Police clash victims' families demand accountability

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more developments at bottom)
SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- The families of victims who died in a fire during a
standoff with police demanded Wednesday the government reprimand officials
responsible for a raid that left six people dead including a police officer.

Rival parties, meanwhile, locked horns over how to deal with the aftermath of the
incident and whom to hold accountable, including Seoul city's police chief Kim
Seok-ki who is nominated for promotion to head of the nation's police agency.
Kim's confirmation hearing is slated for early next month.
A deadly fire erupted at a building in central Seoul Tuesday morning during a
clash between police commandos and a group of protesters staging a sit-in against
an urban redevelopment project of the area. The incident also left more than 20
injured.
"We demand the government punish everyone responsible for the bloody crackdown
that suppressed the people's struggle for their right to live," the families said
in a joint statement.
The protesters had occupied the building since Monday, demanding higher
compensation for the forced closures of their businesses caused by the
redevelopment project. Of the six people who died, five have been identified,
including the police officer.
The forensics team has not been able to identify the other body due to severe burns.
The families also condemned authorities for conducting autopsies without their
consent, describing it as a "brutal act."
President Lee Myung-bak said during a meeting with aides that the incident was
"heart-breaking" and that it should never happen again, according to people who
were present at the meeting.
The clash occurred just two days after the president appointed the new chief of
the National Police Agency and is expected to provide ammunition to the
opposition party at his confirmation hearing.
Meanwhile, a hurriedly-scheduled parliamentary committee hearing, where Kim was
likely to be grilled by opposition lawmakers, was suspended as he declined to
show up, saying the committee has not taken due legal procedure necessary in
summoning him.
The chairman of the public safety committee said he will try to persuade Kim to
voluntarily appear, given the gravity of the situation.
The main opposition Democratic Party demanded the president immediately fire Kim
and the public safety minister, and called for a parliamentary investigation into
the incident. The ruling party insists a thorough fact-based assessment must
precede any punitive actions.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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