日本大使館前での元慰安婦らのデモを韓国警察が妨害

Riot Police Strong-Arm 'Comfort Women' Demonstration - OhmyNews International

On Dec. 10, Korean riot police arrived in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul to dismantle a peaceful protest that had gathered in support of the "comfort women," also known as halmoni (grandmothers). Police threatened to arrest the more than 100 people who were protesting "illegally" on behalf of the women on Human Rights Day, a day commemorating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations' proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Supporters, led predominantly by foreign activists and Korean NGOs, arrived in front of the Japanese embassy in the late morning, with the halmoni arriving just before noon for their customary protest. The halmoni were thrilled to see so many friendly faces from countries across the globe, including Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Canada, Thailand, the United States, Malaysia, France, Peru, and Brazil.

12月10日、「慰安婦」を支持する平和的なデモにソウルの日本大使館前に集まった約100名に対し、韓国警察は不法デモを理由に逮捕をちらつかせた。人々は、人権デーを祝うために集まっていた。慰安婦支持者は、外国人活動家や韓国NGOが主で、朝遅くに日本大使館前に集まり始め、ハルモニたちはいつも通り昼ごろ集まった。日本、ニュージーランド、インドネシア、カナダ、タイ、米国、フランス、ペルー、ブラジルなど各国から支援者が集まった。

By 12:45 p.m. six police buses filled with riot police arrived and began to pen in the area. When the protestors did not leave immediately, the police marched towards them with large shields to corral in those who had not already fled.

The activists ultimately had to decide as a group whether or not to remain, and thus risk being arrested, or carry the demonstration farther away from the Japanese embassy. The group decided that it would be more worthwhile to take to the streets of Insadong, where participants set up a speaker and posters, made speeches, chanted and marched until 4 p.m. Speeches were made in numerous languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and French, in order to reach the variety of passers-by.

12：45までには6台の警察のバスが集まり、人々を立てで取り囲んだ。仕方なく、大使館前を離れた人々は、4時頃まで近くの商店街で演説したり、歌を歌ったりした。

リンク先には写真があるので、ぜひ見てね!

デモのおかげで人が集まって売り上げが上がったって、商店街の人からジュースの差し入れがあったんだってさ。

日本だったら、近くの商店街に場所を移すのもNGだったかと思うと、ちょっとゆううつになる。