Seoul Administrative Court Reverses Police Ban On 2nd Rally; 118 Civic Groups To Hold Anti-Government Rally In Central Seoul This Weekend

The Seoul Administrative Court on Thursday thought the police ban on the second anti-government rally set this weekend is "unjust," hence, it decided to reverse the ruling to allow the protesters to hold the picket.

The court said it cannot be assumed that the planned rally will cause chaos simply because the picket will be led by those groups who were involved in a violent rally last month, Korea Observer noted Thursday.

On the other hand, police authorities said they respect the ruling of the court. The police also said they will take strict measures if the protest becomes aggressive.

"The organizers have repeatedly promised to make it a peaceful rally, and the Nov. 28 rally they had following the first massive rally proceeded peacefully although it had the same purpose with the recently proposed one," Judge Kim Jeong Sook says in a ruling.

Police said they will intercede in the planned rally only if the organizers will violate the laws.

"But if they occupy roads or march toward Cheong Wa Dae under the excuse of holding 'a peaceful rally,' we'll take measures to recover order on the scene," a police official says.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn said Friday: "(We) must root out illegal, violent protests by certain people, which many citizens are concerned about recently, in order to establish rule of law."

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Gallup Korea showed that 48 percent of the respondents are against the use of police vehicles as barricades during street protests, as reported by Yonhap News Agency Friday.

"Apart from ideology, (it seems like people) are supportive of non-violent protests in terms of demonstrators and a police reaction (that does not ignite) controversy over excessive use of force," an official from the research company says.

Reports have revealed that the planned anti-government rally will be led by an association of 118 civic groups.