Amnesty International will investigate alleged excessive force by the Korean authorities against demonstrators who protested against the import of U.S. beef. Amnesty Korea announced Wednesday that headquarters in London decided to send an inspector. AI issued two statements on this particular issue, and its secretary general Irene Khan sent a letter to President Lee Myung-bak.

According to the human rights group, it is the first time that it is sending an inspector to Korea on a specific issue other than the annual regular inspection, dispatching Norma Muico, who is in charge of East Asian affairs. Muico will hold a brief press conference on arrival Friday.

According to a staffer in the Korean office, Muico will investigate whether police measures to suppress demonstrations infringed human rights. “Sending an inspector on a particular issue means that the Amnesty International headquarters is taking the issue very seriously,” the staffer said. “But nothing specific on the schedule and the range of investigation has been determined yet.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )