US Troops Rifle a Korean Farmer: It's OK to run over 'damn gooks'?Source: Hangyoreh, 02-14-02 Last week, US troops beat a Korean farmer, Woo Gyong Bok, who dared to stop them from ruining his village. He was beaten with a rifle butt and has suffered serious injuries to his head. Last year, an American officer told his troops that it was OK to run down Korean civilians of the farming village and this violence on an old farmer has angered the villagers and many other Koreans. On the Lunar New Year (February 12, 2002), at about 7 PM, a trailer of the 82nd Army Engineers Company, US 2nd ID, was stuck in a street of Jangpa-ri, near Paju City and blocked the civilian traffic. The 47-year old Woo scolded the American driver of the trailer: "Don't you Americans celebrate any holidays? Last year, the 2nd ID officers promised us that there would be no more US vehicles going through our village. Why are you here?" An American Negro soldier got angry at Woo and pushed Woo down with an M16 rifle, screaming - "God dam you!" But Woo got up and blocked the American trailer, upon which the trailer pushed Woo over almost crushing his skull. The Negro soldier hit Woo on the shoulders with his M16 rifle butt and then stabbed Woo's face with the rifle muzzle, threatening to shoot him. Woo suffered injuries to his face and body that would require three weeks of medical treatments. More seriously, Woo may have suffered a brain concussion as well. American tanks routinely trash the village rice paddies and live ammo shooting exercises by the American troops have caused a great deal of economic hardship for the angry villagers. They have lodged numerous protests with the American officers and have stood in front of American tanks to prevent them from ruining their rice crops. Last year, the US 2nd ID command promised the villagers that no more tanks would drive through the rice paddies; but the tanks continued to drive through the paddies. The villagers and other Koreans in support of their grievances have been
demonstrating in front of the Camp Edward, where the guilty Negro soldier is
stationed. The US military has admitted to the beating incident, but
claims that the Negro soldier was the one who got beaten; it also acknowledges
that it has promised no tanks on the rice paddies last year, but is has offered
no explanation as for the continuing practice.
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