SECTION: International News
LENGTH: 503 words
HEADLINE: Three More Former Generals Arrested for 1980 Massacre
BYLINE: By PAUL SHIN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: SEOUL, South Korea
BODY:
Three more former generals were arrested today for their role in an army massacre of a pro-democracy uprising 16 years ago.
The arrests bring to 14 the total number of former generals, including two former presidents, facing charges related to the military crackdown in the southern city of Kwanju in 1980.
At least 240 people were killed and more than 1,800 others injured when the military junta then in power savagely broke up the rally.
After a court approved their arrest warrants, legislator Park Jun-byong, former Defense Minister Choi Se-chang and former chief presidential bodyguard Chang Se-dong were taken to prisons outside Seoul.
"I humbly accept the special law although I consider it inappropriate," said Chang, facing a throng photographers outside the Seoul Prosecutor's Office. He was referring to the special legislation the National Assembly enacted in December to punish those involved in the coup and the massacre.
The other two refused to comment.
Prosecutors said the three conspired with the two former presidents to stage a coup in 1979 and then launched a violent crack down on a pro-democracy uprising in Kwangju several months later. If convicted, they face up to life in prison.
"Prosecution charges filed against me in connection with Kwangju are largely exaggerated," Park said before being arrested.
Park, a retired four-star general, was charged with illegally mobilizing his army division to back up the coup masterminded by former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. His army division also was suspected of involvement in the kwangju massacre.
Chang was charged with offering his military unit compound in Seoul as a meeting place for coup leaders. Choi ordered his soldiers to arrest the head of a special forces division opposing the coup.
Chun and Roh, childhood friends and later military buddies, have been charged with bribery, insurrection and treason.
They were first arrested on corruption charges arising from huge bribes they allegedly took from businessmen in exchange for government contracts and favors.
Insurrection and treason charges were added later in connection with the coup and the massacre, South Korea's bloodiest in peacetime.
They are the first former presidents to face legal action for alleged wrongdoing in office. If convicted, they can be sentenced to death, although that is unlikely.
Roh, president from 1988-93, has admitted that he established a $ 650 million slush fund while in office, but denied that the money was bribes from businessmen.
Chun, his predecessor, said through lawyers that he would actively defend himself when his trial begins on Monday. Chun has admitted he operated a $ 900 million slush fund during his 1980-88 term. He said some of the money was used to bankroll Roh's 1987 presidential campaign.
Chun staged a 26-day hunger strike in prison in December and is now recuperating at a police hospital in Seoul. Doctors said he is still frail and cannot sit for more than 30 minutes at a time.