South Korea Riot Police Battle Students Demanding Chun’s Resignation

Riot police Friday fought about 2,400 students demanding the resignation of President Chun Doo Hwan as six American politicians arrived to assess chances for greater democracy in South Korea.

Witnesses said more than 1,000 riot police and plainclothesmen stormed the campus at Seoul National University, firing tear gas to break up a crowd listening to speeches by anti-government student leaders.

More than 2,000 students shouting “Down with dictatorship!” and “Abolish the constitution!” retaliated by hurling gasoline bombs and stones.

At Ewha Women’s University and the Confucius Sonkyunkwan University, a total of 400 students also clashed with riot police in anti-government demonstrations, witnesses said.

More than 30 students were arrested and police said two policemen were seriously injured after being hit by stones or firebombs.

A student spokesman said many of the protesters supported an opposition campaign seeking 10 million signatures for a petition demanding election reforms.

Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas M. Foglietta (D-Pa.), leader of the six-member U.S. delegation, told a press conference at the home of dissident leader Kim Dae Jung that he supports opposition efforts to achieve democracy in South Korea.

Kim Dae Jung was scheduled to hold a press conference with another dissident leader, Kim Young Sam, and Lee Min Woo, president of the main opposition New Korea Democratic Party. But police took him home to prevent his appearance.

In a joint statement, the dissident leaders said the opposition will boycott the 1988 presidential elections if the government does not change the constitution to allow direct elections to replace the current indirect electoral college system.

They denounced as “not worthy of consideration” Chun’s offer to change the constitution after he steps down in 1988, and said they fear he might take power again under a new constitution.