YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Command officials are warning soldiers and civilians to be on guard for an increase in civil disturbances and protests targeting U.S. bases and personnel.

U.S. Forces Korea personnel shouldn’t be lulled by a seeming decrease in protests after they peaked earlier this summer, according to an 8th Army press release.

“It’s easy for us to become complacent as our enivronment becomes seemingly more stable, particularly when we fall into the usual routines of work, school and the approach of the holiday season,” Maj. Chad B. McRee, the USFK provost marshal’s office operations chief, said in the release. “We need to always keep an eye out for what doesn’t look right and what seems out of place.”

In recent days, several civic groups rallied against a potential deployment of South Korean troops to Iraq. Though the protests are not targeted directly at U.S. facilities, they often occur next to them.

A coalition of some 40 university student groups also rallied against the troop dispatch earlier this week at Dongguk University, close to Yongsan Garrison.

USFK officials reminded residents of indicators that a protest could be forming:

• Civilians loitering at installation gates or around base perimeters, or large numbers of civilians around remote bases.• Media members present for no apparent reason or civilians with video and photographic equipment.• Large gatherings at odd times.

If anyone observes such behavior, officials said, they should report it immediately to the provost marshal’s office and leave the scene.

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