U.S. beef protest organizers disappear, ending 3-month hideout

SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- A group of six activists wanted by police for organizing illegal protests over the resumption of U.S. beef imports disappeared on Wednesday, ending a three-month hideout, police officials said.
The six, including the head of a progressive labor umbrella organization, the
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), disappeared from their hideout at
Seoul's Jogye Temple, the headquarters of the country's largest Buddhist sect, as
of Wednesday afternoon, police said.
"They were seen going back and forth between their makeshift tent and a building
next to it until 1 p.m., but we were forced to launch a search as they
disappeared from our watch later in the afternoon," an official said, asking not
to be identified.
The police believe the six may have exited the temple on foot or by vehicle.
The activists had been taking refuge at the temple since early July when they
were placed on a wanted list for organizing scores of what were labeled by police
as "illegal protest rallies."
Korean law does not block police from entering the grounds of religious
buildings. Officers had refrained from moving in earlier due to a political
decision by officials higher up. Nearly 50 plain clothes officers had been
patrolling the area surrounding the temple around the clock.
The protests peaked in June and July, with thousands of people filling the
streets of Seoul nightly to hold candlelight vigils against a government decision
to lift a ban on U.S. beef imports. They have since subsided and been renamed to
"cultural candlelight events," and only occasionally attract more than a hundred
participants.
In a recorded message to the KCTU headquarters, the missing KCTU chairman, Lee
Suk-haing, said he would continue to fight against the government, which he
claimed is trying to suppress the people, according to the labor organization.
The KCTU said Lee will attend a rally slated for Nov. 9.