Two striking workers fall from roof at Ssangyong plant

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Two striking workers fell from the roof of a paint shop at the factory of Ssangyong Motor Co. as they clashed with police commandos attempting to break up a sit-in there, witnesses said Wednesday.

The condition of the two injured workers was not immediately known. Earlier in
the day, scores of police commandos tried to enter the paint shop by landing on
the roof.
Authorities launched the operation on Tuesday to break up the strike by some 550
laid-off workers who have remained holed up in the paint shop, the largest
building at the factory, for more than two months to protest massive job cuts by
the troubled automaker.
Police trying to enter the paint shop, packed with flammable materials, were
blocked by protesters shooting nuts and bolts from large slingshots or hurling
firebombs and rolling out burning tires.
At least 27 police officers and non-union workers of Ssangyong were hurt during
Tuesday's clash.
The number of protesters wounded was not immediately known, but the union warned
in a statement that it "will fight to the death should police forcefully break up
the occupation."
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