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Anti-U.S. Protests Feared at South Korea Vs. U.S. Match
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Anti-U.S.
protests might break out “if
South Korea
loses the game because of any biased judging.”
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SEOUL
, June 7 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – With anti-U.S.
demonstrations repeatedly occurring in many events around the world,
the South Korean government warned Friday, June 7, that it would
crackdown on such protests it fears could erupt when
South Korea
plays the
United States
in the World Cup
Monday, June 10, 2002
.
The
Group D, which includes
South Korea
,
U.S.A.
,
Portugal
and
Poland
, clash is fast turning into a sporting grudge match.
Police
said they will step up security around the
U.S.
embassy and other
U.S.
targets because of fears that the country's football fever could spill
over into anti-American protests, Agence France-Press (AFP) reported.
"The
government will crack down hard on any attempts to create trouble in
order to ensure safety during the World Cup and to prevent incidents
that could damage South Korea-U.S. ties," government spokesman
Shin Jung-Sik told AFP.
But
student activists have been practicing anti-U.S. chants for the match
in the southeastern city of
Daegu
and have been handing out red t-shirts inscribed with anti-U.S.
slogans, Hankyoreh daily said.
Students
at
Kyunghee
University
in
Seoul
plan to organize a pre-match rally when they kick balls at portraits
of U.S. President George W. Bush, Hankyoreh said.
With
the United States and South Korea having both won their first matches,
as the Americans beat Portugal 3–2, while South Korea beat Poland
2–0, Monday's clash could decide who goes through to the second
round.
The
authorities in
South Korea
fear the impact of a South Korean defeat. "We are afraid there
might be anti-U.S. protests if South Korea loses the game because of
any biased judging like there was at the Winter Olympics," a
senior police officer told AFP.
South
Koreans were enraged when Kim Dong-Sung was disqualified from the
men's 1,500 meter short track speed skating at the Salt Lake City
Games in February. The South Korean skater was punished for speeding
in front of
U.S.
star Apolo Anton Ohno who was awarded the gold medal.
The
incident triggered a wave of protests, especially among millions of
South Korean Internet users.
Anti-U.S.
songs and chants are now being spread through Internet which activists
have urged should be used during the U.S.-South Korea match. Police in
charge of cyber crimes said they were trying to trace the Internet
troublemakers, AFP said.
South Korea
has been a strong military ally of the
United States
since the 1950-53 Korean War when
U.S.
forces fought with the capitalist South. There are still 37,000
U.S.
troops in
South Korea
which are the target of sporadic protests.
Aside
from security precautions against terrorism, hundreds of
anti-hooliganism troops will be on guard in and around the stadium and
some 1,500 riot police troops will be deployed around the venue to
prevent protests.
Police
said they will cover the Daegu World Cup stadium and U.S.-related
facilities with a security blankets with police commandos and bomb
specialists and an armed helicopter escort for the
U.S.
team as it approaches the Daegu stadium.
The
biggest source of police concern is a huge crowd of fans expected to
gather in the Gwangwhamun district of central
Seoul
to cheer
South Korea
in front of giant screens.
Gwanghwamun
is next to the
U.S.
embassy, the main government complex, three major newspapers as well
as financial institutions.
The
U.S.
embassy has said it will be closed Monday afternoon, officially to
allow staff to watch the game.
"If
South Korea
loses, some student radicals may stir up the crowds and poison the
atmosphere. We don't want to see any incidents that could lead to a
diplomatic issue," said the senior police officer, who requested
anonymity.
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U.S.
team exercising before Monday’s match.
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Seoul
city authorities plan to set up extra screens across the capital in a
bid to entice fans away from Gwanghwamun district, officials said.
Meanwhile,
England
and
Argentina
will meet Friday, June 7, in a match many consider as the most
important of the tournament so far.
The
London Chamber of Commerce said firms in the capital reported a lower
staff turnout than for a normal Friday, BBC’s online service
reported.
BBC
said that firms ranging from car companies and supermarkets to
solicitors and accountants are giving staff extended lunch breaks and
laying on free food for staff swept up on a tide of euphoric
patriotism.
In
Sapporo
, four more
England
fans were arrested Thursday, June 6, bringing the total to seven, BBC
reported. Two were held for allegedly stealing football shirts, one on
suspicion of defrauding a convenience store and one accused of
punching a Japanese man.
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