Seoul, Mar 20: More than 100,000 South Koreans poured into the streets at rallies around the nation today to protest the country`s unprecedented presidential impeachment, as riot police mobilized to guard against possible violence. An eight-lane boulevard in central Seoul was filled with a huge crowd holding candles and chanting "Impeachment Invalid!" and "Protect Democracy!" Police estimated the crowd at 130,000, while they reported much smaller rallies in 80 provincial cities.

Protesters have staged anti-impeachment rallies daily since President Roh Moo-hyun`s executive powers were frozen March 12 in a parliamentary vote marked by lawmakers trading punches and pulling hair.

The crowds gathered, defying government warnings that the rallies were illegal and that police might try to disperse them. There was no sign of violence, however, as both sides called for order.

Batteries of loudspeakers, mounted on trucks, blared songs denouncing parliament`s vote. One song said, "We can`t stand it any more! It`s time for the people to act!"

Police hemmed the protesters in with buses parked bumper-to-bumper to prevent the demonstration from sprawling down narrow side streets.

About 50,000 turned out last weekend after the impeachment, though the crowds dwindled during the week amid police orders to constrain the rallies` size and duration. The protests were peaceful candlelight vigils.

With the promise of a bigger turnout today, police dispatched about 9,000 officers to the capital`s downtown, where the US Embassy - a flashpoint for anti-American rallies - is situated.

Before merging into the large crowd, about 1,500 protesters, mostly students, chanted slogans denouncing the US-led war in Iraq.
They criticized South Korea`s plans to dispatch 3,600 troops to aid in Iraq`s reconstruction, making South Korea the biggest coalition partner after the U.K. Saturday marks the anniversary of the U.S. invasion, after which Seoul sent an initial detachment of 400 medics and engineers.


Some held signs saying, "End the Occupation of Iraq!" or "No Korean Troops in Iraq!"

South Korea had planned to deploy the new contingent of troops to the northern Iraqi oil town of Kirkuk as early as next month. But the government scrapped plans on Friday amid security concerns in Kirkuk and said the military would look for a safer location. The deployment is now delayed, possibly until June.
The anti-impeachment movement has found support not only among Roh`s political backers, but also from civic groups that have previously criticized alleged corruption in his administration. Many South Koreans were simply unnerved by the upheaval, South Korea`s first presidential impeachment.

Polls suggest as many as seven in 10 South Koreans are opposed to the impeachment. Many families with children turned out for Saturday`s rallies. "What happened last Friday at the parliament was preposterous. I was stunned, I was speechless and I was seething with anger," said Park Yoon-ja, who showed with her three children, all carrying candles.

Prime Minister Goh Kun has assumed Roh`s duties while the Constitutional Court rules on whether to permanently unseat the president or reinstate his powers. The opposition Grand National and Millennium Democratic parties pushed for Roh`s impeachment on the grounds of illegal electioneering and incompetence.

Bureau Report