hankyoreh

staff photographer)　

By Park Ki-yong and Jin Myeong-seon, staff reporters

95 protesters from the May 18 Sewol Ferry tragedy demonstration at Gwanghwamun Square were arrested and taken to a local police station. The police also stated they would file criminal charges against all 113 people who had been arrested a day earlier. The government is taking strong action against citizens raising critical voices over the government’s inept response to the tragedy.

On Monday morning, President Park Geun-hye made a public apology in which she vowed to disband the Coast Guard for its bungled handling of the rescue operation. Park also said that she would reorganize the government to improve its disaster response capability.

Participants from the May 17 People’s Assembly on Blue House demonstration, which was organized under the theme of ‘We will ask for political responsibility for the Sewol ferry tragedy’, and participants from ‘Stand still’ silence campaign held in the area around Gwanghwamun Square. Police arrested protesters in front of Yi Sun-sin statue at the entrance of Gwanghwamun Square who did not follow their orders to disperse, while calling for the Blue House to take responsibility and President Park to step down.

Criminal charges were filed against 113 citizens who were arrested at the candlelight demonstration in commemoration of the Sewol ferry tragedy the previous day. Kim Geun-sik, Chief of Criminal Investigation for Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said, “The 115 who were arrested did not follow three police orders to disperse while occupying the street between 9:20 pm and 10 pm on May 17. 113 will face criminal punishment, except two who are a high school student and an online media reporter”.

30,000 citizens participated in the candlelight vigil on Saturday. 500 of them tried to march to the Blue House but were blocked by police. They then held a sit-in protest in front of the Hyundai Head Office in Gye neighborhood. Police arrested them for violating the Road Traffic Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

A citizen surnamed Yoo, 42, who was at the scene said, “There were around 200 people gathered together and only some of them were sitting on the road. People were about to disperse by their own free will, but the police suddenly made three consecutive orders to disperse and then encircled the people”. People’s Assembly on Blue House made a statement, saying, “Park Geun-hye government, who did not manage to save a single life, have carried out sudden violent arrest actions of citizens who are upset with the Sewol ferry tragedy”.

A series of critical voices were raised condemning the Park Geun-hye government during the People’s Assembly on Blue House at Cheonggye Square on May 18. Lee Eung, 18, who described herself as a youth activist, said in a speech, “People must not die again because of money. We must change with our own hands. That’s why I am standing here today”.

Yeom Cheon-hee, from Yongin, Gyeonggi province, said, “Despite the tragic deaths of our young children, we still have no idea what phenomenon is ruling our society. Facts are no longer the most important element in our society, but the intention of the powerful person is what matters most”.

Han Ok-sun, 67, who is protesting against the construction of electricity transmission towers in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, said, “I slept over night in an underground tunnel built for campaign against the transmission tower and just came all the way up to Seoul today. The government plans to build 69 transmission towers in Miryang and treats ordinary grandmothers and grandfathers as criminals. Does it make sense? I cannot forgive this”.

On that day 150 citizens participated in the People’s Assembly on Blue House. Another demonstration scheduled for May 24.

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