On Mar. 7, 2020, Song Kang Ho and Ryu Bok Hee entered the Jeju Naval Base to pray for peace on the remaining part of Gureombi Rock. It was the 8th anniversary of the blasting of Gureombi rock, the precious coastline of Gangjeong Village, which was destroyed in order to build the navy base.
On Sept. 24, 2020, Ryu Bok Hee received a suspended sentence, which means she will have 3 years probation, but Song Kang Ho was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. (So far, he already served 9 months). He is appealing this harsh sentencing. Please follow the instructions below to send a petition to Judge Wang Jeong-ok by Jan. 23, 2021.
If you don’t have time to write your own letter, you can sign here: http://bit.ly/PetitionforSKH
<Letter Appeal: Release Peace Activist Song Kang-ho>
Song Kang-ho has been working for peace in international conflict and disaster affected areas like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Rwanda, Aceh, Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Haiti since 2000. Recently, he has been opposing the competition between imperial powers to dominate international waters in the South China Sea from Gangjeong on Jeju Island, South Korea, and tirelessly promoting solidarity for demilitarization and peace between islands of different countries fighting militarization like Okinawa and Taiwan. This is the fifth time he has been imprisoned in the struggle against the Jeju naval base.
Song Kang-ho remains imprisoned with his appeal trial underway after being sentenced for two years for cutting through the barbed wire fence of the Jeju naval base and entering the base to pray for peace on what remains of Gureombi Rock where the original waterside park once stood on 7 March 2020. The base itself was constructed illegally, in haste, and through violence on Jeju, the Island of Peace. President Roh Moo-hyun proclaimed Jeju the ‘Island of Peace’ on 27 January 2005. However, Jeju has steadily become more and more militarized. We hope you will help us create a real island of peace. In particular, to ensure that civilians can share in what is called the ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port’, Song Kang-ho has been requesting that the remaining fraction of the dynamited Gureombi Rock be opened for public access once a year on 7 March. After entering the base on the 8th anniversary of the blasting after not hearing a response to his multiple written and verbal appeals, he is now appealing the heavy sentence of two years imprisonment imposed on him.
- How to Write and Send a Petition letter
1) Letters are to be sent to the Presiding Judge Wang Jeong-ok by Jan. 23, 2021. Please refer to the letter below and write a brief message of 3~4 sentences in large letters that are easy to read. Make sure to include a handwritten signature at the end.
2) If possible, we would be grateful if you could write the letter by hand and send scan or photographed copy to us.
3) For those who consent, also attaching a copy of your personal ID card will allow your letter to be recognized as carrying more weight.
4) Please email photos or documents to the following:
⁃ Email: korea@thefrontiers.org
OR, if you don’t have time to write your own letter, you can sign here: http://bit.ly/PetitionforSKH
Sample Petition for Dr. Song Kang Ho:
Dear Judge Wang Jeong-ok,
Dr. Song Kang Ho, who founded The Frontiers, has committed his life to peace work in Korea and all over the world – from Rwanda to Afghanistan to Iraq to Rohingya refugee camps. In his work against war and structural violence, we have witnessed his commitment to nonviolent peace and justice.
We are aware that because he violated Korean laws during his protest action at the Jeju Naval Base, that he has been in jail for almost a year, and that there is one year remaining in his sentence.
We ask you to consider that Dr. Song did not cause human harm in his violation of the law, and that the message behind his action was a call for human security and sustainable peace that cannot be obtained through military competition between nations. When he is released, Dr. Song’s work of building a more peaceful society will benefit many more people around the world. Please use the power that you have been granted with wisdom and justice.
- Date:
- Name:
- Organization:
- Address:
excellently translated by Tom, and originally shared by Jungjoo
