YONHAP NEWS

(4th LD) Investigation widens on deadly police clash with protesters

   SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors and human rights officials launched an investigation Tuesday into a clash in which six people died and over 20 were injured in a fire following a police raid on squatters protesting a redevelopment project in Seoul, officials said.

   The incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning, is expected to provide ammunition for the opposition party at the confirmation hearing of Kim Seok-ki, the current Seoul police chief, who was appointed on Sunday by President Lee Myung-bak to head the National Police Agency.
Kim, who ordered the raid according to his subordinates, was accused of using excessive force last summer in dealing with demonstrators opposed to the reopening of South Korea's market to U.S. beef.

   The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office dispatched some 20 officials to a four-story building in the Yongsan Ward of central Seoul, where some 40 protesters, mostly small business owners, had occupied the building since Monday to demand higher compensation for business closures caused by a major urban redevelopment project.

   Eyewitnesses to the clash said they saw the entire rooftop catch fire soon after police reached the protesters using a crane. Investigators claim the blaze was caused by the protesters, who threw paint thinner and makeshift explosives at police commandos, who raided the building around 6:40 a.m.

   Of the six people who died, one was a police officer.

   "Given the grave nature of the incident, we've set up an investigative team. Officials have blocked the perimeters and are in the process of figuring out what exactly happened," an official at the prosecutors' office said.

   The National Human Rights Commission also said it began an investigation into the tragic incident, sending its own people to the site to examine whether there were human rights violations or other mishandlings of the protest.

   The raid was first suggested by Baek Dong-san, the Yongsan police station chief, and was carried out on the orders of the police chief designate, according to deputy Seoul Police Chief Kim Soo-jung.

   "We will conduct a thorough investigation together with prosecutors to find out exactly how the incident occurred," Baek told reporters.

   President Lee, who was briefed on the incident during a Cabinet meeting, ordered officials to conduct a "thorough investigation," according to a presidential aide who was present at the meeting. He would not comment on how the incident might affect the appointment of the new police chief.

   In a press conference, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo expressed condolences to the families of the victims, saying that "a great tragedy has occurred while trying to disband an illegal occupation."

   Park Hee-tae, head of the ruling Grand National Party, called the incident "distressing" and promised that the party will "use all its strength" in dealing with the situation.

   The opposition Democratic Party (DP), however, blasted Kim and demanded the president immediately fire him and the minister of administration and safety, who oversees the nation's police operations.

   "(Kim's) first performance after being appointed as the head of police was the bloody crackdown on ordinary citizens," DP spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said, demanding punishment of all officials involved.

   odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)