A Hong Kong police spokesperson said yesterday evening that 188
protesters, reported to be mostly South Korean farmers, who were
arrested during Saturday's violent demonstrations against the WTO
have been released.
A Hong Kong police spokesperson said yesterday evening that 188
protesters, reported to be mostly South Korean farmers, who were
arrested during Saturday's violent demonstrations against the WTO
have been released.
The Consulate General of South Korea was informed of the
decision and promptly arranged to receive its nationals, he said,
and investigations are continuing into the actions of those still
in detention.
"Yesterday's acts require police to conduct thorough follow up
investigation in order to identify persons responsible for the
disturbances that saw significant disruption to life in Wanchai
district," said the spokesperson.
"We reiterate that we respect individual's freedom of expression
but condemn those who blatantly cause breach of peace by acts of
violence," he added.
South Korean farmers who confronted the police were vehemently
opposed to the opening up of their domestic markets to foreign
competition, fearing this would drive local farmers out of
business.
The spokesperson said the process to complete police procedures,
including interviewing individuals through interpreters, had met
with some difficulties because of the uncooperative attitude of
those arrested and difficulties in arranging interpretation.
Around 114 were injured during clashes between protesters and
police on Saturday. Demonstrators hit police with bamboo sticks,
and police used pepper spray and smoke grenades to disperse them.
Around 900 protesters were arrested.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily December 19, 2005)