SOUTH KOREA: FLOOD VICTIMS SCUFFLE WITH RIOT POLICE DURING ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS

Record ID: 640533

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: FLOOD VICTIMS SCUFFLE WITH RIOT POLICE DURING ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS
  • Date: 23rd August 2002
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 22,2002) (REUTERS) TOP VIEWS: VARIOUS OF SCUFFLING BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND RIOT POLICE, PROTESTERS PUNCHING AND WIELDING BANNERS/ POLICE PUSHING THEM BACK WITH SHIELDS (8 SHOTS) MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PROTEST LEADER ROH YOUNG-HO SYAING: "We want them to designate our county as a special disaster area to let us recover our livelihood properly, that's why we are holding this rally." TV/GV/CU: VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WAVING FISTS AND CHANTING SLOGANS IN KOREAN "REVIVE!"/ WOMEN PROTESTER CRYING (4 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Crime,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Environment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1WN0ZGK0E92V07A1G13HIH9C
  • Story Text: About six hundred South Korean flood victims have scuffled with riot police during an anti-government rally near the National Assembly. The protesters say they have been inadequately compensated by the government for losses sustained during recent flooding.
    Domestic media said three protesters had been slightly injured during the confrontation with police on Thursday (August 22).
    Residents from the Kimhae area, southeast of Seoul, criticised the government for "poor" preparation against heavy rains and "poor" compensation plans for flood victims.
    They chanted "Designate the damaged area as a special disaster zone"
    "We want them to designate our county as a special disaster area to let us recover our livelihood properly.
    That's why we are holding this rally," said 45-year-old protest leader Roh Young-ho.
    The government has classified the county as a "disaster area," but protesters want their district designated as a "special disaster zone," which could lead to higher compensation for damages. Residents of a "special disaster zone" can seek damage against firms held responsible for shoddy construction and maintenance of flood-control facilities.
    Protesters from one of the areas hardest-hit by the three-week-long rainstorms charged that a large part of the severe damage was due to faulty construction and poor maintenance of embankments designed to hold back floodwaters.
    The protesters say the damage caused by the flooding was exacerbated by government mismanagement and are preparing lawsuits against national and local government and construction companies.
    The water has not completely drained off in the affected areas and recovery works are difficult.
    The heavy rains left 15 people dead, one missing, and more than 600 people homeless and caused about 830 billion won (702.2 million U.S. dollars) worth of property damage.
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