Anti-US Protests Held in S. korean Cities Over Acquittals of GIs

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 02, 2002

Anti-US Protests Held in S. korean Cities Over Acquittals of GIs

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Candles were lit and anti-American slogans were chanted Saturday as citizens assembled in major cities to pay tribute to the two middle school girls who were accidentally killed by a U.S. armored vehicle in June.

About 5,000 people gathered on a boulevard near the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul Saturday night and held a candlelight protest to demand a retrial of Sgts. Fernando Nino and Mark Walker, who were manning the vehicle when it struck and killed the 14-year-olds during a training mission on June 13.

The protesters also demanded the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea.

They sang a song in memory of victims Shim Mi-sun and Shin Hyo-son, shouted anti-American slogans and attempted to approach the U.S. Embassy, but were blocked by about 8,000 riot police.

A total of about 100,000 citizens were estimated to have taken part in the Saturday rallies in 17 cities, such as Seoul, Chonju, Taegu, Pusan and Cheju, police said. No major injuries or damages were reported as the protesters tried to remain peaceful and keep order, they explained. Some 500 joined a protest rall;y in Inchon yesterday.

A U.S. court martial found Sgts. Nino and Walker innocent of negligent homicide in the deaths of the girls. They returned to the United States last week.

Faced with the mounting criticism from the South Korean public, U.S. President George W. Bush apologized for the accident and offered condolences to the families of the victims through U.S. Ambassador to Korea Thomas C. Hubbard last week.

Civic and religious leaders have called for Bush to make a direct apology to the Korean people.

Demanding a revision of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which governs the legal status of 37,000 U.S. troops stationed here, the protesters urged the governments of South Korea and the United States to address the problems from what they call the unequal sections of the SOFA. They also vowed to stage rallies until their demands are met.

The SOFA gives the U.S. military primary jurisdiction over crimes committed by U.S. soldiers and requires complicated procedures for South Korean victims of traffic accidents involving U.S. vehicles.

Source: Agencies

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