But the committee said that whether the children stay in school still hinges on the committee and the government reaching an agreement. If talks break down, parents who are members of the committee could again keep their children out of school, they said.

The members of the school committee and the military and civil committee in Buan held a meeting at Buan Catholic Church last Saturday and agreed to cooperate and send their children back to school Monday. The protests had begun Aug. 25.

The committee members said that they made their decision based on their faith in the government's will to talk, and because of strong appeals from the county's teachers and principals. But they said that if the talks break down or if the government continues in its plans to make a nuclear waste dump in the region, students, parents and even the teachers would pursue an even more powerful protest in a second round of demonstrations.

The representatives of the military and civil committee of Buan held a meeting with Prime Minister Goh Kun last Friday and agreed to construct a communication body for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Buan so they could talk seriously about all issues under no conditions. The body will consist of two people from each party and one mediator, making five people in all.

The government has yet to change its position to construct a radioactive waste treatment facility in the area. President Roh Moo-hyun made it clear last August that enforcement would be used if talks failed, and Cheong Wa Dae officials said that recent news reports saying that the facilities could be reviewed all over again from the starting point were "misinformation." (Kim Chang-kon, cgkim@chosun.com )