Fiery clashes as Daewoo protests continue

About 100 protesters have been arrested after violent demonstrations

PUPYONG, South Korea -- Throwing rocks and firebombs, hundreds of South Korean labor activists clashed with riot police Saturday in the fifth day of violent street protests against mass layoffs at ailing Daewoo Motor Co.

Violence erupted after 4,000 riot police blocked a square where Daewoo workers and their supporters had planned to hold a mass rally.

Shouting "Cancel the layoffs!" about 800 protesters marched along a street near Daewoo's main plant in Pupyong, 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of the South Korean capital, Seoul.

They occupied an eight-lane boulevard and burned tires, sending thick columns of smoke billowing through the snowy sky.

About 200 workers clashed with police, some swinging steel and throwing dozens of firebombs.

Others broke the concrete sidewalk into fist-sized rocks and threw them at police, who deflected the missiles with interlocked shields.

Two vans mounted with loudspeakers broadcast solidarity songs and speeches denouncing a restructuring program by the failing automaker that has resulted in a 40 percent reduction of its workforce.

Police used riot shields to deflect rocks and fire bombs

Protests to increase

Organizers said they expected the number of protesters to increase. They earlier had predicted that the rally would attract 10,000 workers and supporters from Seoul and its adjacent areas.

"We must fight. Workers cannot be the only victims," said Dan Byong-ho, head of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions.

Daewoo, which has been in receivership since last year, laid off 1,751 workers last week as part of a restructuring plan designed to sweeten a takeover deal with U.S. industry giant General Motors Corp.

The workers who lost their jobs immediately began a sit-in protest at the company's main plant. Police broke up the sit-in four days later, prompting the protesters to take to the streets.

About 100 have been arrested in violent demonstrations.

Layoffs a condition for GM talks

South Korea's third-largest car maker, Daewoo collapsed during the 1997-98 Asian economic crisis.

It filed for court receivership in November with an estimated bank debt of $15 billion.

GM entered negotiations to take over Daewoo in September after Ford Motor Co. withdrew a bid. Layoffs are a key condition of the talks.

Daewoo has a worldwide production capacity of 2 million vehicles.

Although in deep financial trouble, it offers potential buyers automakers a means of breaking into South Korea's closed market and may also serve as a stepping stone into China's growing market.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Firebombs in fresh Daewoo clashes
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Daewoo
South Korea Government

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