Anti-war rallies and demonstrations in S. Korea
KCNA
Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Big rallies and demonstrations were held in main cities of South Korea such as Seoul, Pusan and Taejon on March 15 to denounce the United States for its war moves, according to South Korean radio reports.
An anti-war candle-light rally was held in Jongmyo park, Seoul with at least 5,000 attending under the co-sponsorship of the Joint Action for Peace against War and the All-People Measure Committee for Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son, Schoolgirls Killed by a U.S. Armored Car.
They repeatedly shouted such anti-U.S. and anti-war slogans as "No Unjust War" and "No Government Support to War."
They were joined by members of foreign anti-war organizations.
At the end of the rally the participants matched as far as Jongro Street 2 with candle-lights in their hands despite the police obstruction before gathering again in front of Kwanghwamun for a candle-light demonstration.
They unanimously denounced the United States for its war moves against Iraq and the South Korean Government for planning to support its Iraqi war.
Speakers bitterly condemned the United States for bringing dark clouds of a nuclear war to gather over the Korean Peninsula, calling on the people to ensure peace on the peninsula, avert a nuclear war by candle-lights of peace and work hard to reunify the country by the efforts of the Korean nation through national cooperation.
They declared that the candles would remain burning until Bush apologizes and SOFA is revised.
Meanwhile, a "Day of Pusan citizens' action against invasion of Iraq and threat of war to the Korean Peninsula and March 15 international peace against war" was held in Pusan under the sponsorship of the Pusan Reunification Solidarity.
Vehemently assailing the stand of the South Korean authorities to support the U.S. Iraqi war, the participants stressed that they would punish those members of the "National Assembly" supporting the stand on behalf of the people.
At the end of the function they marched as far as a U.S. military base, shouting slogans protesting the joint military exercises.
