President Lee calls for strict social order

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak emphatically called for public
order on Monday, reacting to a weekend demonstration in which police officers
were allegedly assaulted by protesters.
"Public order must be strictly observed and authority must be protected if we are
going to build a first-class nation," Lee was quoted as saying in a ceremony to
appoint the new chief of the National Police Agency, Kang Hee-rak.
"The president said there is no other country" where police officers get beaten,
Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the presidential office, told reporters.
Some 200 protesters gathered in downtown Seoul on Saturday for a rally
criticizing the government for the death of squatters during a police raid in
January. Six people died in the fire that broke out during the raid, including a
police officer.
Police said the demonstrators at Saturday's rally turned violent against officers
at the scene, severely beating one of them. A man also snatched his wallet and
made purchases using his credit card, according to police.
Kang, the new police chief, vowed to take a firm stance against lawlessness,
saying he will work to enforce even the "smallest rules," according to the
presidential spokesman.
The president stressed the police must first make efforts to win the people's trust.
"The police force must also work to rid itself of corruption so there will not be
any incident that could lead to the people losing trust," Lee was quoted as
saying.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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