[Editorial] Excessive Police Force at Must Not Be Overlooked

The police have finally admitted the possibility that Jeon Yong Cheol died as the result of being hit by riot police at a farmers' protest. They have demoted the man who was in charge at the scene. They have admitted that the police used excessive force at the protest and have expressed regret to Jeon's family and people who were injured at the same event. It is a big step in the right direction to have a different attitude from the police, since they have been denying there was any connection between Jeon's death and the protest. Given their approach to the whole case until now, it still makes you wonder how truthful and serious they are about finding the truth.

For a long time they kept trying to avoid responsibility for Jeon's dath and minimize the backlash. Immediately after he died they said he hit his head from falling in his own home, and National Police Agency superintendent Heo Jun Yeong tried to give reporters the idea that the cause of death could have been liver problems or too much drinking. When a picture of what shape Jeon was left in at the scene surfaced, the police said that riot cops had not hit him directly. In other words, they have consistently tried to deny everything only to admit what they had to when confronted with evidence. They were also uncooperative when the National Human Rights Commission asked them for documentation, so it is only natural that Jeon's family and groups related to his case don't have faith in the police's determination to clarify the truth.

Police leaders are not adequately taking responsibility for the situation. It is not right for only the officer in charge at the scene to be punished while the national police superintendent is hiding behind the statements of the police spokesman. The right way for the superintendent to respond would be to be the one who makes the proper apology, and then trust the president to decide his fate.

Within the police there is probably a lot of concern about the case working against them in the current battle between the prosecution and the national police over police independence. If so, there needs to be a thorough inquiry into the truth and frank self-reflection. If they are not careful they will not be able to win the hearts of the people. We hope that this latest move by the police is not the result of a political decision taken because it was forced by circumstances and public opinion.

The Hankyoreh, 16 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]