Following the release of Fr. Lee Young-Chan on Dec. 26, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul was released on Jan. 3. Both were released on bail.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Fr. Lee Young-chan was released on bail on December 26. Activists and Jesuit priests including the head of Jesuits Korea prefecture Fr. John Shin Won-shik (right) are receiving him at Jeju prison. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, See here (Post by Regina Pyon)Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Fr. Lee Young Chan in mass, next day of his release.For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.
A Video on Fr. Lee Young-Chan, made by Dungree after Fr. Lee’s arrest on Oct. 26, 2012, remembering Fr. Lee’s struggles against the naval base project.
Kim Bok-chol was released on bail on January 3. He is in the center with blue jacket. Photo by Jang Hyon-woo. (Post by Regina Pyon)Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Mr. Kim Bok-Chul who was arrested on June 14, 2012, is finally free out of jail on Jan. 3, 2013.
For Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Jan. 3, 2013 was his 206th day in prison. He is the longest prisoner against the Jeju naval base at one term. Dr. Song Kang-Ho was jailed for two weeks in 2011 and 181 days in 2012. Mr. Kim Dong-Won was jailed twice, for about 94 days in 2011 and 118 days in 2012.
On Jan 2, the prosecutor made an opinion of two year prison on him. The court decision will be on Jan. 23.
Video by Dungree: Interview with Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, after his release (Source: click here)
When he was in jail, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, a laid-off railroad worker and reporter of the ‘Voice of Seoul,’ fought against the bad human rights conditions in the prison. Now being released from the jail, he wants to make an appeal against unjust arrest of him on June 14, 2012 when he was protesting on the police’s violent dealing of an activist
With the release of Fr. Lee Young-Chan and Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Mr. Park Seung-Ho is currently the only remaining prisoner. He hit his 112 day in jail on Jan. 4, 2013.
Mr. Park Seung-Ho was born in 1966(?). After his arrest in the 3 way intersection in the village on Sept. 14, 2012, for the reason that he had not responded to the police call. It was during the period of the WCC (World Conservation Congress) Jeju (Sept. 6 to 15, 2012) when most people were busy for the protests against the naval base project.
Video still frame by Dungree/ Mr. Park Seung-Ho’s arrest on Sept. 14, 2012
Mr. Park Seung-Ho (No. 290)
Please send him letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:
Jeju Prison 161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City, Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
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Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28, 2012 (181 days in jail). See here.
Mr. Yoon Choong was released on Oct. 24, 2012 (44 days in jail). See here.
Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26, 2012 (118 days in jail). See here.
Rev, Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. park Suk-Jin on Dec. 12, 2012 (98 days each). See here.
Fr. Lee Young Chan was released on Dec. 26, 2012 (63 days in jail)
Mr. Kim Bok-Chul was released on Jan. 3, 2013 (206 days in jail)
See the Gangjeong villagers’ statement on budget on Jan. 2 and related National Assembly subsidiary conditions under the below photos.
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The sirens rang about three times even before 7 am on Jan. 2, 2013. The siren rang around 9 am again. The daily war of Gangjeong started again. Despite the National Assembly stipulation on 70 days, the navy enforced construction even on the New Year holiday.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun protested to the police for their permission on the entry of construction trucks, showing them the National Assembly condition. For the National Assembly conditions, see the below.Photo by Kang U-Jin/ Around 4 pm. Jan. 2/ Some people including Prof. Shin Yong-In staged a civil disobedience movement, demanding the navy’s observance on the National Assembly conditions.Photo by Paco Booyah/ 5 p.m. Jan. 3. 100 bows in front of the destruction site. The sign reads, “Stop the illegal construction without a through verification on simulation.’[Around 9pm, Jan. 3]/ A cold night. A young man in his 30s stops a construction truck alone. The police threaten him that they would arrest him under the charge of ‘obstruction on business.’ The young man protests in state asking why the police ignore 70 days’ verification and construction stop period, while the police siding with the navy that enforces construction, despite the National Assembly subsidiary opinion. The young man had to fight himself enduring a cold night alone in front of the gate. Behind a sheet of paper by the National assembly, Gangjeong is bleeding again… The sign reads, ‘Construction stop for 70 days! Carry the [National Assembly] agreement by the ruling and opposition parties!’Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The Pan-Island committee press conference on Jan. 3/ The banner reads ‘The enforcement of construction is illegal. The government and navy should immediately stop illegal construction!’ For more photos, see hereCaisson built by Daelim Co. is being put into Gangjeong sea in the morning of January 4. . . More photos by Hallabong, click here. (Post by Regina Pyon)
The Gangjeong village statement on Jan. 2, 2013
Position of the Gangjeong villagers on the subsidiary conditions on the 2013 Jeju naval base budget
In the examination on the 2013 budget on the Jeju naval base project, the National Assembly passed the budget with the subsidiary condition (* See the bottom). The Gangjeong Village Association cannot but ask whether the National Assembly neglected its role as the monitoring institute on the government by itself to pass the whole budget(* 200 billion won) proposed by the Ministry of National Defense despite the fact that it is the project of which a thorough verification, the subsidiary condition agreed by the Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly in 2011 has not been carried on.
However, we judge that the subsidiary conditions of 2013 budget is in fact a declaration on construction stop. We should consider the contents that [the Government] should not carry on the execution of budget until it satisfies the three conditions as the [demand] to the navy to stop the expense plan on the naval base budget first. However, the navy, enforcing 24 hour construction from the beginning of the Jan. 1, New Year, is staging conflicts with villagers and peace keepers. Even the Ministry of National Defense espoused a thorough performance on the subsidiary conditions through its press release. Therefore the navy’s obstinate enforcement of construction is an arrogation and insubordination.
The reasons that we should consider the subsidiary conditions as the construction stop in fact are as the below.
Firstly, it is because of the very first item of [the conditions] that reads that [the Government] should wipe out concerns that the base would be operated mainly for the military port.
According to the enforcement of decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act revised in 2012, all the area of the Jeju naval base project is designated as the military protection (restriction) zone and the port-entry/ exit of the cruise ships should be permitted from the Unit commander.
Not only that, according to the decree revised, the whole crews and passengers are defined as the subjects to be controlled. How can there be a guarantee that the port will not be operated mainly for a military port when the law is defined as such?
To wipe out the concerns that the port would be mainly for a military port, at least the zone designated as a trade port should be excluded from the Military protection area.
The [next] government of Park Geun-Hye [whose being fairly elected is matter of suspicions] should examine the issue in a forward-looking manner and should revise again the revised enforcement of decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.
Secondly, it is for the [second] item that demands a through verification on the possibility of entry/exit of 150,000 ton cruise. To be sorry, the item is not stipulated with the phrase of ‘possibility on the 150,000 ton cruises’ smooth entry and exit of port.’ While ‘smooth entry and exit of port’ can mean that it is possible for the cruise to enter and exit the port by its own exertion, the definition of simply ‘a possibility of entry and exit of port’ brings about a serious matter. The cruse can enter the port with the support by more than 4 tug boats that would be mobilized, unless there is a warning on the high wind and sea wave.
However, it takes tremendous costs to manage a port that operates four tug boats of each is more than 3,000 HP. It is told that more than 150,000,000 won is needed only for an yearly wage for a captain of a tug boat. It is expected to take 4~5 billion won to operate a pilot for the arrangement of four tug boats.
If we are realistic to expect entries of 150,000 ton level cruise twice a year and the economic income would be about 0.6 billion won for one-time entry, it means the [Island Government] should operate a pilot with 4~5 billion won only for 1.2 billion economic income that would come from the entries of cruises twice a year. Further the costs of operation on waiting room for cruse and maintenance/ repair of harbor and bay will be additionally burdened. Moreover, the loss amount cannot but be more increased since the sources of direct earnings for the Jeju Island government will be merely of the ship cost for coming alongside the pier and entry ticket for the watching facility of the public institutes.
Even though we suppose smooth entry & exit of port by cruise (which means the possibility for the cruise to enter and exit by its own exertion), it is tremendous costs for the waiting room and harbor & bay-maintenance/repair that would be expended only for the 150,000 ton level cruise coming no more than twice a year. Plus with the expectation on the restoration costs following the damages by typhoons, the effect on the chronically deficient Jeju economy cannot but be aggravated far from positive effects on it. The Jeju naval base being constructed under the excuse of invitation of 150,000 ton cruises that are only 4~5 throughout the world will bring about the result that would push the economy of the Jeju more falling into its bottomless pit.
Even if we might suppose that the 2nd item of the subsidiary conditions of the National Assembly means the verification on the smooth entry/ exit of port for 150,000 ton cruises, the time-limited condition of 70 days makes no sense for a thorough verification.
It is because it is a simulation that should be processed premised on the altered 30° navigation route, which passes through the vicinity of the Beom Seom (Tiger Island) [the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve]. If then there should be a three-dimensional modeling on harbor and bay, backed by observation on area-detailed water depth and analysis on the current, regarding the water area near the 30° altered navigation route. According to experts, it is a work of which the process only takes three months at minimum to six months at maximum.
We have warned many times that the 30° navigation route and vicinity water area themselves would be the obstacles on the port-entry for 150,000 ton cruise since those places are of many reefs with low water depth. Moreover, the water area of train rock water area is a zone of tremendously strong current. Will there be anybody who can trust the verification if the verification on the opening of a navigation route in such area of natural environment is processed without basic investigation process and three dimensional modeling due to time limitation of 70 days?
Thirdly, it is on the matter on the conclusion on the protocol on the joint use on the rights to official regulations on the harbor and bay and on the costs for maintenance and repair on the harbor and bay facility.
Above all, it is illogical to say so and so on the rights to official regulations when the military legally holds the control rights on the port-entry and exit.
Regrading the costs on the maintenance and repair on the harbor and bay facility, it is also prospected that even the operation cost on the cruise waiting room could be hard to be met given the realistic numbers of the entry by 150,000 ton cruises even though cruse makes entry and exit by its own exertion. Plus with the costs on the maintenance and repair on the harbor and bay facility, the Jeju Island cannot but have the blame shifted to itself. The Jeju naval base built under the show of so called civilian-military complex port for tour beauty will be only a worry that destroys the economy of the Jeju, far from making the Jeju as the 2nd Hawai’i or the tourism herb of the Northeast Asia.
Even with the use of tug boats, the governor cannot but risk loss. If the governor still passes such project that deceives the Jeju Island people saying so and so on joint allotments, without an objective, scientific and thorough verification, he would pose himself as destroying the Jeju economy and threatening the people’s lives. He should keep in mind that he would be the public enemy for the Jeju Island people, then.
Park Geun-Hye, the President-elect, claiming the great unity of people, made a pledge that she would drive for the project to be a civilian-military complex port for tour beauty, following the will of the Island people. She also emphasized that she is a politician being responsible for her words. Then she should stop the construction on the Jeju naval base and carry on thorough verification and investigation on truth, following the subsidiary conditions that the Saenuri Party (* the ruling conservative party) agreed with. She should revoke the base construction project itself if it turns out that the Jeju naval base does not fit to the South Korea’s international relationship or to the position of the Jeju Island; and if it becomes clear that it is against the will of the Island people or harms the Jeju economy.
Therefore the Gangjeong Village Association demands as the below.
1, The National Assembly should switch over itself from the subjects of solution from the subjects of resolution. As the ruling and opposition parties made an agreement on the subsidiary conditions, they should take responsibility for management and supervision on the performance on the subsidiary conditions by forming a special committee. Park Geun-Hye, President-elect and the Saenuri Party should take an active cooperation with them as they made an agreement to the subsidiary conditions also.
2. As the Ministry of National Defense declared on the thorough performance on the subsidiary conditions of the National Assembly, the navy should immediately stop the construction and should enter for a thorough verification on scientific and reasonable verification with transparent and objective measures.
3. Woo Keun-Min, the Jeju Island governor should not compromise on the Jeju naval base issue which is the biggest matter and core of conflict in the Jeju Island. He should fulfill a thorough verification to the end.
Finally, greeting the beginning of 2013, the Gangjeong village Association, the representative institute of the Gangjeong village, states again that it will firmly maintain its position to revoke the naval base project, that has experienced conflicts for the Jeju naval base issue for six years; and will make all the efforts for construction stop and re-examination of the project, while fulfilling its role as the subject of dissolution on conflict and restoration on community.
[Final Updates] Republic of Korea’s national assembly passed the bugdet bill for 2013 fiscal year and confirmed the naval base constuction budget scale and it’s collateral conditions.
A meeting was achieved between the leaders of both parties just before a general session of national assembly and made final agreement between the leadership of both party. They made an agreement and concluded they attached some collateral conditions to the 2013 naval base construction budget bill. The collateral conditions are shown on this photo. This is an agreement between the leadership of the rulling party and the opposite party and signed by the representatives from both parties.
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Jeju Naval Base(Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty) Additional Agreements
1. The Ministry of National Defense should try dispel worries about the controversies this Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port might be used as 100% military installation.
2. The Ministry of National Defense, The National Assembly, The Central Government and Jeju Special Self-governing Province Authority should take a deep verification and an investigation process about the capacity of Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port for the entry and departure procedures of 150 thousand tons Cruise Ship.
3. The Ministry of National Defense should make an written agreement about the control of Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port, the responsibilities of maintenance with the Jeju Special Self-governing Province Authority.
The above three collateral conditions should be satisfied and executed within 70 days [from the date of signing] and should be reported to the National Assembly within 70 days. If the agreement of the hearing schedule from the National Assembly weren’t made, a written report can be submitted to the National Assembly.
Additionally, the National Assembly can have an authority to split the naval base construction budget into two part, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s Budget and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs’ one so there can be better collaborations and cooperation for the full functionality and capacity as a Civilian-Military Complex Port.
The floor leader of the ruling SAENURY Party
LEE, HAN GOO
The floor leader of the opposition DUP(Democratic United Party)
PARK, KI CHUN
In this month’s issue: A message from Chomsky to Gangjeong, a new civil disobedience movement, prison letters, prisoner releases, construction accidents, art activism and more!
Scroll down to the bottom to add your name to the petition.
As international students studying in South Korea we raise our collective voice to call upon the Government of South Korea to stop all work on the Jeju naval base construction project immediately. We are deeply concerned after learning that the Jeju naval base construction project has been pushed forward by the government without proper democratic consultation despite a sizable body of evidence showing that the project is deeply flawed and that the public has been repeatedly misled.
A wide range of human rights abuses against peaceful protesters are taking place in Gangjeong Village on a daily basis in order to ensure that the construction goes ahead despite strong local opposition. These have already been well documented by a number of human rights organizations both in South Korea and around the world including Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, Forum-Asia and three United Nations Special Rapporteurs.
This project is destroying not only the natural environment but also jeopardizing the wellbeing and health of villagers. Millions of dollars have been spent on maintaining a total of almost 130,000 police in the area since 2011. The once peaceful and prosperous seaside community of Gangjeong is now falling to pieces as the very foundations of its livelihood, the water and the land, are being destroyed.
We believe that the Jeju naval base project will not only contribute to the further militarization of the Asia Pacific region, but will also increase tensions and add to regional insecurity. The southern sea of Jeju is a critical geopolitical points linked into the Southeast Asian Sea which has recently been the focus of sharply rising tensions among the surrounding countries due to the hegemonic tug of war between the US and China. As students learning about the importance of the values of peace, human rights, social justice and cultural diversity, we cannot conceal our disappointment and indignation towards those responsible for the further militarization of the region and the continuation of the Jeju Naval Base construction project.
We hereby strongly urge the South Korean government and legislature to: Stop all construction on the Jeju Naval Base project immediately; Guarantee the human rights of Gangjeong villagers and peace activists including the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, a clean environment, and peace; Adopt all recommendations made by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island, and the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island concerning the forced construction of Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong Village; Adopt all recommendations made by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee to Stop the Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island, and the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island concerning the forced construction of Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong Village; Adopt the recommendations made by the international organizations including UN Special Rapporteurs, Asian Human Rights Commission, Forum-Asia, etc. to adhere to international human right standards and protect the livelihood of the inhabitants of Gangjeong Village; Cut all funding allocated for next year’s budget for the Jeju naval base construction project, and finally start looking for proper measures to restore the ecological and human communities in and around Gangjeong Village.
Dec. 11, 2012
International students & academics demanding an end to the Jeju Naval Base Construction Project
Photo by Rev. Cho Hun-Kook/ Release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin from the Jeju Prison, on bail, on Dec. 12. Two have been imprisoned since Sept. 6, the opening day of WCC.
‘The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island submitted individual complaints to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on human rights situation in Gangjeong. Human rights defenders including peace activists, religious leaders, villagers, and environmental defenders are continuously harassed by the government of the Republic of Korea, the navy and construction companies during their peaceful protest against construction of Jeju naval base.
Press statement was made in Korean but attachments are in English, so feel free to download the letter and case fact sheets from below link for your information 🙂
Scenes of release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)
Welcome back of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasun port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. For more photos by Jang Hyun-woo 장현우 http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/729, http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/731
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ People celebrate the release of two in front of the jeju prison on Dec. 12Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Released Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (Saltcandy Yohan) is again surrounded by the police on the same day at the gate.Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Celebration in the struggle field on Dec. 12
Welcome back to Gangjeong of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasoon port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. Video by Dunguree 박성수
Update on the conscientious prisoners against the Jeju naval base project
As of Dec. 16, 2012
Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, 188th day (No. 598)
Mr. Park Seung-Ho, 93rd day (No. 290)
Fr. Lee Young-Chan, 53rd day (No. 407) Please send each letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:
Jeju Prison
161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
Image: Kim Bok-Chul, a former laid-off railroad worker and one of the leaders of the field struggle, with a humorous sign, ‘Break down the fence.’ For the photo source, click here.
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Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28 (after 181 days). See here.
Villager Mr. Yoon Chung was released on Oct. 24(after 44days). See here.
Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26 (after 118 days). See here.
Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin were released on Dec. 12 (after 98days). See here.
Police attack, a Jeju islander on top of a van in front of the naval site main gate. Image: Carole Reckinger
In response to the news that the Jeju Naval Base project budget for 2013, 200,900,000,000 Won, was passed completely without any cuts by the National Assembly and the majority holding Saenuri Party, Jeju citizens, villagers, and activists rose up in anger with direct action. Three people were arrested.
An activist chained beneath a van. Image: Carole Reckinger
Two vehicles were parked in front of the gates to the naval base site and people chained themselves underneath. At one gate, Anglican priests held a prayer service and at the other another person climbed on the roof of a van wrapping himself in barbed wire. People surround the vehicle with their bodies, firewood, junk, and whatever else they can find as usual. Soon hundreds of police arrived. They surrounded the Anglican prayer service so that they couldn’t leave and join the other gate’s struggle. Then they moved to the main gate of the construction site.
The van is towed away. Image: Carole Reckinger
There police surrounded the people and made their usual “gochak” detention circles to throw the people in, blocking them from blocking the gate. One by the one, people were dragged away and thrown in the detention circles. Then they roughly knocked down the person on top of the van, without regard for his safety. He was arrested. Then they cut the chains off the person under the van and arrested him along with a person who was simply accompanying to check his condition, totaling three arrests. Finally the van was towed away and the cement trucks went in and out. But it took almost an hour and a half.
It was a very heavy struggle which left many villagers and activists in tears. The police, seemingly indifferent, soullessly did their jobs and walked away.
Tomorrow, in response to the lack of budget cuts their will be protests in Seoul and several people including Father Mun Jeong Hyun and Gangjeong Village Mayor Kang will shave their heads and begin fasting. The budget will now go to the final stage, the Budget and Balance Committee.
A Gangjeong villager mourns the unceasing oppression and destruction of his hometown. Image: Save Jeju Now
Photo by Jeju Sori, Nov. 26, 2012/ A tug boat in the red circle submerged. See more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, click HERE
1. A tug boat belonging to Samsung C & T hit a broken caisson and submerged during the night construction, spreading gasoline oil on the sea
In the early morning of Monday, Nov. 26, the news on the illegal night time naval base construction on the sea rang the media.
A 45 ton tug boat belonging to the Samsung C & T submerged beginning with its bow around 12:10 am on Nov. 26 in the Gangjeong Sea where the navy-contracted companies are working for building the naval base. The sea wave and wind were strong during that night. And the accident site was about 100 meter distant from the coast of construction area.
It was later confirmed that the tug boat hit a 8,800 ton caisson (a concrete structure of 20.4m height and about 8 stories apartment building size) in the sea, which has been one of seven caissons that have been broken and damaged by the typhoon Bolaven at the end of this August and abandoned in the sea since then . The tug boat was to return back to Hwasoon port ( *40 minutes car distance from the village) after the caisson floating dock’s makeshift stationing of another 8,800 ton caisson
It is weird that the company contacted the Seogwipo Coast guard after seven hours of incident.
In the tug boat, there were 7 crews including captain. All those were rescued thanks to a dredging barge nearby. But the coast guard could not rescue the boat as of 9am.Nov. 27.
The Seogwipo Guard mobilized security and express ship on the sea. It was known that about 10,000 liter of gasoline had been loaded on the boat. Despite prevention work for any oil leak, oli was leaked to the worry of environmental contamination.
The navy and Samsung were in emergent to brought kitchen cleaning material of 800 liter (about 60 bottles of 13 liter) to remove oil leaked in the Joongdeok Sea, Gangjeong village. It means they would pour such chemical material into the Gangjeong Sea. [..]
Seven caissons of which total production costs are 35 billion won and which have been abandoned in the sea four months ago by the typhoons greatly threaten maritime safety, being like reefs in the sea. Still the navy does not take any measure on those.
The Gangjeong fishermen are angry, saying it is too dangerous for them to navigate fishing ship during the night since the navy has not equipped any proper safety facilities in the naval base construction. The fishermen says they were also at the risk of accidents many times. They say the navy keeps silent even though they protest to the navy on it. The navy-contracted workers themselves know it is too dangerous for them to navigate ships here so they cannot even retort back to Gangjeong fishers’ protest.
The navy and Samsung’s reckless enforcement of construction has eventually bought another accident[..]
The Gangjeong Sea located in the corner of typhoon is improper for naval base because of powerful current of water and wind even in the routine time. Further the Government made a base design for US nuclear aircraft carrier, [nuclear submarines], and Aegis Destroyer. The Office of Prime Minister has even lied and manipulated a mere reference (*made by the Ministry of National defense) [as if it is the technical verification committee’s official report ] for cruise to forcibly fit into the base design even though it never fits to it.
According to the testimonies by the workers, the caisson have been unreliably built short of standard and cannot properly function. Won’t the caissons be trashed when they are buried as those unreliable are roughly stationed in the strong sea wave and wind, according to false layout?
Reckless construction (destruction) even during dangerous nights has brought such incident. Is it weird that we have heard some crews were sick the other day but they were secretly cared for by visiting doctor and nurses to the barge? And how about the maritime environmental destruction? The rushing construction(destruction) is bringing such human and nature disasters. Cut all the budgets for the Jeju naval base project!
Please remind:
The Samsung C & T has been accused to the Prosecutor Office for its illegal operation on floating dock without inspection in the beginning of this year
The Samsung C & T floating dock has hit three fishing ships of which two ships became to submerge and one ship sunk down on March 11, 2012 when it was to moor in the outer port of the Hwasoon port.
Regrading the Samsung C & T’s demand on the amount of loss for the delay of construction
It has been known through media that the Samsung C & T demanded 23 billion won for the loss and additional cost by the construction delay of the Jeju naval base (so called Civilian-Military Complex Harbor for Tour Beauty), while Daelim, another main-contract company of the naval base project is told to plan to demand on the loss, too. And it is informed that the Samsung C & T reported that the delay of construction occurred because of activities by opposition groups.
To say in a word, it is like ‘the thief turns on the master with a club.’ The Samsung C & T got the order on the maritime construction of the outer facilities such as breakwater, becoming in charge for the 1st construction work area. If there was any people’s activity of obstruction on construction, it was to point out on the uninstalled silt protectors, the measure on the reduction of floating materials, following the Environmental Impact Assessment. People were just stopping illegal construction since [the Samsung C & T] has enforced construction (destruction) even without proper installation of immobile silt protectors among the double-layered silt protectors.
If the Samsung C & T had proceeded construction with proper installation of silt protectors from the beginning and still there were activities of obstruction of construction, the Samsung C & T is right to assert its claim. However, its construction delay happened because it has been disclosed of its illegal constructions (destruction) so has gotten correction orders many times from the Jeju Island. The construction delay was more caused from the maritime condition that has not been ready due to strong wind such as typhoon.
If it is a construction delay happened due to natural condition, it is righteous that a service order agency that has miscalculated the days of impossible construction for natural condition takes responsibility for it. If construction delay occurred because illegal construction was driven and disclosed, it is righteous that applicable company is punished, rather than the company says so and so on the compensation on the amount of loss. Therefore if the Navy Headquarter or Ministry of National Defense demands a right to indemnity against local residents, the world will laugh on it.
Even though the construction might have been delayed because local residents repulsed back against construction, the state should naturally compensate for the construction delay. It is because the state has the responsibility for smooth construction with its [responsibility] of persuading local residents in its driving for a national policy. Further it is a [so called] security project in the words of the Government. The Government should be responsible for all the loss and legal disadvantage that have occurred, being awakened that the project has become rather destroying security, not only destroying a local community but even dividing citizens’ opinions on it.
Sponsored by the People’s Solidarity for participatory Democracy
The Story tellers who were invited were: Dr. Song Kang-Ho, Fr. Mun Jun-Hyun, Kang Dong Kyun, (Gagjoeng village mayor), Joseph Gerson (US), Liu Yintuo (China), Corazon Fabros (Philippines), and Kawasaki Akira (Japan)
4. 24 hour construction and 24 hour protest are continued
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Barricades to block the cement trucks. For more photos on 24 hour protest by Jang Hyun-Woo, click, here and here (Post by Regina Pyon)Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ 100 bows in the morning. For more photos on 24 hour protest by Jang Hyun-Woo, click, here and here (Post by Regina Pyon)
In this month’s issue: National Grand March for Life and Peace Comes to a close, outrageous findings in National Assembly inspections, Jesuit priest imprisoned, illegal security company hired to guard the construction site, 24-Hour construction begins and much more!
Even on Sunday, there was no rest for the people. The 24/7 construction (destruction) continued. Here is some collection of records.
Police Roughing out of people
Photos and captions by Cho Sung-Bong(translated)
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 9:39pm, Oct. 28, Sun., Even the policemen look tired. Their face expression says.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 11:13pm, Oct. 28, Sun., Dance then police roughing out. The police look to make shift. The peacekeepers need shift, too.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 1:19am, Oct. 29, Mon. Two cement mixer trucks come out. Three cement mixer trucks enter in.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 3:13am, Oct. 29, Mon. The police roughing out is exactly every two hours. The wind that has been strong has now stopped. The villagers installed two fire stoves fueled by woods on the street. After every struggle, they become the people’s gathering place.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 5:09am, Oct. 29, Sun.
Injuries
Witness 1 : Around 9pm, Oct. 28, Sun/ By Park Yong-In and Navi (translated)
Photo source: Village website/ Around 9pm, Oct. 28/ When a policeman used impolite words, a male peacekeeper protested to him by grabbing the hand of him who was pulling the peacekeepers’ cloth. Then many policemen came to the peacekeeper and bent down his fingers remaining him an injury that needs two week’s medical cure. The ligaments of the both side of his finger were broken. (By Park Yong-In, Navi, 9pm, Oct. 28)
Witness 2: Around 11:54pm, Oct. 28, Sun. / Park Young-In (translated)
‘When a woman peacekeeper protested to a policeman since he did not put his identification tag in his police cloth during the police roughing out of people, the policemen replied to her, “Why I have to say that? I will never say it,” in contemptuous and impolite words. When she continued to protest to him following him, another policeman pushed her from the front and she fell down, hitting her back head on the roadway. There was neither apology nor safety check. The police (policewomen) have already made a woman activist carried to hospital for concussion [in the night of Oct. 26]. I hate that I become to hate human beings.” (Park Yong-In, 11:54pm, Oct. 28)
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[Oct. 28 video] The police’s forceful rough out of people in the night is more and more serious
Summary of video : On Oct. 28, the 3rd night of 24 hour construction,
0:00 to 0:52
The police rough out a young man who was just standing still. Further the police make a warning broadcasting that he should not hit the police while he was only powerlessly being dragged by a group of police. People protest to such police lie. “Speak the right things!.” The police dare to grab his throat when he protests in words.
0:52 to 1:17
The police rough out and wield physical power to even a citizen who was only taking a video record.
1:18 to 3:26
The police violently rough out a man whose one hand was injured and bandaged with splint. The police even seem to intentionally grab the very hand to his pain. He was the one was carried to hospital by ambulance on the 1st night. See here. For the policemen, the word, ‘arrest!‘ without Miranda notice to isolated and non-violent protester is like a game. The police even push back protesting women. Even fallen women are on the ground, they are ignoring them and only focusing to carry out their duties, to the risk of women’s lives.
Many protesters’ not only human rights but lives are in danger during the night protests in Gangjeong. Please spread words. You may also contact the ROK National Police Agency for protest.
The motto “We are the Sky” comes from the motto of the Sky Act, a joint solidarity campaign of three struggles in Korea: (S)Ssang Yong autoworkers layoff struggle, (K)Gureombi Rock/anti-Gangjeong naval base struggle, and the (Y)Yongsan Tradegy struggle.
The Grand March of Life and Peace which started in Gangjeong on October 4th runs til November 3rd where it ends at Seoul City Hall Plaza. Below is a more detailed schedule for Tomorrow (Thursday, October 25) until the end. Please come out if we are in your area and tell your friends to join when we pass their area! And remember to check our photo section every night for pictures from each day’s march.
[Grand March Day 21] Thursday, Oct.25-Chooncheon 6:30am Departure from Samcheok 11am Visit to Hyeoldongri golf development struggle in Chooncheon 12:30pm Lunch at Gumanri village center in Hongcheon 1:30pm Visit to Gumanri golf development struggle in Hongcheon 3pm Visit to Dongmakri golf development struggle in Hongcheon 4:30pm Meeting with local people in front of Gangwondo Provincial Office 5:30pm Dinner 7pm Candle Rally at Myeongdong in Chooncheon
[Grand March Day 22] Friday, Oct.26-Wonju/Yeoju/Pyeongtaek 8:30am Departure by bus 10am Arrival in Yeoju. 4 Rivers Project, Gangcheon Irrigation Resevoir, Pilgrimage 12pm Lunch
1pm Marching down Jasansangbyeon Street or Gaechinalu Street
4:30pm Moving to Daechuri in Pyeongtaek
6:30pm Arrival in Daechuri
7pm Welcoming Village Party
[Grand March Day 23] Saturday, Oct.27-Pyeongtaek
Prepare for the Joint People’s Association (Manmin Gongdonghoe) and divide into groups to join the different programs below
Programs: Korean People’s Theater Festival (in Pyeongtaek) or Temporary Worker’s Rally (in Seoul) or Dasan Human Rights Center 20th Anniversary (in Suwon)
Accommodations in Daechuri (same place as on the 26th)
[Grand March Day 24] Sunday, Oct.28-Pyeongtaek
12pm Lunch
1pm Joint People’s Association (Manmin Gongdonghoe) in front of Ssangyong Motor Company’s main gate
5pm Dinner
6pm Join Pyeongtaek Peace Festival at Pyeongtaek Station
* Accommodations will be near Pyeongtaek Station
[Grand March Day 25] Monday, Oct.29-Pyeongtaek/Osan
9am March starts from Pyeongtaek station after the Press Conference for the Start of the Grand March in the Seoul Metropolitan Region
12pm Lunch and then visiting Ebada School
1pm March
5pm Arrival in Osan and Dinner
7pm Candle Rally
* Accommodations will be near Osan Station
[Grand March Day 26] Tuesday, Oct.30-Osan/Suwon
8am March starts
12pm Campaigning about Yeongtong Samsung Electronics factory
1pm Lunch
2pm March and Support Visit to the SSM opposition struggle
6pm Arrival at Suwon station and Dinner
7pm Candle Rally at Suwon station
* Accommodations are the Suwon Diocese
[Grand March Day 27] Wednesday, Oct.31-Suwon/Ansan
9am March starts
12pm Lunch
1pm Marching continues
6pm Arrival in Ansan and Dinner
7pm Candle Rally in front of Ansan City Hall
* Accommodations are not fixed
[Grand March Day 28] Thursday, Nov.1-Ansan/Bupyeong
9am March from Oido Station
12pm Lunch
1pm March and Visit to Samhwa Express, Daewoo Motor Sales Co. and other local struggle places
7pm Arrival at Bupyeong Station and Joint Solidarity Struggle Candle Rally (& party)
[Grand March Day 29] Friday, Nov.2-Yoido
9am March Starts at Cortek
Visit to Jae Neung Education Sit-in Struggle
Visit to Demolition Struggle in Jung3dong, Bucheon
12pm Lunch
1pm Marching
7pm Arrival in Yoido and Candle Rally at Yoido Plaza
[Grand March Day 30] Saturday, Nov.3-Yoido/Seoul Plaza
9am March after Press Conference for the Opening of the Life and Peace Grand March in Seoul
11am Rally at Namildang in Yongsan District #4
1:30pm Rally in front of Ministry of National Defense to stop Jeju Naval Base Construction
4pm Join 1-day sympathy fast for Ssangyong Motor Struggle at Seoul station
6pm Cultural Rally “Everyone is Sky” at Seoul City Hall Plaza
