Police to dispatch 10,000 to Cheju for FTA talks
Korea Times | 18 October 2006
Police to Dispatch 10,000 to Cheju for FTA Talks
The National Police Agency has stepped up security for the nation’s free trade talks with the United States, sending 10,000 police officers to fend off protesters at the meeting venue on Cheju Island.
The police dispatch was to begin Thursday ahead of the fourth round of talks between Seoul and Washington next week aimed at concluding a free trade agreement (FTA).
The agency expects about 5,000 protesters to gather on the southern resort island to stage demonstrations against the FTA. The Oct. 23-27 talks also coincide with the seasonal peak of tourism on the tropical island.
The police said 510 vehicles and two helicopters will also be dispatched to Cheju for security enforcement.
Korea and the U.S. began formal talks for a proposed free trade agreement in June. The third round was held in the U.S. west coast city of Seattle last month, but both sides failed to make major headway because of differences over key issues such as agriculture, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and textiles.
