USFK warns of violence amid beef protests

[unhappycamper]

USFK warns of violence amid beef protests
By T.D. Flack, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, June 1, 2008

A banned South Korean student activist group might launch violent demonstrations against U.S. military installations in reaction to South Korea’s decision Thursday to allow the importation of American beef, according to U.S. Forces Korea.

The group, Hanchongryon, "may attempt violent demonstrations and/or trespassing onto U.S. installations," according to a force-protection warning posted at www.usfk.mil.

Tens of thousands of South Koreans have taken to the streets in protest rallies in recent weeks, with many claiming the meat isn’t safe from mad cow disease. Dozens have been arrested, according to South Korean news reports.

And opposition political leaders were discussing ways to block the beef from entering the country, according to a report from The Associated Press.

~snip~

South Korea, once one of the top importers of U.S. beef, closed its borders to the product after the first mad cow disease case hit the United States in 2003.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55225