[Editorial] Changwon Cover-Up

It has recently been reported that after being harassed by members of an illegally held demonstration, the police has chosen to forego protests, stating, “we’d rather be physically abused than to be called violent.” The loss of power of the public forces is serious. Even the head of the police force has earnestly attempted to keep the incident in the dark. The state of Korea’s police leads one to worry about the country’s future and the security of our people.

On April 15 in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, several temporary workers staged a demonstration calling for the company to rehire the discharged personnel. In the process, the rioters assaulted two policemen and also attacked four other policemen who tried to quell the situation. Among the assaulted, one had to receive five to six stitches on the forehead, while another strained his ligament and had to receive three weeks of treatment.

But the assaulted policemen had to continue working as if the incident did not happen. They told their families that they “fell down on the street” and hushed their colleagues at the central Changwon police station and the South Gyeongsang Police Agency, saying, “In a way, it’s better that we were assaulted and not them.” The police had to pretend that nothing happened, even while holding photo evidence against the assaulters.

The responsibility lies in the administration. During the farmers’ protests last November, President Roh Moo-hyun accepted the requests of the farmers’ association and the Democratic Labor Party to dismiss former National Police Agency Commissioner General Huh Joon-young, who called for strict measures against the rioters brandishing metal pipes and bamboo sticks. He also said, “The responsibility of the public power should be dealt with seriously.” That is why even the police are cynical, saying, “It’s hard to be proud of ourselves for carrying out the law enforcement when the power of our own public forces is in question.” Huh himself is known to have said, “It is hard to conduct lawful measures because the former activists that are now part of Cheong Wa Dae are on the rioters’ side.”

The heads of the police force who attempt to cater to the whims of the administration is also problematic. After the Police Agency had the police wear name tags on their uniforms while quelling riots this January, by stating, “anonymity leads to over-suppression during riots,” the decree was withdrawn after the families protested, asking whether “the police even have rights or not.” In so doing, the police hurt itself by lowering the status of law enforcement authorities.

When the police ignore illegal actions, the rule of law will crumble and the country will be placed in a precarious position. It is to be seen how the current National Police Agency Commissioner General Lee Taek-soon, who has continued to emphasize that “the trust of the people forms the basis of police force” after taking his position this February, will handle this situation.