AI accused the south Korean authorities of banning rallies and demos after labeling 1 842 political parties and civic and public organizations as "organizations spearheading illegal violent demonstrations" for the reason that they participated in the protests against the American beef import.

Last year AI warned against the south Korean police's merciless use of force, but no measure has been taken yet, AI deplored and went on:

Freedom of expression should be fully guaranteed as it is the basic right of the people. The Lee Myung Bak regime's ever more undisguised suppression of media persons these days is an infringement upon the freedom of speech.

The suppression is now being intensified on the strength of the "National Security Law" under the Lee Myung Bak regime and, consequently, members of the Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration and the South Headquarters of the Pan-national Alliance for Korea's Reunification were arrested. This fact goes to prove the injustice of the evil law.

In order to put an end to police violence those who are responsible for it should be punished and the "government", in particular, should be held wholly accountable for it.

AI demanded the south Korean authorities thoroughly probe the truth behind the killing of evacuees in Ryongsan and severely punish those involved in the murder and take measures against the recurrence of the tragedy.