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South koreans huge anti us rallies { June 13 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0603/14korea.htmlhttp://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0603/14korea.html
South Koreans stage huge anti-U.S. rallies to mark deaths of girls
By JAE-SUK YOO
Associated Press
AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
U.S. Army soldiers attend a memorial service for the two South Korean schoolgirls killed by a U.S. military vehicle on June 13, 2002. Two soldiers in the vehicle were exonerated.
SEOUL, South Korea -- Thousands of South Koreans rallied Friday to protest the U.S. military presence on the anniversary of the deaths of two girls struck by a U.S. military vehicle.
The largest protest was in the capital, Seoul, where about 20,000 people, many holding candles gathered at a plaza near the U.S. Embassy, chanting "Punish the murderous GIs!" and "Withdraw U.S. troops!"
At one point, several hundred students, some wearing masks and wielding plastic poles, charged toward the embassy, as thousands of other demonstrators set fire to paper American flags.
Riot police used plastic shields and sprayed fire extinguishers to beat back the protesters, who threw dirt at the helmeted officers. No serious injuries were reported.
Other major South Korean cities held smaller candlelight vigils.
Meanwhile, about 100 U.S. soldiers held a memorial service for the girls at a base just north of Seoul. All U.S. troop exercises were suspended for the day.
"Today we stopped to remember. We remember because we care," said Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, commander of U.S. forces in South Korea. Fighting back tears, LaPorte said the U.S. military conveys "our heartfelt remorse" to the victims' families.
Two 12-foot paper effigies of the girls, with paper doves on the hands and shoulders, were set up for the vigil in Seoul.
The 13-year-old girls, Shim Mi-son and Shin Hyo-sun, were killed June 13, 2002, by a U.S. armored vehicle on a training mission near the border with communist North Korea.
Sgts. Mark Walker and Fernando Nino, who were driving the vehicle, were acquitted of negligent homicide charges in U.S. military courts here in November, and later left the country.
U.S. officials have apologized for the deaths. But the soldiers' acquittals prompted large anti-U.S. protests.
Although most South Koreans support the U.S. military presence in their country as a deterrent against communist North Korea, accidents and crimes involving U.S. soldiers often have prompted demonstrations.
While campaigning for his December election, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun vowed to seek a revision of the Status of Forces Agreement, a legal code governing the 37,000 U.S. soldiers in South Korea.
Many South Koreans believe the agreement allows U.S. soldiers to get away with light punishment for crimes, and say South Korea should have more jurisdiction. U.S. officials have ruled out an immediate revision of the 1966 accord.
Conservatives are concerned that anti-U.S. sentiments may hurt South Korea's alliance with the United States amid tension over North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons.
Last week, the U.S. military said it would move its troops further south from the border with North Korea. It also said it would vacate most of the sprawling Yongsan Garrison base in Seoul, a constant source of friction with local people who complain that the base occupies prime real estate and worsens traffic congestion.
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