Yongsan probe picks up speed

The prosecution yesterday spurred the investigation into the latest fatal clash between the police and squatters with calls for the authorities to conduct a "transparent" and "objective" probe.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors` Office, which is in charge of the case, said it is trying to conduct a multi-dimensional investigation to find out exactly what had happened on Tuesday and who should be responsible for the deaths of six people.

Authorities have already questioned the 20 or so protesters who were at the scene, along with members of the police special unit. They are now focusing on what caused the fire in the watchtower the protesters built to protect themselves during the clash with the police. The fire is thought to have been the direct cause of the six deaths.

Jeong Byeong-doo, a prosecutor at the district prosecutors` office, yesterday said the prosecution has gained evidence that the protesters - with the help of a nationwide body specializing in rallies for squatters - practiced assembling and disassembling the watchtower, suggesting that the protesters had been systematically preparing for the showdown.

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Citing the direction of the investigation, civic groups and the families of those who died during the scuffle claim that the authorities are trying to come up with evidence that the squatters were at fault for the clash.

The prosecution rebutted the claims, saying it is also investigating into whether the crackdown was harsher than necessary, as special unit forces were committed just 25 hours after the sit-in started.

Negotiations between squatters and authorities can go on for months. On Monday, around 40 squatters staged a sit-in demanding compensation for the loss of their homes and businesses from a planned urban redevelopment project in Yongsan. Six, including one police officer, were killed, and almost two dozen more were injured.

The tragedy came just days after President Lee Myung-bak nominated a hardliner confidante to head the National Police Agency.

President Lee yesterday again expressed his condolences to the families of those who died. He has postponed reshuffling to fill empty Cabinet posts until the situation is under control.

"It is heartbreaking and very lamentable that lives were lost in such a tragic incident," the president said in a meeting with his top presidential secretaries, according to an official who asked not to be identified.

Kim Seok-ki, tapped on Sunday to be promoted as head of the country`s police agency, is under pressure to step down for using excessive force against the squatters.

A Cheong Wa Dae official confirmed that the nomination will not be withdrawn unless he is found to be directly responsible for the deaths of the six people.

Kim said on Tuesday he will take responsibility if found to be at fault.

The families of victims who died in a fire during a standoff with police have demanded the government reprimand officials who were involved in the incident.

Rival parties also are in deadlock over how to deal with the deaths, and whether the police agency head nominee should be held accountable,

Kim`s confirmation hearing is slated for early next month.

A parliamentary committee on public safety affairs said it would try to persuade Kim to voluntarily appear and be held accountable for the incident.

By Kim Ji-hyun



(jemmie@heraldm.com)