[LETTERS to the editor]Even foreigners can fight terror

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[LETTERS to the editor]Even foreigners can fight terror

I am a little confused about the security and safety of the APEC site. I read articles stating how the security forces need citizens to be vigilent and report anything out of the ordinary. Maybe because I am a foreigner and not a citizen, my vigilence is not necessary. I was shopping at Home Plus across from Bexco two days ago. As I left my car in the parking lot to enter the store, I noticed a dark green suitcase in a trashcan. It looked in pretty good condition. For whatever reason, it looked out of place and suspicious. I went shopping on the main floor but the nagging feeling would not leave me, so I left my cart in the store as I had seen two police officers standing on the street outside the doors. I went to them and said, “ Excuse me, floor three, trash can, green suitcase in.” They looked at me with blank expressions.
I had to try some of the few Korean words I knew....ahhh... cha.... sam joong....kapbang.... choruk-saek,.....sorregi-tong...in. Again, they looked at me, smiled and shrugged. I walked away. If it had been an explosive device, could a potentially dangerous situation be avoided? I think so. I don’t expect the police in Korea to speak English, but I think there ought to be some foreign language speaking Koreans at a command center somewhere within radio distance. The officers should have radioed for language help, given the radio to me and had the English speaker ask me to report what I said earlier. Every responsible person has the obligation to create and work with a system that ensures security and safety.


by David Woelke
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