Conflicts Intensify on Iraq Issue in South Korea

Conflicts Intensify on Iraq Issue in South Korea

Pres. Roh decides to send 3,000 soldiers to Iraq ignoring public opinion

Members of a civic group call for retraction of the decision of troop dispatch.

The South Korean government reached a decision to dispatch of additional troops to Iraq at a meeting between the President and the heads of four major political parties held in Chong Wa Dae on December 14. The antigovernment groups criticized the president’s decision saying, “It was decided behind closed-doors without reflecting public opinion,” “South Korea has become a colony of the U.S. since today.” Anti-war and anti-U.S. struggles will spread in South Korea more widely.

South Korea decided to dispatch additional troops to Iraq on October 18. As the South Korean government decided to dispatch troops only 2 days after the U.N. Security Council adopted as resolution on the formation of coalition forces, South Korean people reacted sharply to this government decision.

Civic groups held press conferences and held denunciation meetings to demand retraction of the decision of troop dispatch, while university students held “anti-war” demonstrations.

A total of 37 congressmen held a joint press conference and said, “The troop dispatch of combined units is virtually that of combat soldiers. We will do our best to denounce the agreement.” They carried out a signature collection campaign in order to arouse public opinion. At the same time, a soldier refused to go back to the barracks and went on a stay-in strike.

Peoples’ criticism of the government’s decision on troop dispatch has erupted more powerfully now than in April when the previous troop dispatch was decided. There are a couple of factors underlying the public criticism. First, the troop dispatch is in substance an act of war. South Korea had previously sent about 700 soldiers to Iraq in April. The soldiers stayed in Iraq as non-combatants such as paramedics and engineers. This time, South Korean troops will be composed of 3,000 soldiers- 1600 non-combatants and 1,400 combat-ready soldiers. It is the role of combat-ready soldiers to “guard paramedics and engineers, and maintain public security,” Jo Yong Gil, South Korea’s Defense Secretary, said. But, this is just a facade and the real purpose is to make South Korean soldiers available to fight guerrillas in Iraq where the situation is getting worse.

The other factor is related to the anti-U.S. sentiment spreading in South Korea after the incident in which two middle-school girls were run over by a U.S. armored vehicle a year ago. When the previous troop dispatch was decided in April, Roh Mu Hyon said, “Our alliance with the U.S. will help solve the North’s ‘Nuclear issue’ peacefully.” This is because he wanted to avoid a conflict with the U.S. But when the dispatch of additional troops was suggested, there was no word concerning the “North’s nuclear issue.” This shows that South Korea has just complied with the U.S. demand.

Some South Korean people criticized the Roh Administration as following the U.S.’s hard-line policy on North Korea regarding the nuclear issue. It seems that public opposition to the “strengthened alliance between the South Korea and the U.S.” is at the base of today’s anti-war movements.

Roh’s proposal to dispatch additional troops will be submitted to the National Assembly after consultation with the U.S.

The Grand National Party which has majority seats in the Assembly, demands that South Korea send more combat soldiers. However, about 80 percent of South Korean citizens oppose an additional troop dispatch.

Conflicts concerning troop dispatch to Iraq will be more intensified in the future in South Korean society.

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