the firing of the head of the police agency over the death of Hong Deok-pyo, who died while undergoing treatment for neck wounds he suffered during a violent street rally last month. It’s regrettable that his death was caused by the excessive use of force by police. That Mr. Hong is a small time farmer with two sons and two daughters makes this an even sadder story.

Let me get this straight, these your riot police draftees doing their mandatory service for their country are supposed to stand there and get the crap beaten out of them by out of control rioters wielding bamboo sticks, metal pipes, and motlov cocktails?

I got to give the Joong Ang Ilbo some credit though because they have publically come out and condemned the protesters for their actions:

Violent protests happen because of a lack of determined action by the public authorities towards illegal protests. Even when clubs and bamboo sticks are used, fights between protesters and the police are just accepted. Thus the violence keeps escalating. There needs to be a determined will to deal sternly with violent protests. If necessary, tear gas should be used so that violent protests disappear.

These lawless protests are now crossing international borders. Exporting methods used in Seoul, 11 Koreans have been charged with engaging in violent protests by the authorities in Hong Kong. This shows how little law-abiding consciousness there is among Korean protesters. The protest culture, which uses violence as a means to express one’s will, should not be allowed anymore. To turn a blind eye towards violence only results in more violent protests. Peaceful protests should be encouraged to ensure such unhappy incidents become a thing of the past.

Now how come no one was coming out and condemning the rioters that were bashing in the heads of riot police outside of Camp Humphreys, Braveheart style this summer? The condemnation of these protesters has come to little to late.