Police Cannot be found on the Spot of People’s Livelihood

Police Suffers from the Demonstrations and Campaigns: The Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) held a “National Labor Meeting” on November 9 at many places in downtown Seoul, including the city hall plaza, having about 35,000 laborers (Assumed by Police) from nine industrial labor unions such as Korean Teachers & Educational Worker`s Union, National Union of Media works, etc.

The police put in 128 companies (15,000 people) of police auxiliary forces (PAF) out of a total of 254 companies (about 30,000) at this meeting.

The remaining 126 companies were thrown into other major works such as patrolling the party’s headquarters, the U.S.’ related facilities, and other important agencies (28 companies), in a preparation to hold down the anti-nuclear waste field demonstration in Buan (24 companies), and normal patrol of important infrastructures such as airport, highway, and seaport (35 companies). Other companies could not be motivated, for most of them had kept an all-night vigil the previous day.

On October 25 when “The 2nd National Meeting Opposing of Sending Troops to Iraq” was held in Seoul, except for the PAF of Gangnam police station, all other 31 PAFs in Seoul were thrown into this meeting.

Earlier this year, increasing guard duties and many other major demonstrations and campaigns such as -- the anti–U.S. demonstrations, the strike of transportation labor union, the demonstration on opposing established nuclear waste fields in Buan, the farmer’s demonstration opposing the opening up the agricultural market – have tied up the police, mobilizing even the preparatory police forces that had been reserved for the security of the people’s livelihood in the demonstrations.

However, the major duty of the PFA was to help people and back them up in their livelihoods. The majority of them, in most times, were put into these demonstrations; it is hard to look at the walking patrols of the police nowadays.

Violent Crimes Occur in Succession: The public’s complaints, “We cannot see the policemen where they are really needed,” are pouring in.

As of late September, compared with the same period in 2002, crimes have been increasing, with murder (4.2 percent), burglary (32.7 percent), rape (5.7 percent), robbery (11.3 percent), and violence (4 percent). In particular, burglary has occurred in 5,912 cases so far this year, already passing the amount of 2002. It was the biggest number in the past 10 years.

“In order to keep down the social demonstrations, it seems that the actual main duties of police officers are being laid aside,” remarked Park Jae-hyun, chief of crime prevention department of Police Headquarters.

Troublesome Police Behaviors: The experts pointed out that most of the blames have to be answered by the police themselves. From July to October this year, 29 pickpockets and snatching cases have occurred, which had targeted the merchandisers of Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Market on their way home at dawn. The police however, have been indifferent on these cases. When the media reported these cases to public on a large scale, the police set up a special investigation team – slowing up their work even further.

In particular, many serious murders have taken place this year, including three family members killed in Samjun, Songpa, Seoul this April, but the police have not sort out these problems yet.

“In the past, when violent crimes broke out, the chief of police station would gun down it firsthand, bracing up the entire station in tension. But the atmosphere nowadays are not the same as before,” remarked the person in authority.

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