I know it is tragic that two rice farmers were killed in a violent protest against opening the rice market, but I just can’t feel sorry for them when they were the ones that initialized the outrageous violence against the police. However, President Roh does feel sorry for them and apologized today for the incident:
President Roh Moo-hyun apologized publicly yesterday, a day after the Korea National Human Rights Commission announced that two protesters had died of injuries at the hands of police.
“I bow my head to the public in apology and pray for the souls of the dead,” Mr. Roh said at a televised press conference from the Blue House. “The government will sort out who is responsible and have them punished,” he continued. “The government will make proper compensation to the victims.”
Like I said I don’t feel sorry for these people when they break the law, destroy property, and assault policemen. In addition the Korean HRC really has no legitimacy to me because they do nothing to condemn human rights conditions just 30 miles North of Seoul in North Korea, but are quick to jump in an criticize the Korean National Policemen who routinely get their butts kicked in by these outrageous violent protests. I guess the policemen aren’t entitled to the same human rights as the rice farmers.
At least President Roh did criticize the protesters a little bit along with the police:
Mr. Roh also spoke out yesterday about the violence that frequently accompanies protests in Korea. “If there were no violent rallies where protesters wielded steel pipes, such a mishap would have not happened,” the president said. “Our society and the government should correct these problems.”
While appearing to take pains not to criticize the police too harshly, he still stressed that special caution is needed when force was used by law-enforcement agencies.
I just makes me wonder if the Korean government would prefer that mandatory service draftees that make up the riot police for the KNP should be killed instead of these criminal rice farmer rioters.
The Marines do not like to be out done by the Army at anything. Well the Marines are now making their move at surpassing 2ID in taxi cab related incidents:
According to a police report, the Marine became upset at 4:55 a.m. when the cabbie told him his taxi was not authorized to take him on nearby Kadena Air Base, and he struck the $100 sign with his fist. He was apprehended by police officers patrolling the area and was released from custody Sunday after police referred a misdemeanor charge of vandalism to the prosecutor’s office.
The third incident reportedly began about 1:30 a.m. Saturday in the Kumoji district of Naha, where two lance corporals assigned to Camp Kinser were allegedly involved in another incident involving a cab. According to a police spokesman, a 22-year-old Marine was being arrested for vandalism for jumping up and down on the roof of the cab when his 25-year-old friend grabbed a policeman’s arm. Both appeared to be drunk, a police spokesman said.
Two taxi cab related incidents in one night. That is pretty good, that matches 2ID’s record. It looks like the Marines still have some more work to do though.
The Korean farmers that got arrested for protesting in Hong Kong during the WTO meeting have been accusing the Hong Kong authorities of police brutality by using rubber bullets. Oranckay has a good picture of the alleged injuries from the rubber bullets:
Something about this picture just looks fake especially the bandages. One of Oranckay’s commenters left a link to this picture of what rubber bullet hits should look like from the WTO protest in Seattle:
I think it is safe to call these farmers frauds. Even if the Hong Kong police used rubber bullets what’s the big deal? Hong Kong isn’t Korea so the Korean percpetions against rubber bullets doesn’t matter. Plus who can blame the cops for using rubber bullets when they are getting attacked by metal wipe weilding idiots?
Really nothing new here other than North Korea has found a new person to work their insult magic on:
North Korea criticized the United States’ top envoy to Seoul for making provocative remarks about the communist country, calling the ambassador a “tyrant,” a news report said Sunday.
U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow labeled the North a “criminal regime” this month, citing Pyongyang’s alleged arms dealing, money laundering and counterfeiting. Since then, North Korea has repeatedly called on the South to expel Vershbow for slandering the North.
“It is clear (Vershbow) is a tyrant wearing the mask of a diplomat,” the North’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary Sunday, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Like I said before nothing new here, and of course the South Korean government is quickly kissing North Korean butt afterwards:
Vershbow’s comments also have drawn rebukes from South Korean officials. Kim Won-wung, a lawmaker of the ruling Uri Party, recently warned he would campaign for Vershbow’s expulsion unless the ambassador moderates his criticism of the North.
I was thinking about this and maybe someone can answer this question, but does South Korea have the authority to expel a diplomat for saying something that people in the Uri Party don’t agree with? I wonder what the US response to a diplmat being expelled from South Korea would be?
The Korean farmers that got arrested for protesting in Hong Kong during the WTO meeting have been accusing the Hong Kong authorities of police brutality by using rubber bullets. Oranckay has a good picture of the alleged injuries from the rubber bullets:
Something about this picture just looks fake especially the bandages. One of Oranckay’s commenters left a link to this picture of what rubber bullet hits should look like from the WTO protest in Seattle:
I think it is safe to call these farmers frauds. Even if the Hong Kong police used rubber bullets what’s the big deal? Hong Kong isn’t Korea so the Korean percpetions against rubber bullets doesn’t matter. Plus who can blame the cops for using rubber bullets when they are getting attacked by metal wipe weilding idiots?
Korean martial artists seek the seclusion(?) of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon:
Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province is starting to establish itself as the home of all but forgotten Korean martial arts. The fortress, built in the days of King Jeongjo in 1796, is being transformed into the Korean version of the Shaolin Temple, the legendary home of China’s Kung Fu.
Last Wednesday afternoon, the Society for the Preservation of Muye24 (http://muye24ki.or.kr), a non-profit organization, got ready to give the last public demonstration of the year at the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum in Giheung District, Yongin.
(…)
“It was an exhibition to wrap up the year,†says Kim Young-ho, 42, the head of the society. “Since we are always on the move to pass on traditional Korean martial arts, we are going to seclude ourselves in Hwaseong Fortress this winter and concentrate on training.â€
I don’t know if I would call Hwaseong Fortress secluded. For those who haven’t been there, the fortress is completely surrounded by the metropolis of Suwon.
However, that doesn’t mean Hwaseong fortress is not a great place to go visit. It is actually easy to access by subway or bus, features beautiful architecture and surroundings, plus an interesting history. Yet, every time I have been there I have never found overwhelming crowds visiting the place. Now the fortress has this martial arts exhibition so that is an added bonus to any trip there. You can read more about my visit to this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site by click here. Highly recommended.
It is ironic how the same human rights activists condemn the ROK Army for the mandatory military service obligation but remain silent over North Korean gulags and treatment of defectors:
The National Human Rights Commission on Monday recommended that the government recognize conscientious objectors to military service on the grounds of religious conviction and work out a system whereby objectors complete an alternative form of service. For now, anyone refusing to enlist or to carry weapons for reasons of religion or conscience is punishable with up to six months in prison or a fine of up to W2 million (US$2,000) under the Military Service Law, just like ordinary draft dodgers.
I got to hand it to the Chosun Ilbo because they did provide a great response to the decision:
The commission notes that other countries have accommodated conscientious objection. But do these countries also face 2 million troops across an armistice line? Already because of the low birth rate, the number of eligible conscripts is predicted to fall to 232,500 or so by 2010, over 100,000 fewer than today, and to a little over 164,300 by 2050, or half as many as there are now.
What does the HRC propose to do if, once conscientious objection becomes legal, everyone simply refuses to serve in the military citing their conscience? The least the commission should do is draw up criteria to distinguish genuine conscientious objectors from draft dodgers in disguise.
A South Korean professor who made headlines earlier this year with his pro-North Korean activities has now finally been suspended by Dongguk University:
Dongguk University said Sunday it is suspending a controversial sociologist whose inflammatory pro-North Korean remarks have already brought down a prosecutor general. The university will temporarily suspend Prof. Kang Jeong-koo pending the outcome of a criminal investigation. The proposal was submitted by key figures in the university and will be put before university president Hong Ki-sam and the Ven. Hyun Hae for approval.
This whole thing from the beginning was foolish because Kang was made into a hero for the left by the rightists trying to shut him up. It was better to let him wallow in obscurity than giving him a national platform to preach his idiocy.
The Chosun Ilbo has some advice for revelers that may be attending New Year’s Parties next week:
Bohae Brewery’s first commandment is to drink the first draft slowly. Gulping down a glass of liquor in one gulp, or “bottoms up,†raises the blood alcohol level too fast. As a result, the respiratory center and nerves can in the worst-case scenario become paralyzed. Since the body is unprepared for the onslaught, it is best to take it nice and easy with the first drink.
The brewery also recommends eating low-calorie food such as vegetables or fruit before drinking and to abstain from drinking for consecutive days to allow the liver to get rid of accumulated fat.
Taking anti-hangover drugs in the course of drinking, it says, puts an even greater burden on stomach and liver. That is because drinking while taking medication forces the poor liver to wrestle with both alcohol and the drugs simultaneously. “Smoking while drinking is poisonous,†the brewer states categorically, and exhorts, “Decline a drink if you don’t feel like it.â€
“Decline a drink if you don’t feel like it.” Sure, like that really works.
Can anyone answer this Korea Finder before Mark does?