The South Korean Police Agency said it is considering using liquid tear gas to crack down on violent demonstrators. The move comes as violent protests frequently lead to the injury of riot policemen.
According to sources, the number of violent demonstrations continues to decline, but the police have suffered an increase in injuries in their clashes with rally participants. The police have demanded measures aimed at reducing injuries, not just to policemen but to civilian protestors, as well.
However, the police’s plan to use tear gas cannot avoid a backlash. First, the timing is not right. Such a move could cause public outcry, since it comes just after a person died amid what labor unionists call a harsh police crackdown on demonstrations at POSCO, the nation’s largest steelmaker.
While the investigation of the protestor’s death is still ongoing, it would be inappropriate to seek such a harsh measure to clamp down on demonstrations. The police force has to take time to reflect on what it has done, rather than pursue such a move. Is it also too much for the police think about using tear gas at a time when a worker’s family member taking part in a rally miscarried after police cracked down on that rally?
It is doubtful that the use of tear gas would be effective in controlling public demonstrations. It would be ridiculous to determine who should be held responsible first when rallies turn violent, but what is clear is that one violent act could lead to another, whether committed by police or demonstrators. The use of tear gas, rather than what the police expect, would prompt more violence.
The police have to take different measures to handle violent demonstrations. If a rally becomes violent, it signifies a widening difference between negotiating parties and an increase in frustration on the part of demonstrators. In other words, politics has failed to play its part. Whether the disagreement is about free trade negotiations with the U.S. or about labor disputes, it means that there has been no compromise reached. It is no surprise that demonstrations have become more violent.
What police need is not tear gas. They need to strengthen their ability to resolve things through negotiation and compromise. This can be achieved through the government’s intervention. The government has to realize that trying to step up the force of the police - in order to counter criticism that the government is ineffective in negotiating with protestors - would be meaningless in the face of the human consequences involved.
[Editorial] Police plan to use tear gas poorly timed |
