Anti-war protests grow in scale

Protests against a bill to authorize the dispatch of Korean troops to assist the United States in the war in Iraq intensified yesterday as the National Assembly prepared to vote on the measure.
In a vote yesterday led by Seoul National University’s student association, more than 87 percent of the 10,054 students who voted agreed to boycott classes, starting today. The association said some professors will join an anti-war protest, which will take place at 4 p.m. today in front of the National Assembly.
Ewha Womans University will hold a boycott beginning next Wednesday. Korea and SungKongHoe universities are currently discussing boycotts.
“In April, professors at nine universities will hold anti-war teach-ins to discuss the injustices of the war and the problems involved in sending Korea’s troops there,” according to a statement made yesterday by an academic association.
Thirty lawyers from the Lawyers for a Democratic Society said they would hold an all-night sit-in at their offices, beginning at 7 p.m. today.
More than 1,000 members of civic groups, including labor unions and People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, staged a candlelight rally yesterday in front of the National Assembly.
A clash between protesters and the police is expected today, as a “human chain” is planned to prevent lawmakers from entering the National Assembly building.

by Lee Chul-jae, Yoon Hyae-sin