Search Results for “Yang Yoon-Mo” – Save Jeju Now

Yang Yoon-Mo Released From Prison!

Yang Yoon-Mo was released at midnight (00:00 am of April 12th) after 435 days in prison, which is his 4th time imprisonment on the way opposing to the Jeju naval base.

Source: http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=157825

Source: http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=157825

“It was a really great and joyful celebration. Although he was released after midnight, many people from around Jeju and Korea came as early as 9 p.m. to begin waiting and also having a small party. By the time he was released there were more than 100 people even though it was late at night and the Jeju Prison is not really easy to get too. It was an amazing time and we are so happy he was released.”… by Paco Booyah

Poster of the welcoming event for Yang Yoon-Mo who will be freed after 435 days in prison
April 11, 11pm, in front of the Jeju Prison, Jeju City
April 12, 8 pm, Peace Center, village
Design by Haku
Fwded by Hye-Young, Peace Co-Op, Village association, Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon, Fr. Kim Sung-Hwan

Gangjeong People held a welcome party for Yang yoon-Mo at the Gangjeong village association hall.

Ms. Kil-joo Lee writes, ” The cake was presented by Kim Jin-Suk (the legendary Hanjin union woman leader who has made more than 200 days’ sit-in on a high tower years ago to protest the company’s unjust lay-off of workers) . Yang was so happy like a child. Photo by Kil-joo Lee, Fwd by SungHee Choi

The cake presented by Kim Jin-Suk to Yang YoonMo
Photo by Kil-joo Lee, Fwd by SungHee Choi

Welcome party for Yang Yoon Mo in Gangjeong village.
Photo by Hosu

Fr. Kim Sung-Hwan writes, “The name of Yang Yoon-Mo’s sit-in tent on the Gureombi Rock was ‘Joongdeoksa (Joongdeok temple, naming after the coast of the village, Joongdeok, in which the Gureombi Rock belongs to). The name wood tablet now returned back to Yang again.” Photo by Emily Wang

For more of Emily’s photos, see : http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/1348

Fwd by SungHee Choi:

“Video of Yang Yoon-Mo’s speech in front of Jeju Prison after 435 days in prison, which is his 4th time imprisonment on the way opposing to the Jeju naval base : He declares his will on 10 million people’s petition campaign for the legislation on ‘Demilitarized Life and Peace Island,

(Video by Song Dong-Hyo )

http://youtu.be/5S1c6PXtWsY

As soon as Yang Yoon-Mo made an exit out of the Jeju Prison, he warmly hugged with each person who came to the site for welcoming him. The 1st words he shouted in his speech were “Absolutely no naval base!”He also thanked many people naming each of them including Bishop Kang U-Il.

“It is thanks to your sharing spirit in which you have daily given your core ability for me who is insufficient, despite your keeping desperate struggle field while each of you maintains individual pride. That is how I can return back to you with healthy and stronger struggle will after the life of warm sunlight inside the prison.”

“ I had once thought from ignorance that our struggle is disadvantageous as time goes but I realized in prison that it would be rather advantageous with the time.”

“ I became to bear a dream to make this struggle trustworthy. I will start 10 million people’s petition campaign in which all the nationwide citizens join to set the Jeju to be Demilitarized Life and Peace Island. The petition also aims to get signature from 200,000 people of Jeju, one third of the Jeju population. And the petition is to build a legislative campaign for the Jeju to be the demilitarized peace Island in 2017, the next Presidential election.”

Yang Uoon-Mo said that there have been encouragement letters to him from about 30 countries. He appealed to people to build Gangjeong as the global life and peace village by not stopping our struggle. ”

April 13, 2014
Update on Yang Yoon-Mo on his 68th prison day and international solidarity messages

Yang Yoon-Mo hit his 68^th prison day as of April 8, Monday. On April 10, he would hit his 70^th prison day.

On a sunny Monday, the way to the meeting room of the Jeju prison was filled with green trees and magnolia.

Yang Yoon-Mo was still in patient cloth. Though still thin, he looked bright. His hairs were cut in tidy fashion. The international team member could not tell him that there clash began in front of the construction sites from the early morning of the day because she worried about his heath that is still in recovering process.

A tree seen on the way to the meeting room of the Jeju Prison

Instead she delivered him some international solidarity messages sent to him after the end of his 52 days’ fast as of March 24 and asked his reply to the people who sent those.

For all the international solidarity messages mainly sent on March 31, please see the bottom. Here is his reply:

“Thanks to the international team, the news on me has been informed. It is my honor to be one with the peace activists in the world.

I will not do anything more to bother my body. I think it should be my return for the friendship and support of those.

I will do all my efforts to renew my daily change always. It is the will to be along with all the living creatures, not regarding body merely as an individual matter.

I thank all the friends in the world, especially to Bruce Gagnon, who helped me to realize that.”

The below is his reply on the question of his health, such as dyslexia:

‘ I will eat rice gruel by the end of this month so it will be thankful if people could send me enzyme by the end of this month. I need two bottles of enzyme a week. Since my power of concentration has become very weak, I can hardly read letters yet. I am planning to apply for a meeting with psychologist in the prison.

Currently five people including me are in a same sick room. Since the other people in a room prefer to watch the TV, It is hard for me to mentally concentrate. There is no clash with them but I suffer in my head as I try to overcome my inner conflict.

My only way is to hold mass alone at 11 am, same time with Catholic mass that is held in the village and focus on it. It feels like I have given stress to my physical body for last two months’ fast.

Since relaxation is needed to release stress, I am trying not to push compulsion in my body. I have experienced chill three times since the end of my fast because of lowered immunity. I felt my body was shivering like an aspen. Since my body has become very sensitive even to cold wind, I restrain myself even from outdoor exercise (which is allowed for 15 to 20 minutes a day for every prisoner) I make efforts not to make my body to be excessive.”

Yang was happy to hear the news that the 4·3 movie ‘Jiseul,’ has already attracted more than 70,000 audience throughout the nation, which is quite a remarkable record for an independent movie. He has originally dreamed at least 30,000 audience for the movie. He was also glad to hear that the 4·3 –remembering events were very meaningful this year because of the outcomes of two 4·3 movies(Jiseul and Binyom) and a book named, ‘You, Dear Gangjeong.’ Reports on the 4·3 events will come as soon as possible.

……………………………………………….

International Solidarity message to Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo (Dungree)

Here are the International solidarity messages mostly sent and collected on March 31. See the Korean translation, here. The village international team had asked the friends in the world to send the messages to the two people of Yang Yoon-Mo and Mr. Park Sung-Soo (Dungree) before it. Mr. Park Sung-Soo who has refused to pay unjust fines and to be volunteering to be jailed was suddenly released on April 1 as an anonymouse people paid for his fines without his knowledge and will.

Bruce Gagnon, US

Dear Yang Yoon-Mo,

I was happy to learn you ended your courageous hunger strike against the Navy base. It was a good decision to live and fight another day.

Your efforts over the past couple of years have been deeply inside my heart and remain there.

Each day you and others spend in jail is another day I look to do something, anything to help Save Gangjeong village and the nature that surrounds it.

I often watch the video Island of Stone (* movie in 2011, see the below), which always brings tears to my eyes, to hear your profound analysis and sacred love for nature. I send you my best wishes for strong healing and hope your abdominal muscles are now working overtime.

For peace with justice,

ISLAND OF STONE from Island of Stone on Vimeo.

Park Sung-Soo,

I write to thank you so much for your excellent photos and videos which have helped me from so far away stay close to the resistance against the Navy base.

I was sad to hear of your jail sentence but also felt proud of you for refusing to pay the illegal and immoral fines.

Please know that your good efforts for real peace and justice are deeply appreciated by many of us. I send you my best wishes and look forward to your visual art works very soon.

In peace,

Bruce K. Gagnon

Coordinator

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space

PO Box 652 Brunswick, ME 04011

(207) 443-9502

globalnet@mindspring.com

www.space4peace.org

http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)

*# Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. ~Henry David Thoreau

Lindis Percy and Laila Packer, UK

Dear friends Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo (Dungree)

We are thinking of you so much and send you greetings, solidarity and love.

We hope that the health and strength of Yang Yoon-Mo is recovering and that soon your body will be restored.

Your mind has always been amazingly strong! You are both very brave and courageous and inspiring people.

We hope that the prison authorities are treating you well and with the respect you deserve.

In peace and love

Lindis Percy and Laila Packer

Joint Coordinators

CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES – CAAB UK

www.caab.org.uk

John Goss

I am so sorry to learn of your imprisonment for taking a stand in protection of Jeju Island. Your efforts to stop the advance of US military occupation is inspirational. I pray for your release.

Agneta Norberg, Swedish Peace Council

I am so sorry to learn of your imprisonment for taking a stand in protection of Jeju Island. Your efforts to stop the advance of US military occupation is inspirational.

I pray for your release. We in Swedish Peace Council,Sweden, want to express our SOLIDARITY and support for Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo in their just and fair struggle against the US marine base in Gangjeong village.

We also want to express our disgust against the jailing of these two honest persons! We condemn SAMSUNGS COOPERATION IN US WARPREPARATIONS in SouthKorea.

We say: Stay firm! We are with you in our thoughts!

Agneta Norberg, Swedish Peace Council

Carole from Luxemburg

Dear Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo,

From far away Luxemburg I am following your plight, courage and fight against injustices!

I have great respect for what you do! With more people with your courage this would be a better and juster world!

I can not do much here in Luxemburg to help, but talk about the fight in Gangjeong to everyone I meet.

You are an inspiration!

Carole from Luxemburg

April 9, 2013
Two reverends Joining the suffering of Yang Yoon-Mo and Gureombi Rock

Rev. Kim Hong-Sool, Busan SPARK/ Image provided by Rev. Kim Hee-Yong. For more photos, see here.

Rev. Kim Hong-Sool, representative of Busan, SPARK, and Rev. Kim Hee-Yong, Gwangju, have taken a fast prayer meeting in solidarity with the sufferings of Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo and Gureombi Rock in front of the Jeju prison from March 26 to 29, 2013, during the Passion week according to the Christian faith before Easter.

Rev. Kim Hee-Yong, Gwangju (Image provided by Rev. Kim Hee-Yong)

Pat Cunningham, a Columban Father said on March 26, “A wonderful expression of solidarity with Prof. Yang as he begins the recovery process back to full health! I pray this week as we remember the sufferings and deep humiliation that Jesus suffered at the hands of his oppressors and the subsequent humiliation of being put on trial and executed as a common criminal despite being an innocent man we pray that no more violence and injustice will be visited on the brave peace makers in Gangjeong village! As people of hope and people of the resurrection we pray that justice will flow like a mighty stream once again and that the village of Gangjeong will return to its rightful custodians-the villagers and not the navy!”

It is told that, when the two visited Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo on the last day, Yang said to them, “I have been lonely to be alone, but was encouraged to hear that you were suffering with me outside. Let’s please gather power together.”

In the press conference ending their fasts, they demanded release of the political prisoners for opposition activities against the Jeju naval base construction, retraction of fine sentence, and construction stop.

In their statement to the citizens and Island people, they stated that it is the crucifixion of this era that there are the imprisonments of the villagers and peace activists who have peacefully made efforts to stop the naval base construction in Gangjoeng and the reality that a community that has lived peacefully from its ancestors is moaning.

They explained that “From the heart to join the pain of the Gureombi Rock though it is a small gesture, we came here to the site of suffering, the Jeju Prison, where Yang Yoon-Mo has carried out decisive action with 52 days’ fast.”

They scolded that “the war is a monster feeding itself with human blood. The humiliating activity to hand over here to the battle field of another country is a shameful deed that is nothing to do with peace and development. The naval base that is constructed destroying the nature and community is not self-reliant defense but [Korea] will be a consumption country for the war material–production corporations and their trash site.”

Press conference ending the four days fast and prayer for the stop of Jeju military base and for the release of Prof. Yang. . .”War cannot be justified for any reasons nor any causes. . .as it is a monster living as eating human blood.” From the left, Rev. Kim Hong-sul, representative of Busan SPARK, and Rev. Kim Hee-yong, representative of Gwangju Citizen Center. . .They have fasted in a tent in front of Jeju prison for the past 4 days from March 26 during the Passion week. (image/ caption provided by Regina Pyon)

Saying on Park Sung-Soo (38), a peace activist that chose a prison labor rather than fines of 1,500,000 KRW, that “a dedicated activist has entered the prison choosing hardships,” they urged to release all the prisoners and retract heavy fine sentences.

They bowed saying that “more than 70 % of the Northwest Youth League that massacred people during the Jeju 4·3 were Christians. Even though we are not representing them, we would like to pay bows of repentance to the Jeju Island people and Gangjeong villagers from the heart to repent our sins.”

Two reverends bow on March 29 (Image source: Headline Jeju, March 29, 2013)

In their ending prayer, mayor Knag Dong-Kyun and chairman Go Gwon-Il joined the event.

‘Trouble is not coming to us but it is for our approaching to it_by Rev. Kim Hee-Yong, March 26, 2013.’ Messages on the wire fence of the Jeju prison (Image source: Jeju Sori, March 26, 2013)

(Summary by Regina Pyon and Sung-Hee Choi)

March 30, 2013
Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo’s Ends Prison Fast at 52 Days

Update from Ishle Yi Park on March 24 : See the underneath.

Image source/ Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo will end his 52 days long hunger strike on March 24 on Sunday. Eight representatives of SPARK (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea) peace organization and Fr. Mun Jeong-hyon visited Prof. Yang to Jeju prison on March 19 and pleaded to stop the fast. In a meeting room specially provided to see him face to face, representatives persuaded him and he finally promised to start to eat light gruel from Monday, March 25. This visit was made out of people’s earnest wishes to have Pro. Yang stop the fast.

On the other hand, Rev. Kim Hong-sul(chair of SPARK Busan branch) and Rev. Kim Hee-yong from Gwangju, will do overnight 4 days fast prayer in front of Jeju prison from March 26 to 29 demanding the release of Prof. Yang and stop of Jeju naval base. Both of them also have visited Prof. Yang on March 7 and persuaded Prof. Yang to end the fast expressing their solidarity action at Jeju prison. (Regina Pyon)

Free Yang Yoon-Mo!

Letter to Yang Yoon-Mo:

Yang Yoon-Mo (No. 301)
Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City, Jeju Island, Korea

………………………………………………………

Here is Prof. Yang’s oral statement on March 23 ending his fast on March 24. The visitors to him on the day dictated his words to share them with the people in the world. You can see the original Korean script, here.

As I think that many people suffer from my fast, I don’t want to transfer them suffering any more.

I have taken fast to urge people concern with Gangjeong, to inform them on disappointing National Assembly, thoughtless Ministry of National Defense, and innocent villagers and activists oppressed by the judicature.

I consider those have become enough informed. And I accepted earnest request by Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyon, mayor Kang Dong-Kyun and representing group.

There will be no more fast in my life. Even though I stop fast, my struggle for peace will not stop.

I think I would live by 90 years old (laughter). So I state on my permanent struggle for the remaining 30 years. I will strive for demilitarizing the Island for life and peace.

While I am here in prison, I will return many of your favor and encouragement.

As a peace and unification worker, I will show myself, Yang Yoon-Mo, as a peace activists and movie critic.

I pay gratitude to the concerns for me by elementary school students, parents, Catholic brothers & sisters and protestant devotees and to the letters full of passion for peace, via mail and internet.

Since I am not forgetting those blessings, I think my decision to stop fast is good

I am grateful to all the messages of support and friendship by distinguished scholars, intellectuals, peace activists and artists from the United States, Australia, Okinawa and Japan, France, Nepal etc.

( * You may see the messages from Noam Chomsky, Benj, Okinawa, and Japan )

To return your concern, I intend for my complete change. I will exercise hard to strengthen my abdominal muscles (laughter).

I especially thank more than 24 days’ solidarity fast by a Korean woman in Hawai’i.

( * Ishle Yi Park is a poet and caring mother. See the bottom of here)

I deeply thank her to take a spiritual response as an artist, despite my shallow idea and practice. Since I have received undeserved love, I will strive more for the world of peace, human rights and love.

Otherwise, I thank two men, Reverend Kim Hong-Soul and Reverend Kim Hee-Young for their solidarity fast from March 26 to 29. The two are my true friends and artists, and holly friends that I’ve met in the world of peace. I thank their friendship and will not disappoint them.

The peace of Jeju is the peace of Asia. It contributes for the peace of the world. The agenda of peace is the discourse of the world.

Image source: Ishle Yi Park

From Ishle Yi Park on March 24, 2013 (Fwd)

Thank you so much for this update, sister! I am so happy and relieved to know that Professor Yang Yoon-Mo has ended his fast and is on his way back to good health. I prayed for him often and am in deep admiration of his actions, his principles, and his heart.

I must tell you all that I fasted for seven days, but then my milk ran dry and my daughter cried for more (I am still nursing), so I ended my fast early for her. I don’t want to take credit for more than I am capable of…I want you and the other activists to know this, because to me it is incredible how strong Professor’s heart, mind, and spirit are to endure for so long. He is truly a man whose spirit I admire and love, and I love the people of Jejudo. Wish I could have done more.

I did write a statement of solidarity that asks the powers that be to free Professor Yang Yoon Mo and halt the construction of the naval base, and had it signed by over 30 activists, artists and citizens of Hawai’i ~ any suggestions on who would be the most effective people to send it to? Will try to get more people to sign it before I send it.

In terms of updates ~ any news on when he will be freed, or is he in prison indefinitely? Please let me know. Will continue to keep Jejudo and the Professor in my heart and prayers. And thank you and all the peace activists engaged in this movement for your positive, conscious actions and your huge hearts. The world is a better place because of you. God bless and Aloha.

Han Sarang,

Ishle Yi Park

RE: Thanks so much, Ishle Yi Park. Prof. Yang has got the court sentence of 18 months on Feb. 1. Please see here.

Photo provided by Rev. Kim Hee-Yong/ Photo of Mr. Kim Hong-Soul (front), Mr. Kim Hee-Yong(back left ) and Gangjeong village Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun (back right)

March 24, 2013
Prof. Noam Chomsky’s message for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

Photo by Choi Kyung-Joon, Ohmynews, May 29, 2012

The Korean media, Hankyoreh, a prominent center-left media, Voice of People, a leading alternative media and Headline Jeju, a leading internet media, Jeju, reported on March 18, 2013 that Prof. Noam Chomsky sent a message for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo via Simone Chun, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Suffolk University.

It is Prof. Chomsky’s 2nd supporting message for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo, following 2012 when Prof. Yang was imprisoned for the 3rd time and took more than 42 days’ prison fast. Prof. Noam Chomsky has been a strong supporter for the Jeju Struggle against the naval base and has sent a message during the last Presidential election as well.

We so thank him and Simone Chun, Ph. D to take solidarity for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo.

The below is Noam Chomsky’s message forwarded by Simone Chun. His message was written on March 16, 2013

‘I understand that Professor Yang Yoon-Mo is still imprisoned for maintaining his opposition to the construction of the Jeju naval base, and is now at the 44th day of his hunger strike in protest against the base and his sentencing. I would like to urge, once again, that Professor Yang be immediately released, and free to continue his just and courageous protests against the base on Jeju Island, designated an “island of peace.”

Noam Chomsky‘

Simone Chun, Ph. D with her graduate students in the human rights class being solidarity with Yang Yoon-Mo (Photo fwd by Simone Chun, Ph. D)

March 21, 2013
Update on Yang Yoon-Mo: People appeal Prof. Yang to stop fast, concerning his health

Photo by Andy Duk-Jin Kim on March 15, 2013/ People visiting Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo in the Jeju Prison

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo hit 45th prison fast day as of March 17, 2013.

On March 15, the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base dispatched some representing people to the Jeju Prison. They are Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon, Fr. Mun Kyu-Hyun, mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, Mr. Kim Duk-Jin (Secretary of the Catholic Human Rights Committee) and Jang Hana (National Assembly Woman). The group urgently appealed Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo to stop his fast, very concerning about his deteriorating health.

Prof. Yang has been fasting since the evening of Feb. 1 when he was directly arrested from the court. He has demanding the cancellation of the whole fraud of Government result report on deceptive simulation and revocation of the Jeju naval base project.

Jang Hana, the National Assembly woman told Yang that the Special Verification Committee of the Democratic Party would fight on the matters on the fraud simulation.

As 70 day period ended on March 11 and Governor Woo Keun-Min signed an agreement with the government on the Civilian-Military Joint Usage on March 14 (see the Korean articles on it and whole protocol here in Korean language)and , it is expected that the new Park Geun-Hye government would accelerate the naval base construction with false promise of local development.

It is known that Prof. Yang did not make a clear answer but said that he would seriously consider it in the group’s meeting with him specially given for 30 minutes on March 15.

Kim Duk-Jin, Secretary of the Catholic Human Rights Committee delivered the condition of Prof. Yang, saying, “he became tremendously thin at first glance. He looked very energy-less but seemed to endure by mental power.”

The group will visit Prof. Yang either on Tuesday (19) or Wednesday (20) again.

Currently Ishle Yi Park, a mother, poet and activist (Poet Laureate of Queens, 2004-2007), Hawai’i has been taking solidarity fast with Yang Yoon-Mo. If it is right, she hits her 18^th day fast as of March 17. She ‘plans on fasting as long as Professor Yang is fasting.’ (See the bottom of here)

We very concern both of their health and strongly hope they would stop fast.

March 17, 2013
International Solidarity Messages for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

Update: See the photos on the candle vigil for Yang Yoon-Mo in front of the Jeju prison, here, here and here

Update: See the photos of solidarity for Yang Yoon-Mo in Okinawa, see here.

………………………………………………….

International Solidarity Messages for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

(Feb. 11 to 14, 2013)

The Gangjeong Village International Team has requested the peacemakers in the world to send the solidarity message for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo with about 100words, through the website and facebooks. Here are the messages collected from Feb. 11 to 14. You can see the Korean translations here. Thanks so much, friends to send the messages. Thanks, Mr. Kang Dong-Seok, and Ms. Park Youn-Ae, for translation.

# Alphabet order by last name

Catherine Christie

Dear Professor Yang,
From the U.N. Environmental Sabbath Program:

We join with the earth and with each other,
To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air

We join with the earth and with each other,
To renew the fields
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures

We join with the earth and with each other,
To celebrate the seas
To rejoice in the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars

We join with the earth and with each other,
To recreate the human community
To promote peace and justice
To remember our children of the earth

We join with the earth and with each other
We join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery:
For the healing of the earth and the renewal of all life.

Professor Yang – you have showed us this prayer in your living and acting for Gangjeong land and sea. Thank you. –

Catherine Christie, Seoul

Coco (Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, United States)

We invite you to sing these lightly revised words from Les Miserables as Mr. Yang liked the movie and the book so much:

Will you join with us today?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes…

Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, sings with you as we hold Mr. Yang in our thoughts during his courageous hunger strike. May his release from his unjust imprisonment be swift.

(Coco on behalf of the Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, USA)

Ron Engel

‘Dear Professor Yang Yoon-Mo,
We have never met in person but it is clear that we have met in spirit.
When you say your faith is to save the things of beauty in the world we understand and share this with you.
We visited Gangjeong Village last September and we beheld there a thing of beauty that should be preserved.
We tried to bring this to the attention of the world through the World Conservation Congress with the help of wonderful people like.
We revere your courage and commitment on behalf of the beauty of the people and place of Gangjeong Village and stand in solidarity with you.

Ron and Joan’

# Ron Engel has greatly supported the Gangjeong village and made a beautiful speech for Gagjeong on Sept. 15 during the 2012 WCC Jeju. You can hear Ron’s speech on Sept. 15, here.

Bruce Gagnon

‘Professor Yang:

I am once again deeply touched by your determined stand to hunger strike while in jail to call attention to the illegal and unjust “laws” that protect the destruction of nature so an insane and provocative Navy base in Gangjeong can be built. How can good people go to jail for trying to protect nature while people who destroy the future are not charged with any crimes?

I can assure you that I will do all that I can to help educate people in the US and around the world about the struggle to stop the Navy base.

Please know that you are not alone in your effort. Please take good care of yourself. You are important to all of us.

For justice and peace,

Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
globalnet@mindspring.com
www.space4peace.org
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. ~Henry David Thoreau’

Andrew Jackson

I can’t think of a more perfect example of an ‘unharmful gentle soul misplaced inside a jail’ than Yang Yoon Mo. He has already been imprisoned for the struggle for peace and nature on Jeju, and has suffered greatly due to his hunger strikes in prison. The ridiculous South Korean law against ‘obstructing business’ is designed to frustrate legitimate protest, and in Gangjeong peacemakers can be picked off at will for huge fines or spells in prison.

One of my favourite videos about the Gangjeong struggle is Yang Yoon Mo interviewed at The Gurumbi rock. In this long interview his words are full of intelligence, wisdom, morality, justice and love. He is overflowing with the human qualities that can not even be traced among the greedy, the blind, the ignorant and the corrupt who are bringing this disaster to Jeju. His return to jail, following appealing the terms of his probation, is the result of spite, and possibly insanity, in one judge. The decision must be reversed.

Last year I was fortunate to visit Gangjeong for a few days in summer. I can’t count the number of wonderful, kind, loving people I met. I also met Yang Yoon Mo, but it was not until my last night in Gangjeong that I realised this quiet, dignified, seemingly elderly man, who I had greeted daily at the destruction site gates and who had sat silently as we drank rice wine outdoors with villagers in the evening, was the youthful-looking middle aged guy in the Gurumbi interview. His 70 day hunger strike seemed to have changed his physique and appearance. I was pleased I could express my admiration to him and receive words of kindness from this wonderful man.

The news of Yang Yoon Mo’s imprisonment is simply terrible. His renewed hunger strike is something I wish was not happening. But one can only respect his decision and pray that liberty and health is restored swiftly to this ‘unharmful gentle soul’.

FREE YANG YOON MO!!

Andrew Jackson

London

Masami Kawamura

Message from Okinawa to Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

The Okinawan islanders’ hearts are broken to hear that you are in prison again.
We send our solidarity to you, Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo, brave activist, struggling for the peace, environment and justice of Jeju.

While we light candles in Okinawa together with Gangeong people on February 15, we believe, Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo, you yourself are the candle which shows us the right direction to move on to.
You are not alone. We stand with you.

Masami Kawamura
Okinawa Outreach

Renie Wong Lindley

‘Dear Yang Yoon-Mo,

I understand why the Gureombi Rock is so beautiful to you. I too love rocks. In California I have hiked far above the timberline where there is only sun, rock and water and where the energy between those simple forces make a profusion of life happen. Our lives belong to these forces. You are not misled. You are led by your heart, your soul.
I will think of you every day and hold you in the Light.

Renie Lindley
Quaker, Honolulu Friends Meeting.’

Okamoto Yukiko

日本語で書くことをお許し下さい。

ヤン先生が早く解放されることを強く望んでいます。
私は、動画で拝見した、
ヤン先生がクロンビ岩の上で静かに語っている姿を、
いつも鮮やかに思い描いています。

済州島の海軍基地計画は、
沖縄での新しい米軍基地の建設と同様、
アメリカの世界戦略の一環です。
済州島の苦しみは、私たち沖縄の苦しみであり、
済州島の闘いは、私たち沖縄の闘いです。

沖縄では、知事をはじめ全ての市町村長、議会、住民の反対にもかかわらず、
日米政府は辺野古に基地を造ろうとあがき、
米軍の新型輸送機MV22オスプレイを強行配備してきました。

私たちは、沖縄で、頑張ります。
平和な日々を取り戻すまで、共にあることを願っています。

岡本由希子okamoto yukiko
（沖縄平和市民連絡会）

Judy Robbins, Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, USA

To the people of Gangjeong Village and Jeju, Island of Peace.
The Peninsula Peace & Justice Committee of Blue Hill, Maine, USA, sends greetings and solidarity for your struggle for justice and peace. The courage and love of Mr. Yang inspires the world to be strong and to sustain. We light a candle for you in the 15th day of your fast. Thank you.

Peter Simpson

My name is Peter Simpson, and I am an associate professor at Okinawa International University. As a teacher, and a responsible human being, I feel it is my duty to raise awareness of the environmental crisis facing our planet, and to make sure that we leave a legacy of peace, equal rights and environmental justice. For this reason I support Professor Yang Yoon-Mo’s responsible action in trying to prevent the destruction of Gureombi and support the campaign for his immediate release from jail.

Yuzi Tanaka

私は昨年、済州島に訪れました。
そこで米軍基地問題に向き合う済州の皆さんを知りました。
東アジアを緊張させる米軍基地も必要無いし、
済州の自然を大切にして欲しい。

そしてYang Yoon-Moさんを解放してください。

Last year, I visited the island of Jeju.
I know all of you facing the problem Jeju U.S. military base there.
You also do not need to strain the U.S. military base in East Asia, I want to cherish the nature of Jeju.

Please free up and Mr. Yang Yoon-Mo.

田中　雄二
Yuzi Tanaka

Regis Tremblay

‘Dear Professor Yang;

You have my great admiration for your principled stand against the construction of this base in Gangjeong Village.

I met you while I was in Gangjeong during September of last year. I was there to film a documentary about Jeju and have many images and video clips of you. At the present, I am in post-production of my film and hoping to receive funding from the Sundance Film Fund.

It was only at the end of my stay that I was able to visit the April 3rd Peace Museum. Our mutual friend, Gilchun Koh accompanied me. Until then, I could not understand why everyone, including Bishop Peter Kang were telling me I had to visit the museum in order to understand the protest. Gilchun’s exhibit overwhelmed me with sadness and grief.

I was angry, ashamed, and tearful at what I learned and came home determined to tell the whole story of the American complicity in Jeju and Korea since 1945. The film places the protests against the base in the broader context of the American military expansion in its attempt to encircle China and dominate and control the Pacific Ocean. The protest in Gangjeong represents the modern-day struggle of people around the world against militarism, violence, and the destruction of the environment, no to mention the total disregard for self-determination, human rights, and social justice.

The curator of the museum, with Gilchun’s help, provided me with 8 DVDs packed with archival film, photos, and documents that I will use in my film, including interviews with some of the survivors. I am also using film and photos from the U.S. National Archives and from the Associated Press.

I have already filmed interviews with Bruce Cumings, and Charles Hanley who wrote the book, The Bridge at No Gun Ri. These are very powerful and will add a great deal of credibility to the film. Also, Bruce Gagnon was interviewed about America’s real plans for world domination. It is an expose of the supposed Pax Americana.

I have created a 38 minute rough-cut of the film to apply for a grant from the Sundance Film Fund and to raise money by showing it to small Peace & Justice groups. The reaction is always the same. Some people cry, some express disbelief that their government could be guilty of these crimes, most are angry to learn, and nearly all ask what can they do. That is my hope for the film, that it will motivate people to take action.

Finally, I believe you have become a powerful symbol of the protest through your imprisonments and fasts and I thank you for the example you have set for the entire world.

Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think about you and the people of Gangjeong Village.

Peace to you, Professor Yang and thank you for your witness to peace and justice in the world,

Regis Tremblay
Maine, United States‘

Ana Traynin

‘Dear Prof. Yang,

I was so privileged to join a tour of Gangjeong village with you,
just a few days before they took you away.

Your peaceful yet strong and resilient character, recognition of real
beauty, love of nature and unbending struggle to save both will stay with me forever.

As Utah Phillips said “the degree to which you resist is the degree to which you are free.”

Prof. Yang, your courageous and self-transcending actions in the name of peace, even as the state steals your physical freedom, show the freedom you hold inside. You are a visionary and inspiration to us all.

I send you light and endless positive energy from this crazy world.

In solidarity,

Ana Traynin’

Hideki Yoshikawa

Solidarity Message to Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo from Okinawa:

Outraged by the repeated imprisonment of Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo,
Dismayed by the Korean government’s disregard for human rights and environmental justice,
Still encouraged by Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo’s determination to fight to keep Jeju Island as “the Island of Peace,”
I am sending my solidarity message to Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo and my friends in Jeju.

Hideki Yoshikawa
Citizens’ Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa
Save the Dugong Campaign Center

February 15, 2013
Yang Yoon-Mo will hit 15th day prison fast on Feb. 15

Update: You can see the collection of international solidarity messages upon Yang’s 15th prison fast day, here.

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo who was arrested and imprisoned directly from the court on Feb. 1 hits his 15th prison fast on Feb. 15.

There is a peace candle culture event, praying for the release of Yang Yoon-Mo.

In front of the Jeju Prison, 7 pm, Feb. 15 (Friday), 2013

Hosted by the Gangjeong Village Association and People loving Yang Yoon-Mo

Source: Park Yongsung

If you could, please send a solidarity message for Yang Yoon-Mo no later than Feb. 13

: About 100 words, for the reason of translation, to the Gangjeong village international team (gangjeongintl@gmail.com)

: Update: You can see some solidarity messages in the bottom

You may also write letters to him (Prof. Yang can read Japanese):

Yang Yoon-Mo (No. 301)

Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,

Jeju, the Demilitarized Peace Island, Korea

We thank Coco from the Maine, United States, who sent us a message days ago as the below.

‘Last night our peace and justice group distributed letter writing materials so Mr. Yang should be receiving letters of support soon. We also plan to paint a banner that we’ll carry to all rallies, regardless of the event, in the hopes to get questions from other activists as well as some TV media images. I’ll send a photo once the banner is made.’

Thank you.

…………………………………………………………….

More on Yang Yoon-Mo

A movie critic born in Jeju, summoned to save Beauty

Prof. Yang welcoming the visitors from Okinawa and Japan on the Gureombi Rock on April 2, 2011 (Source)

“I am a (movie) critic. The role of a critic is to save the beauty to the end of one’s life. I have been enthusiastic to be voluntary to promote wonderful movies. Some people who could not understand me used to say whether I am misled by heroism or not. However, it is my faith to save the beautiful things.”

It was Feb. 8, his 7^th prison fast day since his imprisonment on Feb. 1. He told his four visitors to the prison. The visitors included Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Mr. Park Suk-Jin, Mr. Park Seung-Ho.

Prof. Yang looked peaceful and bright despite his status. The Gureombi Rock must be the venerable beauty for him that he is willing to pay his life.

In fact, his daily fast is carried out from hard resolution. According to Park Hee-Sou, Chairman of the Island Provincial Council, who visited Prof. Yang in the jail along with other two Council representatives and strongly recommended him stop of fast on Feb. 5, Prof. Yang said:

” I hear the sound of the Gureombi Rock being broken by construction(destruction) even sleep during the night. Even though I suffer every day, I am taking fast from the resolution that I have to inform the people the fact that the naval base construction itself is by evil law. If I spend one year and six months without difficulty, it means I acknowledge that I committed crimes.” ( Source)

However, it is true that his health has been rapidly weakened after the long time fasts of more than 74 days (including about 60 days’ prison fast) and 42 days (in jail, too) in 2011 and 2012 each. Many people hope him stop the fast from the worry of his health.

Photo by Kang Bang-Sou/ It was the inside of Prof. Yang’s tent on the Gureombi Rock from 2009 to 2011, until the navy forcefully set up the fence around the coast on Sept. 2, 2011. For the source, click here or here.

Prof. Yang who used to work in the villagers’ farming house in the village, April 10, 2010 (Source)

A movie critic who inherited the trauma of 4.3 incident

Prof. Yang protesting against naval base construction, lying on the tetra pod frames in the construction site on April 4, 2011, the next day of commemoration day of 4.3 incident. (Source)

As a Jeju native, he is personally connected to the April 3^rd incident (massacre and people’s uprising in the Jeju Island from 1947 to 1954). The younger brother of his grandmother (mother’s side) was one of the six victims killed by the bullets from the police governed by the US Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) on March 1^st, 1947. It was the commemorating day of people’s independence movement in 1919 against the Japanese imperialism from which the Korea was liberated on Aug. 15, 1945. The incident on March 1st, 1947 sparkled the period of the 4.3 incident afterward.

Prof. Yang was also told that his grandfather of mothers’ side was killed, too, during the 4. 3 incident. He has said that he could not forget those stories throughout his life and those stories must have become the source of his current fierce struggle against the war base- building in the Jeju.

According to the result of the investigation of the truth by the National Committee for Investigation of the Truth about the Jeju April 3^rd Incident, the March 1 incident occurred when people’s complaints against the USAMGIK that governed South part of Korea from Sept. 9, 1945 to Aug. 15, 1948 were gradually spreading, while people’s expectation from liberation had become frustrated by the USAMGIK that allowed the succession of the police during the Japanese occupation under its governing.

The report reads (summarized and translated):

The US Army Military government recognizing that the commemoration rally on the 3.1 movement happening in the Jeju Island was led by the left wing [..] did not permit people’s street march and demanded them to change the rally venue to the Jeju west air field. However, about 30,000 crowd including the 17,000 people organized by the Namrodang (Workers Party of South Korea) and People’s Committee [..] etc. gathered near the North Jeju Elementary school. About 430 policemen including 330 from the Jeju and 100 from the main land carried security activities nearby.

After the event, the crowd started street march. At the time, a child was hit by a horse of a ranger. When the ranger was to continue to proceed whether he knew it or not, the crowd nearby him, infuriated to see the accident, ran into the site. The aiding armed policemen, mistaken that the crowd are to attack the police station, fired toward them. Six were killed and another six got heavy injuries.

The USAMGIK who did not know the whole truth of such firing incident asserted later that it was by self-defense, despite its acknowledgement of the wrongdoings. It also began to arrest the rally event staffs and students, defining the incident as the ‘incident of the protesters attacking the police station.’

The total civilian-government strike occurred from March 10, with the start from the Jeju Island government. About 40,000 people which are about 95 % of the whole workers from 23 institutes (which are mostly administrative institutes excluding the police and judiciary institutes), 105 schools, post offices, electric companies in the Jeju joined the strike. Even about 20 % of the Jeju police also joined the strike.

The Police started to roundup the strike-related personnel from March 15. During the process, another firing incident happened on March 17 when the crowd demanded the release of the prisoners. The police arrested about 500 people by April 10. Among the arrested, 66 policemen were laid-off and those men’s posts were replaced by those belonging to the West North Young People’s Association which was the right wing subjugation group that existed by the Korean War.The confrontation and conflict between the Jeju Island people and police and such group under the UAMGIK were more increased.

In the intelligence report by the UAMGIK on Match 19, 1947, the UAMGIK considered about 70 % of the Jeju Island people as the left wing or its sympathizers.

(Source)

Regarding the 4.3 incident, please also refer to “U.S. And South Korea Assault an Idlylic Island: Not For the First Time.” By S. Brian Wilson-Veterans for Peace. You may also refer to the ‘Summary of the Report’s Conclusion,’ here.

It is tragic that the Jeju Island, designated as the Global Peace Island by the South Korean government on Jan. 27, 2005, to overcome the pain of 4.3, is currently suffering again from the history still present. Prof. Yang bears the history of Jeju in the past and present in his own soul.

Drawing on the incident of March 1st, 1947, by Kang Yo-Bae, Jeju artist. The drawing is included in his famous drawing book on 4.3 incident (Source)

Jeju Artist Koh Gilchun’s works on 4.3 massacre and people’s uprising, displayed in the 4.3 Peace Park (Source)

Archive photo on the 4.3 incident (source)

February 15, 2013
Free Yang Yoon-Mo!: Jailed Movie Critic, Yang Yoon-Mo, Starts Hunger Strike
Update (March 24) Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo’s oral statement ending 52 days’ prison fast

Update (Feb. 11): Yang Yoon-Mo will hit 15th day prison fast on Feb. 15: More on Yang Yoon-Mo

Source: Paco Booyah
1. Yang Yoon-Mo, a movie critic, was arrested directly from the court
Yang Yoon-Mo, a movie critic and one of the prominent opponents against the Jeju naval base project was directly arrested and jailed from the court on Feb. 1, 2013 . It is his 4^th time imprisonment. He is the one who has been jailed the most numerous times during the struggle against the base project by now. (see the below for the details) He was also one of the subjects of the individual complaints to the UN Human Rights Council in 2012.

He is currently in prison and you may write encouraging and supporting letters to him:

Yang Yoon-Mo(No. 301)

Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2dong, Jeju City, Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea

(Another prisoner, Park Seung-Ho (No. 290) hit 142nd day in prison as of Feb. 3, 2013. Update: Park Seung-Ho was released on Feb. 5, after 144 days’ imprisonment. )

The criminal department No. 4 of the higher court in Jeju (Judge: Oh Hyun-Kyu), annulling the 1^st court decisions of probation etc. on him, sentenced 1 year and six months imprisonment against him who has been charged of obstruction of business etc (Refer to the Korean articles). Such court arrest has not occurred before his case in the struggle to stop the base project. He also became the first opponent against the base project who got an actual prison sentence. See also here.

The cases of the 1^st trials have been annexed in the trial sentence of appeal on Feb. 1. Those are the cases of the 1^st court decisions on June 1, 2011 (After the arrest on April 16, 2011, charged of obstruction of business, violation on the punishment on the violence Act etc. The court decision on him was 1 year and six months imprisonment with two year suspension), on March 20, 2012 (After the arrest on Jan. 30, 2012, charged of obstruction of business etc. The court decision on him was 10 months imprisonment with two year suspension), and on the charge of violation on the Public Water Act ( That was for a sit-in tent in the Gureombi Rock. He was sentenced ‘no guilty,’ in this case)

Given that it was a decision on his appeal aginst the 1^st court decision, such an unusual and harsh sentence made people confirm that it was a political retaliation not only against him whose health is already weak for the protest fasts twice in 2011 (more than 74 days) and 41 days (2012) but also the whole opposition movement people against the Jeju naval base project, especially after the government manipulated its political ground to push the base project with a false report on the government-supervised simulation ‘show’ on Jan. 31. It is also a violence that preludes merciless oppression on human rights and environmental destruction.

Source: Paco Booyah

Accidentally Feb. 1 was his birthday and all of his friends and colleagues were shocked, sad, and infuriated. Dr. Song Kang-Ho has been also arrested on his birthday on April 1, 2012 and got the court decision of imprisonment on the anniversary of 4.3, same year.

Amazingly the notification letter by the Jeju district court on Feb. 1, 2013 is written for the reason of imprisoning him only in one line that reads that ‘the accused has a reason to run away.’ It is a serious debasement on a man who has put his fate on the Gurembi Rock and a film critic who was acknowledged with a ‘special art award’ from the Jeju People’s Artist Federation on Dec. 28, 2012, for his actual participation in history in person (Korean article). It is also immoral and unjust attitude for the South Korean oligarchies including the court to patch up their baseless accusation on him with a line.

Photo by Cho Sung-Bong (Source)

Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil who was released on Dec. 12 after 98 days’ imprisonment criticized the court decision against Yang on Feb. 1, by citing the below, which shows the contrast between it and Constitution.

Oh Hyun-Kyu, the judge who sentenced Yang and imprisoned him from the court reads: “The accused has made a setback in the national policy project by his activity such as obstruction of construction etc from his own judgement that the naval base construction is a violation of law. Even though it is not a crime to take an individual interest, [the court] cannot find his will of self-examination even during the repeated process of arrests, imprisonments, and release son him. Therefore, a prison sentence is inevitable.”

However, the article 19 of the Constitution reads: “All the citizens have the freedom of consciousness.”

Also, the ruling by the Constitutional Court of Korea on April 25, 2002 reads:

“The consciousness that the Constitution intends to protect means an urgent and concrete consciousness as a strong and sincere call from the heart that the value of one’s own personal existence will be destroyed if not acting as such, in judging the right and wrong on a task. Even though [a court] can legally punish an “action,” it should not force in any case to change one’s faith with the mobilization of direct or indirect forceful methods. It should not enforce one the idea on the observation of Republic of Korea law or confession on it against one’s own faith, either.”

2. Yang Yoon-Mo started a hunger strike again.

Photo collection by Park Suk-Jin/ “ I hear the scream of the Gureombi Rock, sitting beside the main gate of the construction gate.. I can’t stand myself even though that is what I can do…” Prof. Yang has sat in front of the construction gates many times after his release in 2012. He has always felt the Gureombi Rock like his own body. For more collection of his photos, see here.

More sad news on his decision on prison hunger strike was delivered by a peace activist, Kim Young-Jae on Feb. 2, the next day:

“We just came out from the Jeju Prison where we made a visit to Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo.

Prof. Yang said he would enter fast soon to claim the nullification on the government report on the result of simulation (* Jan. 31) and to revoke the Jeju naval base project. Even though Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon and chairman Go Gwon-Il made every sort to stop him, he was so resolute to say he would continue fast (* He made a fast in the evening of the day of his arrest, Feb. 1). He says that he will not go out prison unless he dies.

He says he is no guilty and he cannot acknowledge his imprisonment because it is a compromise.

He and all of us were wet in the edges of the eyelids. He also said he was so sorry to all of us to make us concern about him. We so concern about his health.”

(Kim Young-Jae, Feb. 2 around noon)

Prof. Yang Yoon-No on his 29th fast day in jail on May 4, 2011 when he held more than 74 days’ hunger strike.

3. We are all Yang Yoon-Mo!

Source: Park Yongsung/There will be a press conference on the court decision against him on Feb. 4 and a candle vigil in front of the City hall, Jeju City, at 7 pm on Feb. 5.

By imprisoning him who is like a symbol of the Gureombi Rock and who has brought the fire of the struggle throughout the nation and world, the oligarchies intend to oppress the opposition struggle against the naval base project. They also want to block the Jeju from being the Demilitarized Peace Island but to put it under the corporation monopoly capital like Samsung and military.

If Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo is the Gureombi Rock, we are all Yang Yoon-Mo. The oligarchies lost. We believe in that the fire of the struggle against the naval base project will grow nationwide and globally.

Lindis Percy, a co-representative of the CAAB, UK says:

‘What an inspirational and courageous man – we will light a candle when we gather each Tuesday (now for 13 years) outside the main gates of …NSA Menwith Hill – here in the North of England – we are thinking of him and hold hands in solidarity with him.…’

Photo by Navi/ Yang Yoon-Mo with a vest written of ‘no naval base,’ in the nationwide-traveling candle light vigil in Haenam, Jeolla province, in July, 2012.

In the last part of Dungree’s video, ‘Why Yang Yoon-Mo went to the Prison,’ prof. Yang says on the Gureombi Rock (translated). The video starts with the subtitle that reads, “Yang Yoon-Mo is the Gureombi Rock, Gangjeong.” The title of the background song is ‘a beautiful man.’

“If we can enter the Gureombi Rock again, we can pick and eat mulberry leaves and garlic. If we eat Bangpungcho (a kind of herb) and mugwort there in the new spring, our bodies become strong. Those made me strong. I can do even 100 days’ fast, beyond 70 days’ fast last year. The source of such energy is nothing but the Gureombi. But if the Gureombi is destroyed, I think my summon as a movie critic also ends. The truth is that we should stop the naval base so that the Gureombi becomes a spiritual place for the world. Please give us a chance that the Gureombi can be reevaluated as a cultural treasure. The naval base construction entering into the Island is an illegal construction destroying the spirit of Constitution and legalism.”

Prof. Yang Yoon Mo has not responded five police calls before his imprisonment. He seems to have decided prison life again.

His words on the Gureombi Rock in 2011 can be heard here.

Regis Tremblay who is making a film on the Jeju made a film on Yang as soon as he heard the news on Yang’s arrest on Feb. 1, 2013. You can see it here.

Here is another video by Kim Minsou, a young activist and artist who made the video upon Yang’s arrest on April 6, 2011. Kim met Prof. Yang for the first time in 2009 when Yang was living in the tent of the Gureombi Rock where he was friendly with the villagers, especially with uncle, Kim Jong-Hwan who was also imprisoned for more than three months in 2011. Yang is very gentle and child-like but he is also very resolute in the struggles.

You can see some beauty of the Gureombi Rock and Yang’s life there in the video.
For Kim, Yang is like a teacher and father.

(Post information by Kim Bok-Chul who was released on Jan. 3, 2013 after 206 days in prison)

Below is a copy of a poem that has been put in Yang’s vigil tent in the Joongduk coast, Gangjeong village. The title is “Sisterhood.” It is a poem of love between the Joongduk Sea, the land-filled-planned naval base area, and a man who wants to save the Sea. The writer is a woman who calls the man as her brother-in-law and the sea, as her sister.

Sisterhood

She cries whenever it is a deep night. The Joongduk Sea.

Laying down Gangjeong in her belly who has been scratched and wounded

The Joongduk sea cries lulling and calming down it

Have you ever heard her crying sound

My sister, Joongduk Sea

With tears let inside her

Uh-Ho-Ii Oh-Ho-Ii

A man who has been captured by that tears

Has successfully recognized her being in a serious illness

Crouching his body in a small common bed

Being happy since he is with her

Hei Hei, my innocent brother-in-law

I

Offering a bowl of warm rice to them

Wanted to honor their love

After his arrest on April 6, 2011, the poem was handwritten in a big paper and put on the way of the Gureombi Rock. so that the tourists and even the construction workers could read the poem.

………………………………………………………….

The summary of his imprisonments

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo, born in Jeju, 1956, a former President of the Korean Association of Film Critics.

2008: Started to live in Gangjeong village after the participation in the Gangjeong villagers’ Island pilgrim for seven nights and eight days.

2009: Started to live in the tent that would be nicknamed as the ‘Joongdeoksa(Jeongdeok temple) on the Gureombi Rock. He stays there until his arrest in 2011.

2010: Imprisonment by the arrest of Dec. 27, 2010 and release of Jan. 9, 2011.

On Dec. 27, 2010, there was a large size bringing-in of materials for the building of residential houses inside the naval base project building complex, which could be said to be the start of the construction in earnest. All the participants who joined the press conference denouncing it were arrested. All were released on the night, except for Yang Yoon-Mo. He had been charged of obstruction of business for the reason to stop the car of the ex-Minister of National Defense, Kim Tae-Young, on March 20, 2010 and damage on navy public information board. The court decision against him, regarding those incidents, had been 1,900,000 won fine but he did not pay. Upon his arrest on Dec. 27, he was imprisoned due to unpaid fines. Even though Yang expressed his will to compensate the fines by prison labor, villagers and some people gathering money for him, made him released on Jan. 9, 2011.

2011: Violently arrested for the reason that he entered under the construction car, with the charge of obstruction of business. Annexed with other charges such as violence in the other incidents, he was imprisoned for 59 days’ until he was released by the court decision of one year six months imprisonment and two year suspension on June 1. At the time, he made more than 74 days’ hunger strike.

2012: Arrested on Jan. 30. Seeing that the police getting order from the construction company thugs, allowed the construction trucks’ entry at the risk of young female activists’ lives, he was infuriated. At the time, he was very weak in health but entered under a construction truck that was illegally making turn at the corner of a bridge, for the expression of protest against illegal construction. He was arrested under the charge of obstruction of business. He made more than 40 days’ hunger strike until his release on March 20 when he got the court decision of 10 months’ imprisonment and two year suspension.

2013: Arrested and jailed directly from the court on the trial of appeal on Feb. 1, as mentioned above. Since the evening of the day, he began hungers strike in protest of the government’s false report on the result of simulation ‘show,’ on Jan. 31 and for the revocation of the Jeju naval base project. He is called as the Gangjeong, Gureombi itself.

Photo and caption by Choi Hye-Young/ On Dec. 27, 2012, with Dr. Song Kang-Ho and young activist, Kim Min-Sou with guitar. Yang’s dream is to build a ‘ farming film school,’ in the Jeju. He was so moved by the movie, ‘Les Miserable,’ and has been reading the book fully translated. He also said he wants to write a critic not with words but with his life for the remaining of his life.
February 3, 2013
Save Gureombi! Save Yang Yoon-Mo!

Jeju Sori, March 5, 2012 (with a video)
People’s press conference in the morning

On March 5, 2012, the Island governor expressed his position demanding on temporary reservation of the naval base construction (destruction). However, it is very likely that the Seogwipo Police station under the central government scenario would allow the navy to blast the Gureombi rocky coast. People are being intensely organized to fight against the blast on uncertain but coming-soon day. Please pressure more the Island governor Woo Keun-Min. The life of Yang Yoon-Mo who is identified with the Gureombi rocky coast and who hits the 28th prison fast as of March 6 may depend on your help: Please save Gureombi and Yang Yoon-Mo!

(1) Save Gureombi, Save Yang Yoon-Mo!

March 5 began with people’s determined press conference in front of the Seogwipo Police Station around 11 am amid rain drops. It was rainy all day. Villagers and people from the Island, nationwide, and international (Angie Zelter) demanded the authorities to stop the plan on the blast of the Gureombi, to stop construction immediately and appealed to save Yang Yoon-Mo who has been told that he would cut even water and bits of salt if the coast begins to destroyed in earnest by the naval base destruction. (For photos/ video, see an attached photo and those in the links)

(2) The Island governor demanded a temporary reservation on the naval base construction (destruction) and ‘fair verification,’ on base layout.

Around 1pm, the Island governor Woo Keun-Min made public his position, in the form of four people’s joint statement. The statement was titled ‘press conference statement by the four demanding a temporary reservation on the construction [of naval base] for fair verification.’

The four are, beside governor Woo: Oh Choong-Jin, chairman of the Jeju provincial council, Kim Dong-Wan, chairman of the Jeju branch of the Saenuri Party (* former Grand National Party, the current ruling party of South Korea) and Kim Jae-Yoon, chairman of the Jeju branch of the Democratic Unity Party

You can see the whole original Korean script, here:

The point of the statement is, in a word, that the four cannot accept the position of the Central government that currently enforces the Jeju naval base construction. The four’s main demand is a ‘fair verification’ that should be a prior task before any continuing construction (destruction) regarding the current controversy on the fatally flawed base (harbor & bay) layout, on the premise of the so called ‘beautiful tourism port for mixed civilian-military use,’ where free entry & exit of the 150,000 cruise are guaranteed.

While the villagers, of course, oppose the idea of so called ‘beautiful tourism port for mixed civilian-military use,’ which is only a fake, the governor’s such statement was positively interpreted by many people in the sense that it ‘provided a ground for the peaceful settlement of the naval base issue though being late, since it was declared amidst impending matter of the blast of the Gureombi rock.’ (A part of the comment by the United Progressive Party, March 5)

A Jeju media interprets such Island government and politicians’ position that the central government has brought upon itself by its unreasonable enforcement on naval base construction ignoring even the opinion by local government, not to mention the villagers and Jeju Island people.

(3) Despite the Island government’s position, the navy’s enforcement on the blast on the Gureombi is very likely. More pressure on the governor Woo Keun-Min is indeed needed.

Above all, there is little possibility that the measure authorized by the highest decision frame of the national policy control meeting of the central government, of which the content was stated by the Prime Minister on Feb. 29, following President Lee Myung Bak’s open announcement to enforce the Jeju naval construction (destruction) on Feb. 22, is to be changed.

A bad sign can be glimpsed by the Island governor’s failure to meet the very two- chief of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency (Chung Chul-Soo) and chief of the Seogwipo Police Station (Lee Dong-Min)-who were absent in their offices at the time of the visit by the governor himself and Oh Choong-Jin, chairman of the Island council who had wanted to deliver their faced wish to them to pose on the plan on the blast of the Gureombi.

Chung and Lee, the chiefs of the Jeju province and Seogwipo City police agencies are told to say only later that they would “make a decent decision, (following laws and ordinances) on the matter of allowing [the navy-contracted companies] on the use of gun powders by March 8 (* the police answer-due date for any civilian appeal is given five days, except for weekends. The companies have applied for it on March 2)

(4) The navy-contracted companies have already drilled more than 45 holes in the Gureombi rock to put the gun powders. People are intensely organizing themselves to stop the disaster on the first day of the navy’s conduct of the blast. If carried, the blast is planned to go for five months. People here have to endure very difficult time at least for a month then.

The Seogwipo Police station, after its start on the review on the companies’ application document, entered on field investigation of the naval base construction area in the afternoon of March 5.

According to the Jeju Domin Ilbo:

‘The total amount of the gun powder applied by the navy-contracted companies is 44ton. For the blast, the Samsung C&T will be charged of the 1st construction work area in the land part, while the Daelim Industry and its sub-contracted companies are charged of the 2nd construction work area in the coast.’

The companies are to make the caisson-building area after blast. The caissons of huge cement blocks will be laid on the site of sea-dredging, killing the UNESCO-designated soft corals and the IUCN(International Union of Conservation on Nature) endangered Indo-Pacific bottle nose dolphins.

(5) With your more pressure on the Island governor who has the right to cancel the navy over the license to reclaim the public water and its adjacent surface and who has the right to rescind over the ex-Island government’s wrong decision to cancel the absolute preservation area in Dec. 2009 (* The absolute preservation areas in the Gangjeong village are: the Joongduk coast of which we call most part as the Gureombi and the vicinity area of the Gangejong stream), the plan on the blast of the Gureombi can be at least postponed. It would also save the life of Yang Yoon-Mo who has declared that he would cut even water and bits of salt upon the main destruction of the Gureombi rocky coast.

Please remind his words:

‘If Gureombi (the sacred rocky coastline) lives, I live. If Gureombi dies, I die. Do not cry for me. Cry for the future generations who may not be able to feel the beauty of Gureombi. Gureombi is the medium to connect myself and the sky. The self, the sky, Gureombi have become one. This commitment is a call from God.’

(Note by Mary Beth Sullivan upon her visit of Yang Yoon-Mo on Feb. 28)

Source

To write a letter to Woo Keun-Min:

Mr. Woo Keun-Min
Governor
The government of Jeju-do
312-1, Yeon-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Fax: +82 64 710 3009
E-mail: jejumaster@jeju.go.kr

Also please consider to write a protest letter to:

Mr. Lee Myung-Bak
President
1 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu
Seoul, 110-820
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Fax: +82 2 770 4751
E-mail: foreign@president.go.kr or president@cwd.go.kr or president@president.go.kr

Mr. Kim Kwan-Jin
Minister, Ministry of National Defense
No. 1, Yongsan-dong 3-ga
Yongsan-gu, Seoul
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Tel: +82 2 748 1111
Fax: +82 2 748 6895
E-mail: cyber@mnd.go.kr

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Image source:

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References

1. People’s press conference in the morning, Catholic mass in the afternoon, police alignment on the day

[Photos/ Video]

http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=111953
경찰서로 향한 강정주민들 “발파시 총력 대응”
2012.03.05 12:36:49

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143899
“구럼비 발파는 대국민 태러 행위…즉각 중단하라”
강정마을회-범대위, 구럼비 발파허가 반려 촉구 기자회견
“상부의 지시 아닌 서귀포경찰서장이 직접 판단해야”
2012.03.05 12:09:55

http://www.seogwipo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=76982
“구럼비 발파 허가, 파국을 불러 올 것이다”
해군기지 반대 측, 5일 서귀포경찰서 앞 기자회견
“폭파는 도민 모욕이자, 서귀포시민 식수원 위협”
2012년 03월 05일 (월) 12:49:41

http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/area/522095.html
‘구럼비 폭파’ 눈앞…제주 강정 ‘폭풍전야’
2012.03.05 20:48

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articlePhotoView.html?idxno=143946
강정마을 곳곳에 경찰 배치…긴장감 고조

[현장]구럼비 발파 앞두고 공사현장-강정포구에 경찰 배치
“무슨 계엄상황도 아니고 정부 방침에 치가 떨린다”
2012.03.05 16:13:15

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2. Governoor Woo Keun-Min’s press conference at 1pm and visit to the police stations after it, March 6

http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=28785
“재검증전까지 해군기지 공사 보류하라”
우근민 지사, 제주도 참여 크루즈 시뮬레이션 재실시 요구
강정마을엔 해군기지 정책수용여부 묻는 ‘주민총회’ 제안
새누리당 도당 참여 눈길 “총선정국 피해가자는 의도 아니”
2012.03.05 13:42:17

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143953
정부 방침 ‘거부’ 초강수, 해군기지 공사 중단될까
[해설] ‘마지막 승부수’, 우 지사 ‘4인 공동입장’ 배경과 전망
정부 일방적 발표 큰 반발 자초…검증요구 수용여부 관건
2012.03.05 17:47:11

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143914
“해군기지 설계검증 때까지 공사 보류하라”
우 지사-도의회-여야 ‘4인 공동’ 기자회견…정부방침 ‘수용 거부’
“공정한 검증이 먼저…강정 주민총회 후 수용여부 결정하겠다”
2012.03.05 13:27:37

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143917
[전문] 우근민 지사 등 ‘4인 공동’, 해군기지 공사보류 요청 기자회견
2012.03.05 13:30:56

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143929
우 지사 “구럼비 발파 안될 말…직접 나서겠다”
경찰에 발파허가 보류요청…경찰청장 ‘자리 없고’, 서장면담도 ‘불발’
2012.03.05 14:59:09

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143931
통합진보당 “우 지사 공사 일시보류 요청 환영”
2012.03.05 15:05:01

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143954
“청장도 없고, 서장도 없고”…우 지사 머쓱
우 지사-오충진 의장, 구럼비 발파허가 보류요청 경찰서 방문 ‘냉대’?
2012.03.05 17:54:50

http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=111977
지사-도의장 도착 10분전에 자리 뜬 경찰서장
2012.03.05 15:38:14

http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201203052215235&code=950313
“해군기지 공사 보류해달라” 우근민 제주지사 공식 요청
2012-03-05 22:15:23

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3. Detail on the navy plan on the blast of the Gureombi

http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=28779
구럼비 발파허가 여부 6일이후 판가름
서귀포경찰서 “물리적으로 오늘안에 허가 판단 어려워”
화약 신청량 총 44톤 가량
2012.03.05 12:43:16

March 6, 2012