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Local residents of Jangpa-ri in Gyeonggi Province's Paju City, who have been at odds with a United States military installation over the use of local roads by US tanks, have decided to temporarily suspend demonstrations as an expression of their condolences for the recent terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
"Out of consideration for the pain of the American people, who have suffered a terrible event, we have decided to temporarily suspend our activities," said the elected head of Jangpa-ri, Jeong In-ho. "Currently we are not blocking American army tanks on their way to training facilities."
The decision is in stark contrast to demonstrations held last month, when local residents mobilized power cultivators and tractors to block US tanks in their tracks late into the night. Last Friday, they stood back as approximately sixty US and Korean army tanks traveled to a training range north of the neighborhood. Banners at entrances to the neighborhood demanding the return of land forcibly commandeered by the military for US forces and claiming "No US tanks in our village!" have also been voluntarily removed.
According to Jeong, the US military is reportedly working on its own plan to minimize maneuver damage to the area when its tanks move about the area. "Residents will decide whether to resume demonstrations again after seeing what kind of plan the US military comes up with."
(Han Jae-hyeon, rookie@chosun.com )
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