South Korean police have arrested at least 14 individuals who entered a building housing the Japanese embassy in Seoul during a demonstration against Tokyo’s release of water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, according to an organizer and a Reuters witness.
The protest occurred on the same day that Japan commenced the discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled power plant into the Pacific Ocean, a decision that has sparked intense criticism from various regions.
The group, primarily comprised of young people, ascended to the eighth floor where the embassy is located and unfurled banners denouncing the discharge.
One of the banners read, “The sea is not Japan’s trash bin,” while another demanded the immediate cessation of the release of contaminated water.
A Reuters photographer present at the scene witnessed police officers physically removing and forcefully escorting protestors out of the building, subsequently boarding them onto a bus.
A police officer at the Jongno police station in the capital stated that he did not possess immediate information on the matter.
An anonymous protest organizer revealed to Reuters that 14 individuals had been detained, while Yonhap news agency reported the number to be 16.
Approximately 50 individuals had congregated outside the embassy to partake in the demonstration.
(Reporting by Hongji Kim, Additional reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
