kotaji 거타지

More on the US angle, this time from Jasper Becker and Mark Tram in the Guardian. What’s interesting to me about reading these reports of the rioting from the height of the struggle is how much of the actual violent action was taking place outside of Seoul. I think it’s a cautionary lesson for historians who might have a natural tendency to concentrate on what happened in the capital. It’s quite possible that the real decisive action was happening elsewhere. Another interesting element is the widespread nature of the protests - every major city was affected and reading these reports there is no sense of the ‘regionalism’ that become such a feature of Korean politics in the 1990s. Outside of Seoul, both the Cholla (Kwangju) and Kyongsang (Pusan) seem to have lead the way.

US tells Seoul not to impose martial law
From Mark Tram and Jasper Becker
The Guardian, June 22, 1987

The US State Department’s top official for Asian affairs, Dr Gaston Sigur, yesterday warned the Seoul Government against declaring martial law in South Korea. The warning came as the ruling party in Seoul hammered out a package of concessions which it hoped would mollify the opposition.

Dr Sigur spoke from Sydney, on his way to Seoul. He said: ‘We do not want to see the military involved. Martial law is not the proper approach. ‘

In public statements the US administration has urged the Seoul Government to reopen a dialogue with the opposition on moving the country towards democracy - a message Dr Sigur underlined again yesterday.

The ruling Democratic Justice Party (DJP) chairman, Mr Roh Tae Woo, is due today to try to persuade President Chun Doo Hwan to agree to the package of concessions at a meeting at the presidential Blue House.

Mr Roh is reportedly proposing to resume the postponed constitutional revision talks - the main opposition demand.

Mr Roh, who is also the presidential candidate, may be ready to agree that the next government should simply be a caretaker administration and offer leniency for detainees as well as lifting the house arrest of the leading opposition leader, Mr Kim Dae Jung. Mr Kim Young Sam, leader of the chief opposition Reunification Democratic Party (RDP) declined to see Mr Roh. He is holding out for a meeting with President Chun whom he claims holds the real power to rescind the April 13 decision postponing constitutional talks until after the 1988 Olympic Games.

Mr Roh held meetings with minor opposition party leaders over the weekend and the Secretary General’s floor leaders of the DJP and RDP held a four-way meeting. Such efforts are [un?]likely to defuse the situation.

The opposition ultimately wants to bring down the Government and strengthened by continuing student demonstrations, is likely to push for further concessions.

President Chun fears that if the opposition gains power after he steps down next February it will exact retribution for the Kwangju uprising in 1980, in which at least 180 [people were killed.]

Riot police in Pusan, South Korea’s second city, facing hijacked buses used as battering rams, arrested at least 800 protesters last night to beat back a crowd of more than 4,000 trying to demonstrate in the city centre.

Late last night an estimated 2,000 demonstrators fought pitched battles with riot police in Kwangju, in the south-east.

In the northern outskirts of Pusan, scene of bloody clashes in recent days, a crowd of at least 4,000 tried to march on the city centre, only to be blocked by police barricades.

Eyewitnesses saw demonstrators hijack at least four buses, eject the passengers and drive the vehicles at speed towards police lines - a tactic used in Taejon last Friday when a riot policeman was knocked down and killed.

The bystanders said police averted a similar incident this time with barrages of teargas which caused the drivers to lose control.

Police seemed to have adopted a new, tougher policy towards protesters. Pusan police headquarters said that at least 800 people were detained during the day but the local state radio station put the figure at more than 1,000.