Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: police violence

  • Urgent: How you can help us to cut the budget overnight. Please take 1 minute/ People’s emergency press conference

    The National Defense Committee of the National Assembly will have its final meeting in the morning of Nov. 16, Friday, in Korean time. Its’ Nov. 12 meeting was dissipated because of wide gap between the ruling and main opposition party. But since then the Democratic United Party (DP), the main opposition party has shown its compromising attitude that it is considering to agree with the ruling Saenury Party (New Frontier Party) to pass all or part of the proposed budget on the Jeju naval base project, to the indignation of people. The people here have mobilized themselves to protest to the members of the DP through email, phone and SNS. There was people’s emergency press conference on Nov. 15. How you can help us overnight in short time? Please see the part 2 of this article.

    Photo by PSPD/ People’s press conference in front of the National Assembly on Nov. 15, 2012

    1. People’s emergency press conference on Nov. 15

    On Nov. 15, there was people’s emergency press conference to demand ruling and opposition parties to cut the whole  201 billion won of 2013 Jeju naval base project budget in front of the National Assembly at 1:30 pm. The Press conference was hosted by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island (26 groups), National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups). Please watch Dungree video Here (Youtube). You can see the original Korean statement here (posted by the PSPD).

    Some points in the press conference statement read:

    Even though the Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly 2011 has recommended the government and navy “to objectively verify on the safety matters of entry & exit of port and coming alongside & out of port by the 150,000 ton cruises through the 3rd institute,” the government and navy have ignored it. Despite that, the members of the ruling and opposition parties in the National Defense committee are to pass 200.9 billion won on the 2013 Jeju naval base project, without asking the matter on the execution on the National assembly recommendation item. The Jeju naval base project currently being enforced is in violation of the 2007 National assembly subsidiary opinion of ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port of Call,’ (* the Lee Myung Bak government has enforced the project under the title of the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty) and also in violation of the 2011 Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly recommendation item, the demand of verification on the possibility of entry & exit by 150,000 ton cruises. It is a case when a strict response by the National Assembly is needed in the sense that those are of ignorance of the authority of the National assembly that monitors the Administrative. Therefore it is reasonable that the National Assembly cut all 2013 budgets on the Jeju naval base, according to the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. […] However, Han Ki-Ho (* a former high-rank  army commander), member of the Saenuri Party, the person concerned in the ruling and opposition party’s agreement [in 2011] as a member of Budget and Balance Committee and now a chairman of the National defense committee  shows shameless appearance to condemn the voice on budget as if it is from that of pro North Korea.

    Photo by Tommy Shin Jung-Hyun/ People’s press conference to cut the Jeju naval base budget in front of National Assembly on Nov. 15, 2012

    There are some useful points to remind in the people’s protest letters to the two big ruling and opposition parties. Here are some excerpted translations.

    Protest letter to the Saenuri Party: Excerpts

    The government stated only today that it would accept the opinion by the Jeju Island government on simulation verification(It is in fact ‘revelation’ not ‘verification by the words of the Office of Prime Minister)‘. However, it has already been proved out that the [projected] port is difficult not only for 150,000 ton cruise’s entry-exit and coming alongside the pier but also for military vessels to properly enter and exit, through the meeting minutes by the ‘technical verification committee on the entry/ exit of cruse’ set up following the navy resource and National Assembly recommendation. Also construction has been unreliably, roughly-and-readily being done. So caissons that are to be used for port & bay construction have been completely destroyed, too. It is judged that the safety of port itself would not be guaranteed either.

    The Saenuri party thinks the Jeju naval base is certainly necessary for national security. However, if the Saenuri Party truly thinks security, it should take the lead to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project. It is because the Jeju naval base currently being constructed in Gangjeong has no validity for project purpose. It cannot even properly be used as a military port.

    The government takes protection of southern sea area and sea transportation lane as the purpose of the Jeju naval base project. However, there is no need to be stubborn to build the naval base in Jeju to protect the southern sea water. The government has already measure of the 3rd fleet in Mokpo that does not need another base in Jeju. Further the task of sea transportation lane is originally the duty of coast guard and it is never appropriate that military vessel steps for that, given the geographical conditions and relationship with nearby countries.

    Furthermore, it has been turned out through navy resource that the main facilities of the Jeju naval base are being designed and built according to the US military demand to fit for the vessels such as the US nuclear aircraft carrier [and submarines] that the US retain

    Protest letter to the Democratic United Party: Excerpts

    The remarks by Park Ji-Won, floor representative of Democratic United Party, who said that ‘[the party] would confirm on the test result on the entry/exit of port and then allocate budget,’ is never realistic, given the time to be taken for verification and schedule on budget review. Further in the situational condition that the Office of Prime Minister and navy enforce construction (destruction), ignoring the resolution by the National Assembly who demanded verification through simulation, there is no other alternative than to cut the whole budget (* so construction is to be stopped) to enforce verification. We worry  to see the words by [Moon Jae-In], Presidential candidate and [Park Ji-Won] floor representative to be over turned in a week.

    It seems that the reason that the Democratic United Party changed its position on the matter of cut on the Jeju naval base budget is because it judged that it would influence not  good effect in the Presidential election due to expected repulsion by the navy and conservative class and political aggression by the Saenuri party. However such position is defensive and passive without clear and reasonable basis.  In last [April 11] election, all the three Democratic United Party members who oppose naval base have been all elected in Jeju. If the candidate and Democratic United Party actively make public to citizens on various problems on the Jeju naval base in the mainland, it can get superior position in public opinion. The Democratic Party should take a lesson of a case that the people have rather punished the Grand National Party(former Saenuri Party) when the DP actively responded to the GP with the ‘war power vs. peace power’ frame,  facing against the GP who intended to win over DP in June 2 local election, abusing the Cheonan ship incident for hunting so called the ‘pro north-Korea’ groups.

    Photo by Hwang Hyun-Jin/ Humorous one man protest in front of National Assembly. ‘With 200.9 billion won, you can feed each of 50 million South Koreans with four strings of Kimbab (rice ball kind)

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Despite the Island governor’s demand to the navy on Oct. 30 to pose the input of caisson until the finish of simulation on 150,000 ton cruise, the navy thoroughly ignored that. The navy-contracted company is moving caisson on Nov. 14.  See more photos by Cho, here.

     

    2. URGENT: Please take 1 min. to help us. Please copy and paste the below and send it to these address below, with your name. You may change contents, of course. Thanks so much in advance.

    moonriver365@gmail.com, intoan429@hanmail.net,  2030minju@hanmail.net, kjy1@assembly.go.kr, jp311@assembly.go.kr, kmageneral@gmail.com , esh337@hanmail.net,  jinsj@assembly.go.kr

    ( Email address source: click here   )

    Title: Cut the whole budget on the Jeju naval base. The world is watching

    Dear Democratic United Party members of National Defense committee of the ROK National Assembly.

    Please cut all the budgets on the Jeju naval base project. I heard that your party is considering to agree with the ruling Saenuri party to pass the budget in all or part in the National Assembly.  It is a shame that your party considers it despite all illegal, undemocratic, environment destructive, human rights- violating matters of the Jeju naval base project that became clear to the eyes of internationals.  I was also shocked to hear that the Jeju naval base is nothing but the US base as the Commander of the US navy forces of Korea has intervened in the base design for US nuclear aircraft carrier and US submarines.

    Do you truly want the South Koreans’ tax paid for the US war base against China? It will greatly disturb peace in the North East Asia and world. Please remember that your deed will affect not only Koreans but voiceless creatures and people in the world.

    It is unbelievable and shame if your party agrees to pass the budget. Please stand on your original position of cutting all the budget of 201 billion won on the naval base project 2013.

    Thanks for listening.

     

    Photo by Carol Rekinga/ The hungerstrike of Sung Sim Jang, for more photos, click here
    Photo by Kang Han, Catholic News Now and Here/ Construction site, Nov. 13, 2012 (post by Regina Pyon)
    Photo by Kang Han, Catholic News Now and Here/ protest mass in front of construction gate, Nov. 12 (Post by Regina Pyon)

     

    3. Peace activists resist tenaciously and cry for stop of violence

    Please watch this 7 min. video taken by Kim Goon, a peacekeeper that daily appears in the protest site of the naval base construction gate. . The peacekeepers in Gangjeong persistently protest to stop the cement mixer trucks .The video was taken at 3:10pm, Nov. 14. They are fighting for the Jeju naval base project budgets not to be executed but cut, despite the police violence and humiliation.

    “All parts of our body are bruised… We have little time to inform about the field news since the start of 24 hour construction… All of us are longing the day when our routine life of being roughed out by the police will end…. We just hope to save the Gureombi, Gangjeong village and ourselves.” (Kim Goon)

    ( Youtube/ Source: Click here )

     

    Update on Nov. 16

    The police from Seoul were more violent on Nov. 16. They are the maneuver units of No. 21(male) and 24(female). The police were also violent on Nov. 15, probably because the Democratic United Party members showed compromising attitude on budget. A young activist was carried to a hospital during the protest on Nov. 15.

    ………………………..………………………

    Reference

     

    http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GeUz/169

    [11월 15일 기자회견] “2011년 국회 여야 합의-검증 없이 예산 없다”- 제주 해군 기지 예산 전액 삭감 촉구 긴급기자 회견

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164947

    제주해군기지 시뮬레이션 검증 ‘합의’…”주야간 검증”

    총리실, 제주해군기지 시뮬레이션 검증 요구 전격 수용

    2개 케이스 시현…주야간 검증…책임연구원 교체키로

    2012.11.15  09:47:42

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122564

    강정마을회 “민주당 전액삭감 입장 끝까지 지켜야”

    “새누리당 이상일 대변인 발언은 정치적 공세···민주당은 예산 전액삭감 입장 유지해야”

    2012.11.15  11:17:35

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122559

    정부, 해군기지 15만톤 크루즈 시뮬레이션 수용

    2012.11.15  09:46:23

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8445

    “강정마을, 예수처럼 쓰러져도 평화의 표지 될 것”

    ‘24시간 공사’ 이어지는 해군기지 앞 끈질기게 지키는 사람들

    2012.11.15  11:14:37

  • Catholic Priests unite despite navy and police insult. Bishop Kang U-Il says, “Peace is the result of justice and love.”

     

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo, Catholic priests united facing the navy and police violence and insult in front of construction gate, Nov. 12, 2012. For many more resourceful photos on the day by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.

     

    Catholic priests unite against the navy and police violence 

    While the civil disobedience movement declared by Prof. Shin Yong-In, in front of the construction site in Gangjoeng started on Nov. 12, Catholic priests made voice on the same day as well.

    Since Fr. Lee Young-Chan(Jesuit) was arrested and imprisoned on Oct. 24, the Catholic priests have been holding a special mass beside their daily 11 am mass in front of construction site,  every 4pm, Monday.

    At 4 pm, Nov. 12, Catholic priests, clergy men and women who belong to the Catholic Solidarity for the Realization of Jeju, Peace Island, visited the village before the evening mass held by Bishop Kang U-Il in the Jeju City on the day.

    It was about 30 minutes later that four buses marked with ‘Korea National Defense University: KNDU’ and ‘ROK navy’ were to visit the Jeju naval base project building complex. When their entry became impossible because of the mass, police were mobilized and the police roughed out and moved away priests from the site, saying that the priests were doing of  ‘obstructing business.’ Priests were released only after the buses passed into the building complex despite people’s protests.

    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo/ The signs on the bus read, ‘Korea National Defense University: KNDU’ and ‘ROK navy’

    The Catholic priests denounced the police and navy : “It never happens in the world that the police mobilize, stop the mass, and confine priests indiscriminately without notice while religious events are processed. The police have not made any reflection despite the incident of damaged Eucharist by such police behavior last August.”

    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo/ Nov. 12, 2012

    People including Mr. Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base denounced the police: “Though their identities are uncertain, some of them in military costumes or suits in the buses even derided the priests being detained in the police circles. The Catholic priests were shocked. However such scenes are happening everyday in Gangjeong.”

    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo, Nov. 12, 2012/ The young peacekeepers are suffering by the police’s roughing out of them
    Photo by Catholic News Here and Now and caption by Regina Pyon/
    Catholic Solidarity for the Peace island, Jeju, starts signature campaign until Dec. 2 (1st week of Advent) demanding ‘the release of Jesuit priest Lee Young-chan S.J and four other prisoners of conscience’ and ‘the overall re-examination of Jeju naval base construction’. . . In this photo, Catholic priests are blocking the cement mixing trucks after the mass of November 12 at the gate of Jeju naval base construction site.

    Supporting imprisoned Fr. Lee Young-Chan, Bishop Kang U-Il makes a voice

     

    Photo: Jeju Sori, Nov. 12, 2012/ Bishop Kang U-Il

     

    “Peace is not merely having no war or guaranteeing balance between the hostile powers. Peace is a serenity of order. Peace is the result of justice and fruit of love” (Clause No. 2304, Catholic creed, read by Bishop Kang U-Il).

    There was a ‘Nation Situational Mass to Release the Prisoners by the Naval Base project,’ in the Central Catholic Church, Jeju City at 7:30 pm, Nov. 12. The mass was sponsored by the 15 dioceses of the Justice and Peace Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Catholic Human Rights Committee, Catholic Solidarity for the Realization of Peace Island, Jeju.

    More than 20 Catholic priests and Catholic nuns have been arrested in their protests against the naval base project in the Gangjeong village. In  March, Fr. Kim Jung-Wook was first imprisoned (released after about 40 days) as a Catholic priest and on Oct. 24, Fr. Lee Young-Chan was imprisoned. Both are the Jesuits.

    Bishop Kang U-Il said, “The [projected] Jeju naval base is a strategic military facility for our country to be with the United States to dominate the superiority in the North East Asia, against China.”

    “The situation in Gangjeong this time is the God’s homework and task given to the Korean churches to examine themselves,  which have passively taken on God’s raised question on war. The God is inviting us so that we make all the efforts for peace.”

    Photo: Jeju Sori, Nov. 12, 2012 
    Photo: Catholic News Now and Here/ Catholic mass for the release of Jesuit priest Lee Young-chan S.J. and prisoners of conscience. . .About 900 people attended the mass held in Jeju cathedral. (caption by Regina Pyon)

    Nov. 12 poster by the Jesuits Korea (Caption by Regina Pyon): At 7.30 p.m. on November 12, Catholic mass is held officiated by Bishop Peter Kang U-il at Jeju cathedral for the release of Jesuit priest, Lee Young-Chan S.J, and imprisoned peace activists. It was organized by the Catholic Solidarity for Peace Island Jeju, that 15 national justice and peace commissions and representatives of lay and religious committees are participating. Bishop Peter Kang is also chairperson of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.

     

    Bishop Peter Kang U-Il’s homily on Nov. 12

    Full text of Bishop Peter Kang’s homily “There is no just war.” can be read here.

    (informed by Regina Pyon)

    (Source: Click here)

     

    Remembering Fr. Lee SJ and the four brave activists who are serving time in prison for their peace activities and putting their bodies in the way of trucks involved in the construction of a naval base which is destroying the coastal environment and the village community of Gangjeong.This base is being built in an already volatile region and will only serve to increase military tensions. . .this video was played during the Catholic mass at Jeju central cathedral celebrated by Bp. Peter Kang on Nov. 12. Video by Dungree (Caption by Regina Pyon)

    (Source: Click here)

    ……………………………………………………..

     

    Reference

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122451

    “경찰, 이제는 하다못해 종교행사까지 방해하나”

    2012.11.12  17:56:55

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164740

    “해군기지 시국미사 중 경찰투입…또 종교행사 침탈”

    강정마을서 또 충돌…천주교 신부들 분노

    2012.11.12  18:12:33

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122456

    “한국 교회가 제주해군기지 건설에 문제제기 해야”

    2012.11.12  20:32:46

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8435

    [강우일 주교 강론]”정당한 전쟁은 없습니다”

    11월 12일, 제주 중앙주교좌성당 시국미사

    승인 2012.11.13  18:43:58

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8428

    강우일 주교 “강정 해군기지, 교회에 던진 하느님의 부끄러운 숙제”

    제주중앙성당에서 이영찬 신부 등 구속자 석방 위한 시국미사 봉헌
    천주교연대, 이영찬 신부 등 구속자 석방 위한 서명운동 시작

    2012.11.13  02:59:22

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8441

    이영찬 신부와 활동가 석방을 위한 서명운동 시작 – 가톨릭뉴스 지금여기

  • URGENT CAMPAIGN: PEOPLE, RISE UP! Let’s STOP 24 hour construction and CUT the whole budget, TOGETHER! Let’s REVOKE the naval base project!

    URGENT CALL! URGENT ACTION!: Campaign of the Appeal for participation in realizing a newspaper advertisement to stop 24 hour enforcement of construction and to cut all the 2013 budget on the Jeju naval base project/Source: Campaign by the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups) and PSPD
    1. Sit-in tent in the center of Seoul heats people’s war to cut the budget on the naval base project

    The struggle to stop 24 hour construction and cut the whole 2013 budget of 200.9 billion won on the Jeju naval base project is not only held in front of the construction gates in the village but in the center of Seoul as well. Some people who joined the Great March for Life and Peace: Let’s live together! All are the SKY! (Oct 4 to Nov. 3) remained in Seoul and set up a sit-in tent across the City Hall to promote the campaign to cut all the budgets on the naval base project, 2013. The tent is also an expression of solidarity with the laid-off workers of Ssangyong Automobile Co. Mr. Kim Jung-Woo, leader of Ssangyong workers met his 31st  day protest fast as of Nov. 9, 2012. Village mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, committed to widen and deepen the struggle through solidarity to revoke the Jeju naval base project and change the Government through December Presidential election became Mr. Kim’s strongest ally, as well as one of the symbols of people who are oppressed by the current government in the same vein of Capitalism, developmentalism and militarism.

    Photo by Hwang Hyun-Jin, sit-in tent in the center of Seoul
    Photo by Hwang Hyun-Jin, sit-in tent in the center of Seoul

    On Nov. 9, Great news was told to the participants of the great march and people in the Gangjeong village. All the workers of the Hanjin Heavy Industry, Busan, who have struggled for years were all reinstated (Kim Jin-Suk is probably the most known symbol of the struggle). The march participants have visited the workers on Oct. 17, which happened to be the commemorating period (Oct. 17 to 31) on the two martyr workers, Kim Joo-Ik, Gwak Jae-Yol, 9 years ago. Dungree’s video reminds the event of Oct. 17 and emphasizes the importance of the solidarity among the oppressed.

    Video by Dungree: Cut all the budgets on the Jeju naval base project, a fraud project in the name of national policy! http://youtu.be/ihgEsfZkxac  (Source:Click here)

     

    In the video, Mr. Kim Jung-Woo in his sit-in tent celebrates the victory of Hanjin workers and urges them to keep the democratic union and struggle field whatever happens in the future. In the next tent of the Gangjoeng village, Hong Ki-Ryong, executive Chairman of the Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island strongly says, “Whoever is elected as the President in December, if budget is passed in the National Assembly, no government can stop or control it. That is why we should struggle to stop it with all our energy. I want to send my sorriness and thanks to the peacekeepers in Gangjeong who currently put up with violent oppression. We will do our best by pressuring on whether it is the National Assembly and Presidential House.” The finale of the video is the song by the Gangjeong Flower band. “Please stop at the exit No. 2 in the City Hall station.” The title of their song is called, “Stop, stop!’ “If you oppose all the wars in the world, stop the naval base construction! If you want peace, absolutely no naval base construction! If you want peaceful Jeju, let’s stop the naval base!”

     

    2. The law voice from the struggle field: Please come to Gangjeong! Let’s stop 24 hour constriuction and cut the whole budget, TOGETHER!

    Here is a video made by a young female peacekeeper, Mooming, herself who has daily struggled in the field to stop the 24 hour construction vehicles without enough sleep but with unlimited optimism and humor. Her video details the human rights violation by the police, people’s joyful creation of events in spare time and emphasizes the urgency of people’s unity, by coming to Gangjeong.

    “Please come to Gangjeong. For reference, the black and white pictures in the video are by Kon Ca. I take anger, cry and laugh everyday in front of construction gate. 24 hour construction, 24 hour police. I am sorry that I cannot wake up for 24 hours even though I wish to do being all the time there together with people. It is because even though the polices’ roughing out of us feels hard, the daily life there is GOOD as to the degree that I wish to record ALL.”

    Video by Mooming  http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipViewByVid.do?vid=cG59efARhQM$

    (Source: Click here )

    Details of the video

    On Nov. 2, Presidential candidate Ahn Chul-Soo visiting the village remarked regarding the Jeju naval base project that the President Lee Myung Bak should apologize to the villagers in person. However, even less than 30 minutes of his leaving, police were mobilized. (*Young peacekeepers humorously call them as Baechoo (meaning cabbage) because of their light green color jackets, “The Baechhooes are seen with some rotten baechooes among them)

    The police’s consciousness on human rights is near to zero.

    Example: Policemen who obstinately drag a leg of a peacekeeper (00:25)

    (Screams are heard, “Don’t fold down hand!) Example: Hand of Police who takes a man by the throat (01:10)

    Example: For the police, the only concern is to remove the people from the site even though people’s cloths are taken off! (01:24) (Screams are heard, “Please, policewoman, I feel pain!”)

    Example: The police use techniques to pull and lift up leg. They think our legs are big radishes! (01:36)

    Example: The police use a technique of pressuring our body with their knees (02:24)

    Example: The police (especially policewomen) grab our cloths rather than body parts. Then our cloths are taken off! (02:40)

    (# In the early morning of Nov. 10, a female peacekeeper informs that policemen grabbed a woman’s legs widened openduring the process of removing protesters from the protest sites so that the woman cannot but feel insulted and have a feeling of shame.

    However, the peacekeepers know how to spend their spare time building joyful and creative community between the struggles. The youngsters love computer game while some young artists sing together with guitar, draw painting on the fence and make necklaces for funding resource. A movie director prepares a set to record nearby.

    Night time snack is another joy~! No Construction (destruction) but yes, night time snack!

    And finally bonus for the audience: Dance with Gangjeong style. The changed lyric of the Gangjeong style from Gangnam style has become so popular. Even the police enjoy it. They must recite the lyric of Gangjeong style themselves! “Bastards, if you want to arrest us, arrest us! We will fight to the end!”

  • Emergency Rally in Gangjeong on Nov. 10 with commemoration of Yang Yong-Chan

    The 15th Citizens’ Action to Save Gangjeong will be held in Gangjeong on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

     

    Commemoration event in 2011 for Yang Yong-Chan. Image: Headline Jeju, Nov. 6, 2012

     

    “Since I aspire for Jeju to be a place for our lives and a nest for our livelihood rather than a 2nd Hawaii, a global tour site that exploits our flesh & bones and makes us playthings, I walk this way crying for the end of the Jeju Special Law, abolition of the 2nd overall development plan, and the smashing of the Minjadang [Democratic Freedom Party, ruling conservative right-wing party from 1990 to 1995].“

    – Yang Yong-Chan, a true citizen of Jeju, greatly missed.

     

    The above quote was part of testimony by Yang Yong-Chan (1965 to 1991) who immolated himself in Seogwipo City on Nov. 7, 1991. Today is anniversary of his death. He was only 25 years old.

    According to Prof. Shin Yong-In, legal advisor to the village association, there was a pan-Island resistance against the central government’s development drive in 1990s. The Jeju Special Law has been nothing but legal justification for big corporations’ exploitation of Jeju. The immolation of Yang Yong-Chan who resisted against capitalist development of the Island sparked the Island people to rise up during that period.

    Because of Island peoples’ resistance, the Island government at the time was eventually forced to set up some important systems to preserve the pristine nature of Jeju from the central government’s thoughtless development. One of the most important systems is the Absolute Preservation System that is supposed to ‘absolutely’ protect the natural environment of Jeju, including its coasts. Ironically, it was the very governor Woo Keun-Min who established that very system as governor at the time (1991 to 1993). Woo becoming the Island governor again in 2010, but has not cancelled previous governor Kim Tae-Hwan’s undemocratic 2009 decision to abolish the Absolute Preservation Areas in Gangjeong village (the Joongdeok coast, most of which is called Gureombi Rock, as well as Gangjeong Stream and its vicinity) made in order to force the Jeju naval base project despite the Island Council’s demands at the general meeting vote in March 2011.

    “The cancellation of the Absolute Preservation Areas in Gangjeong in 2009 can be interpreted as the central government unilaterally infringing on indigenous rights to environmental protection, as well as their human rights and other creatures’ rights to live in their habitats,” Prof. Shin says.

    Current Governor Woo is affiliated with big corporations like Samsung, and is neglecting his duties as it is in his authority to order the navy to stop the illegal and forced Jeju naval base construction (destruction). His statements on faux so-called “Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty” and the two 150,000 ton cruise ships are nothing but sugar-coated words to blind the Island people through false promises of local economic development.

    Succeeding the Spirit of Yang Yong-Chan: Citizens’ Urgent Action Day on November 10, 2012

    Yang Yong-Chan’s testimony, excerpted above. Image: Headline Jeju, Nov. 6, 2012

    What is the difference between his period and our period? Jeju, designated the “Peace Island” by the central government on January 27, 2005, is now suffering greatly because of the enforced and unreliable war base construction in Gangjeong village. The right-wing conservatives repeatedly say that they want Jeju to become a 2nd Hawaii, mixing militarism and tourism (so that big corporations like Samsung can wholly exploit Jeju Island). 24-hour construction started on Oct. 25, 2012. The navy has gone insane enforcing construction (destruction) as they try to get the 200.9 billion Won budget for next year (92.5 % of budget will go to big corporations like Samsung and Daelim who are in charge of  the harbor and bay construction). Even police from the mainland have been mobilized 24 hours-a-day to serve these companies will. The people have also responded increasing their protest to 24 hours-a-day, being carried by ambulance to hospital, injured, robbed of their sleep. Even the daily 7 a.m. peaceful 100 bows have been disrupted with police forcefully removing the bowers from the construction gates.  Catholic priests in robes are carried away during mass only for construction trucks to pass through the gates. Women’s clothes are taken off and bodies scratched and pinched by police women nails when the policewomen forcefully remove them from the protest sites. Men are dragged on the ground by one leg. The people are  uncared for especially in the night when the police only care about removing and throwing them aside as fast as possible. A woman was almost at the risk of losing her life when a policewoman neglected her after throwing her down on the 1st night 24 hour construction, October 25.

     

    Catholic priests in robes are surrounded by the police during mass and removed from the protest site at around 5 p.m. on November 5.
    A woman peacekeeper’s dirty clothes after being dragged carelessly across the ground at around 3:30 p.m., November 4.
    Around 10:50 pm. on November 5, Chairwoman of the village Folk Conservation Association played music. Then police attacked. Still people, including village elders played music and held pickets, inside circle of police.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Around 12:10 a.m. on November 6. The police usually come every two hours during the night time, but this time it was only after 1 hour and 40 minutes. People in solidarity right before the police’s attack.
    Around 12:40 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 4:50 a.m. on November 7

     

    Since November 5th, the number of the police has increased even more. The police are wielding more physical power but still the people are resisting with all their energy. The intervals between police attacks have become shorter. During the day, it has shortened from the usual hourly strike, to every 30-40 minutes. During the night, from two hour intervals to every 1 hour and 30 minutes or 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is clear that the navy is getting more and more hurried with the destruction.

    Because of this people nationwide are mobilizing themselves to stop the 24-hour construction (destruction), to stop the navy and big corporations’ greed about the national budget, and to save Jeju, the Peace Island, following after the spirit of Yang Yong Chan, whose poignant words still ring true, that Jeju should be a site for life, not a second Hawaii. The 15th Nationwide Citizens’ Action Day to revoke the Jeju naval base project will be held on November 10.

     

    Let’s block together! 24 hour enforcement of construction (destruction)!

    Let’s save together! Save Gangjeong by staying over the night!

    Let’s cut together! 200.9 billion Won Jeju naval base project budget 2013!

    Let’s remember together! Yang Yong-Chan, a martyr, a true Jeju Island citizen!

     

    Schedule for Saturday November 10, 2012:

    3pm, Citizens’ Action Event in front of the main gate of the Jeju naval base project building complex: ‘Let’s run with peace, again!”

    5pm: Way-opening for the Peace Village, Gangjeong

    7pm: Commemoration for Yang Yong-Chan

    Sponsored by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 groups) and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups)

     

    Finally, Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut the entire budget for the Jeju naval base project next year. Contact english@asssembly.go.kr or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United Party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com

     

    References:

    양용찬 열사 추모 21주기 행사…”강정으로 간다”
    제주해군기지 반대투쟁 연계 ‘추모문화제’
    11일 대동한마당 행사…양용찬 평전 발간 등 추진
    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164274

     

  • Exposure: A Revolving Door between Police – Samsung C & T –Security Enterprise in the Jeju naval base project

    The National Assembly inspection on Oct. 24, 2012 exposed that at least 22 high-ranking police officers have been reemployed as high staff members of the employment-limited corporations, such as Samsung C & T, the main contracted company of the Jeju naval base project. Is it still strange that the police are loyal to get order on their performance from the construction and security companies in the Jeju navy base project? The Oct. 24 exposure must be an only tip of iceberg. 

    Photo: Jeju Sori, Oct. 26, 2012. Jang Jeon-Bae(50), the new Jeju Provincial Police Agency chief as of Nov. 1, 2012. He was a former Jeollabuk-do Provincial Police Agency chief. According to the Headline Jeju, Oct. 31, he firmly stated that , he ‘’would NOT CONCEDE’ regarding the daily conflict with people in front of construction gates especially since the start of 24 hour construction( on Oct. 25) . He also clarified his will to continue to operate police teams for the photo/ video collection of protesters in the protest fields, which people have claimed to be illegal inspection.

     

    Given the material on the status of reemployment of public officers that the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (MOPAS) has submitted to Lee Sang-Kyu (United Progressive Party), member of the Administrative and Safety Committee of the National Assembly, on Oct. 24, 22 retired high ranking police officers above the rank of police superintendents have been reemployed in the employment-limited corporations during recent five years.

    The public notice No. 2011-51 by the MOPAS limits provincial police chiefs to be employed by the highly business-related companies, on which they perform the authority of permission, monitoring and supervising, such as construction or security companies.

    According to the material, among 22, 8 got the jobs in the construction companies while 7 in the security companies.

    In case of a Senior Superintendent General who retired the Chief post of the Daejeon Provincial Police Agency, he got the job as a full-time employment consultant in the Samsung C & T in charge of the Jeju naval base project, in less than 2o days of his retirement in 2009.

    In case of  ‘S’ corporation, a representing South Korean security company, it has reemployed former high-ranking police officers above the rank of police superintendents in rows EVERY year. In case of current Secretary of Security Association, he came from a former Provincial Police Chief.

    National Assembly man Lee stated that, “In case of high ranking officers above the Police Superintendents, management should be strengthened on them so that they should not be reemployed to the enterprises of highly-related business, to prevent them doing unjust arbitration and impurity before and after retirement.”

     

     

    …………………………………………………………………………

    Translation and reference from

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121713

    경찰 간부 퇴임후 제주해군기지 시공사 취업

    2012.10.24  16:11:43

     

    See also a former policeman’s quite different story. Mr. Han Yong-Gi was employed by a Samsung insurance company as a worker but now became a fighter against the big corporation, Samsung, to recover the rights of workers.

    http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001771332

    어느 ‘삼성맨’의 변심 “삼성이 이럴 줄은…”

    삼성화재 해고노동자 한용기씨가 삼성과 싸우는 이유는?

    12.08.24 18:47l최종 업데이트 12.08.24 18:47l

    정민규(hello21)

     

     

     

  • 1st caisson made on the Gureombi Rock costs human rights and nature environment.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ First Caisson built on Gureombi. . . Bigger caissons (8,800 ton)have been built on Hwasoon port. Now the floating dock has located near Gureombi rock to move caissons to Gangjeong sea. For more photos of Cho Sung-bong, see here.

     

    It was Oct. 30 that the first 3,000 ton caisson supervised by Daelim Co. was made on the Gureombi Rock. To build this one, there was 24 hours construction since Oct. 25. No night construction for three days of Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1, as the workers needed time to dry it, move it to the coast near to a floating dock on the sea, and resetting for building new one.

    On the same day of Oct. 30, Jeju Island government submitting to the central government(Prime Minister Office)  its final opinion on the simulation verification on the entry & exit of 150,000 cruise, related to the Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty (Jeju naval base project), stated that it requested to the central government not to execute construction on stationing caisson until there is a simulation of which the Island government opinion is accepted. What the Island government should do is to immediately ORDER the navy construction stop, not delaying its critical decision without delusion on the so called civilian-military port (which is in fact a pure military-only port)and 150,000 ton cruise. (See here)

    What was the cost of the 1st caisson?  The navy-contacted company, Daelim plans to build 82 numbers of 3,000 to 4,000 ton caissons to put into the Gangejong Sea, the UNESCO-protected soft coral zone. Given that it takes 5~6 day to build one, it needs minimum 410 days’ 24 hour construction because of cement character, no choice, the navy says (See here)

    However, villagers’ rights to sleep in the night have been robbed off. It was at the price of human rights violation. There have been at least 6 people who were carried to hospital during 24 hour construction so 24 hour protests from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30. See here and here. Many were injured, too. The waste of tax to mobilize 500 policemen every night is speechless. If it was a righteous and reasonable construction, the government does not need to mobilize such stunning numbers of policemen. It is for the navy to get the budget on the naval base project, 2013 (the Ministry of National Defense has proposed 200 billion won for the Jeju naval base construction in 2013) by rapidly moving up construction (destruction)! The navy has promised the National Assembly last year that it would not get the budget if its work rate does not reach 30 % this year.

    It was also at the price of nature environment destruction. See here.

    In the field, many young peacekeepers’ painful efforts go on.   Some sketches during the day of Nov. 1 here.

    Around 11am, Nov. 1. Bishop Kang U Il held the mass in front of construction gate. Recently a Catholic priest, Fr. Lee Young Chan was imprisoned on Oct. 25. interview with an international reporter.
    Around 2:30pm, Nov. 1. Music and dance are people’s positive way to overcome the police violence that they would go through during the police’s roughing out them.
    Around 3:37pm: Fr. Kim Sung-Han and Catholic sister nicknamed Joan D’arc. Right before police’s roughing out people.
    Around 3:30pm, Nov. 1. Another police’s roughing out people. We saw at least two young female activists had tear in their eyes… Many women peace keepers are upset when they are circled around by male policemen. The policewomen are insensitive to the same sex women peacekeepers. Why they are so slow when women need them? Scratch by policewomen nails have been usual … Male peacekeepers commonly appeal pain in their right shoulder. Two of them have been carried by ambulance for it. The photo is the scene that the police take apart people in front of construction gate.
    Around 4pm, Nov. 1. After police roughing out, eating roasted tangerine is a joy though.
    Around 4:30, Nov. 1. Another police’s roughing out people. For 4~5 detained women, there are only three policewomen shown in the photo. The others are policemen who walled against us with multiple layers. The policewomen were to exit often but we protested to them so that they should be with us.
    Around 8pm. People’s candle vigil. Massage one another.

     

    How you can help us? Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project. For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.

     

    Video by Navi

    Scene of caisson on the Gureombi Rock and a floating dock that is to station caissons in the sea around 2pm, Oct. 31

     

    (Source: Village website )

     

  • The pain and wound of Jeju in a body.. report on the arrest and release of a woman

    Photo by Kim Sung-Hee/ Sungshim laid down her body on the roadway then the police soon arrested her, around 3:30 pm, Oct. 30, 2012.

     

    Sungshim, a Jeju native and Catholic follower (Lucia), was arrested around at 3:30pm, Oct 30, 2012 then released on the same day. It is a brief report based on the collected phone talks with her, chairwoman of the Gangjeong Catholic house, Taena’s mom, and Joan. Some of us dropped by her in the Seogwipo medical center around 10 pm on Oct. 30 but could not see her since she was deeply sleeping. Thanks, many people who helped our research on this.

    For reference, let us briefly remind you on the situation on Oct. 29. It was around 3:30 pm, Oct. 29 that Sungshim who having climbed up onto the top of construction gate right after a police roughing out and releasing of people, ran down her body in fury from the top to the concrete ground when the navy-contracted company thug ridiculed her rosary prayer. Despite the protest of shocked people who were watching her outside and demanding the company thugs to open the door, the thugs did not open the gate for a while, ignoring people’s appeal and protest for her. The police are also responsible for that accident since they left her alone even though they saw her climbing up to the gate. Sungshim was eventually carried to the Seogwipo Medical center by ambulance after about 30 minutes and as a result of twice x-ray, got the diagnosis of a doctor who said that she has a crack in the hill bone of her right foot and needed more precise medical inspection in the both feet. She was also recommended to be hospitalized. However, Sungshim wanted to return back to the village and stay there while she had bandage in her both feet and crutches. She could not stand that naval base entering into her Island, Jeju, the Peace Island. Around 9:30 pm, she laid herself down on the road in front of the naval base building complex. The police wanted to arrest her but people prevented them to do it and she got consolation from the Catholic sisters later, sitting on a chair, for people’s recommendation. She is told to have slept in front of construction gate at that night.

    The next day of Oct. 30, she was doing a prayer in front of construction gate around 3:30pm. The rosary prayer is composed of total five chapters and she was processing chapter 3. She was infuriated that her prayer was interrupted when she was roughed out by the police with her injured feet.

    When the police released their roughing out of people for the entry of cement mixer trucks, she crawled and laid her down in the middle of the roadway in protest. Then less than 5 minutes, Ku Seul-Hwan, an infamous Security director of the Seogwipo Police station said to her that the police arrest her under the charge of violation on the law on road traffic. She was stunned that the police who did not take any measure leaving her alone when they saw her crawling toward the center line of the road then arrested her when she laid down her body on it. Later she was also infuriated that she got investigation in an office section in charge of crimes of violence while she was arrested for the charge of violation on road traffic.

    When she maintained her right not to speak including her identity during the police investigation, her female investigator told her that, ‘Since you can hear, I suppose you have heard everything,’ and that she would submit file against her to the upper police department. Sungshim made a back talk to her saying, ‘Since you can see, you know I have bandage on and crutch next to my legs.’ The female police investigator could not say anything.

    It was around 5:30 pm that the chairwoman of the Gangjeong Catholic House and Taena’s mom visited the Seogwipo Police station to request the police to meet Sungshim. The policewomen rejected them to meet with her without explaining reason but saying, ‘No, without condition.’ When the two waiting women happened to see Sungshim behind an accidentally opened office door, they tried to meet her but the chief of the section in charge of crimes of violence chased away the aged chairwoman. So Taena’s mom protested to the policemen. The two delivered Sungshim and the police words of Fr. Mun who said she should be hospitalized since she is sick. However the police obstinately insisted transference of her to the Dongbu Police Station in the Jeju City.

    When Taena’s mom called the hearing inspection office of the Seogwipo Police Station later, delivering situation and appealing to its personnel that Sungshim is sick and need to be hospitalized, the inspection office personnel wanted to talk with a police staff in the investigation room.  When Taena’s mom asked the chief of the section in charge of violent crimes, the chief bluntly replied to her, “Why I have to get call?” So his subsection chief received the phone. And amidst that situation, the police were to forcefully transfer Sungshim to the Dongbu police station so Taena’ mom and Chairwoman of the Catholic house earnestly held them back. Suddenly, the police changed their words that they would ‘release her.’  When Taena’s mom phoned with the hearing auditor again, the auditor said, “You have misunderstood. The police were saying that they would release her but you were mistaken to hear that they would transfer her to the Dongbu police station.’ Taena’ mon was stunned and infuriated by the attitude of the police who distort the facts.

    Eventually Sungshim was hospitalized in the Seowgwipo medical center with the agreement of the chief of the investigation support section. The police checked Sungshim’s identification asking a nurse there. What the Seogwipo medical center! The same doctor who has recommended Sungshim to be immediately hospitalized on Oct. 29 said to her that he would hospitalize her ‘since the police allow it.’ Is he saying that she is qualified to be hospitalized since the police corresponded her. Gosh.

    Sungshim was eventually being moved to a treatment room around 7pm (No. 219, Seogwipo Medical Center)

    The spiritual and physical wound of Sungshim who cannot stand her Island to be a war base! Don’t you feel that the pain and aspiration of the Jeju are condensed there? Don’t you see the anti-historic and anti-human nature of the Island police that oppressed Island people, sided with the US military regime during the 4.3 massacre and uprising on the trace of the Japanese imperialism, in the attitude of the Seogwipo police who trample down the aspiration of the Island people, look down on them, distorting facts and overissueing punishments on them?

    Jeong Dawoori and director Cho Sung-Bong thankfully took photographs on her on Oct. 29. Click here for many poignant photos of her on the day. Her desperation to save her Island is remarkable. She has a disease in the thyroid gland. Still she says, “I am OK to die today, only if my Island is saved.”

     

    Photo by Jung Dawoori/ Sungshim on Oct. 29/ For more photos of Oct. 29 and 30 by Jung Dawoori and Cho Sung-Bong, click here

     

  • Sleepless Night in Gangjeong: 5th day of 24 hour construction, 24 hour police watch and 24 hour protest

    The night in Gangjeong is sleepless. Only on the day of Oct. 29, three people were carried to hospital during their protest, following another 3 people on the 1st night of Oct. 25. The police violence against people are more dangerous in the night. Concern and information spreading is urgently needed!

    The navy has planned to use 78 billion won as of September but it could actually use 50 billion won by then. The remaining 28 billion that the navy could not use up was thanks to the peacekeepers’ daily dedicated protests in the field. The peacekeepers’ hard efforts to delay construction (destruction) even 1min. has never been in vain. It is in fact a pain to risk themselves to be ‘limp doll’ (according to  an expression  by a peacekeeper Sanho) during the police roughing out them since the policemen and policewomen would mercilessly carry away them forcefully folding down their arms and legs and even pinching and hitting them to their bruise and scratches.

    ‘There is an urgent need for more people to go to Jeju to help offer support to the villagers.  There is urgent need for people to call the South Korean embassy in your country and tell them to stop the Navy base construction.  There is urgent need to help spread the word about this fight.’ (Source: here)

    Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project.  For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.

     

    Around 10:30am, Oct 29th Mon. Police come! Two peacekeepers that stayed overnight play a Ggeunggari (percussion instrument) and dance!
    Around 10:30am, Oct 29 Mon. Police came! Peacekeeper Deulkkot plays an ukulele, a music instrument
    Around 10:30 am Oct 29. A reverend protested to a policeman who allowed other policemen’s taking photos of protesters. The reverend demanded him to identify his name but the policeman refused saying it is not in the law. Which law? The policeman could not answer. Otherwise, a woman peacekeeper protests to the policewomen, “why do you pinch and are severe to us while you can do gently to us? 3 cement mixer trucks and 1 automobile came in while 10 cement mixer trucks 4 material-loaded trucks and 2 automobiles came out.
    The police should put their nametags in their cloths but it is ignored by the policemen who come to the village to rough out people to back navy enforcing construction (destruction). A sign made by one of peacekeepers.
    Around 11 am Oct. 29. A Catholic mass … Fr. Kim Sung Han is alone… an empty place of Fr. Lee young Chan, who was imprisoned since Oct 24.
    Oct 29 Mon. a doll of Fr. Lee Young-Chan made by a peacekeeper Deulkkot keeps the protest site instead Fr lee who has been imprisoned since Oct 24.
    Around 12:05 pm Oct 29. police roughing out again 3 cement trucks, 2 material-loaded trucks, and 2 automobiles came out while 4 cement mixer trucks 2 material loaded trucks , 1 oil truck, and 2 automobile came in. the word Hyundae is clear in a truck Hyundae , the company is where president Lee Myung-Bak came.
    Emergency around 3:20pm, Oct 29, Mon. After 3:10 police roughing out, Jang Sungsim, a woman climbed up to the top of gate (about 2 m hight) and made a prayer with Catholic Rosary. When the company thug inside the gate ridiculed her, she ran down from the gate top to the concrete floor in fury. The thugs abandoned her despite people’s protest outside to open the door, even ignoring police request. The police are also responsible since they had left her alone even though they saw she was on the top of gate. Around 4 pm, she was carried to a hospital in Seogwipo city and was taken with x ray. She has problem with the backsides of hills and doctor said she needed close medical investigation and being hospitalized.
    Sungsim right before falling down inside the gate
    Around 7 pm, Oct. 29, 2012. Photo by Kim Sung-Hee. Candle vigil.
    Around 7pm, Oct. 29, 2012. Photo by Rev. Choi Hun-Kook. Oct. 29 Dinner with instant noodles.
    Around 9:10pm, Oct. 29. A male peacekeeper (30s) was carried to a hospital by ambulance due to violent police roughing out even without warning broadcasting in the night, following another male peacekeeper (40s) at 7:20pm. Both appealed pain in their right shoulders after the police roughing out of them. Only on Oct. 29, it is already three people who were carried out to the hospitals: a woman at 3:10 pm and two male peacekeepers.
    Around 9:30 pm, Oct 29. The same woman who got medical cure because of injury when she ran down from the top of construction gate returned back to the village, rejecting doctor’s recommendation to be hospitalized. She wanted to get close medical inspection later. Back in the village, she occupied the roadway to the naval base project committee building complex to block the trucks. While she is a patient and has bandage in her foot and leg, the police only wanted to arrest her, to the people’s fury. She is a Jeju native who cannot stand war base to enter the Jeju, the Peace Island.
    Around 9:40pm. Oct. 29. The woman sat on the chair and Catholic sisters are consoling her. However, the police would be more ignorant and uncouth. Many people are being stunned and infuriated for the police violation on human rights.
    Around 11:10 pm, Oct 29. Another police roughing out. the police are roughing out elders including a catholic father one by one from a fire stove. Many people have been keeping the site. Two people from Mir yang, Gyungssangnam-do province made a solidarity visit and brought a box of chocolate cookies. Miryang is a community where small population, mostly composed of elders are fighting against nuclear power plant fueled transmission tower that would destroy their village. The Great March for Life and Peace team has visited Miryang on Oct. 12. See photos by Lee Wooki here and here.
    Around 11:10 pm, Oct 29. Many young peacekeepers lied in front gate of the naval base project business building complex to stop trucks. the police took them apart one by one. it is infuriating to see the police carelessly throw them down into the police detention circle. many young peacekeepers appeal pain after police roughing out them…
    Around 11:20pm, Oct 29. People gather in front of a stove again roasting tangerines after release from police detention circle.
    Around 01:09 m Oct. 30/ Photo by Cho Sung-Bong. For more photos on the night, see here.
    Around 3am, Oct. 30/ After the 3am roughing out, villager uncle Jonghwan and his son Joongdeok are to sleep together. They will even stick together even though the police will take them apart/ Photo and caption by Park Young-In (translated)
    Oct. 30/ ‘Sleepless Night in Gangjeong’/ Photo and caption by Cho Sung-Bong/ A graffiti written by Sanho, a peacekeeper. In front of the construction gate. With the turning on light in the police search light, a group of police come across the Gangjeong bridge. After they finish their duty to pass the cement mixer trucks and return back again, the light turns off again. It took 11 min. 6 sec.
    Around 4am, Oct. 30, 2012/ Photo and caption by Rev. Choi Hun-Kuk/ ‘I fell asleep during street sleep. The police tossed me sleeping inside the sleeping bag away to the side to pass construction trucks. The Gnagjeong peacekeepers cry sleepless and try to get a sleep on the cold ground.”
    Around 05:05am, Oct. 30/ Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Sanho could not sleep for 3 days. Is she a plant? Animal or human being? “Sorry, Joongdeok, I am so powerless.” Uncle Jonghwan muttered to his dog.
    Around 4;12 am, Oct. 30/ Photo by Young Jae Kim/
    In the Gangjeong Sea, Not only a caisson dock is being moored in front of the caisson production area, but also dredge barge stealthy working during the darkness without light.
    The caisson, a concrete lump made of the merciless violence, arrogance and lies of government, navy, Samsung, Daelim and US would be put into the Gangjeong Sea..

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

    Video: For the serious police human rights violation against people, watch the video on Oct. 28: Click here and mouse down.

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

    Solidarity photo  from Okinawa 

    via twitter Henokohama Tsushin
    Okinawa Christian are now singing Gospels at the gate of MCAS Futenma, showing their strong will against US violence.
    普天間野嵩ゲート前ゴスペルによる抗議
    辺野古浜通信twitterより (Post by Masami Mel Kawamura)

     

  • Dance, injury, stove and no rest: 4th night of 24 hour construction

    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)

    …………………………………………………………………

    [Oct. 28 video] The police’s forceful rough out of people in the night is more and more serious

     

    Video by Kim Gami  http://youtu.be/JSWzv8JXNNY

    (Source: http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GeUn/371 )

     

    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.

    National Police Agency (http://www.police.go.kr/eng/index.jsp ) : cnpa100@police.go.kr

  • Heavy rain and wind: 3rd day of 24 hour construction, 24 hour police watch and 24 hour protest

    On Oct. 27, Sat., it heavily rained during the daytime in Gangjeong, following the daytime rain on Oct. 26.  Sometimes even the lightening. Still the construction (destruction) did not stop. So the suffering of protesters went on, too.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ protestors tightened themselves together to block the construction trucks. See more on his photos, click here.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Mr. Oh Chul-Geun who has done three steps one bow for months during last winter recently started it again from the gate to the port. Mr. Oh Chul-Geun continues the practice even in the heavy rain.

    Though the rain stopped in the evening, overnight construction went on so 24 hour protest in shift went on, too. It was 2ndtime that people’s daily peaceful bow at 7am was interrupted by the police on Oct. 28, following Oct. 26. See the below.

    The below is the brief record from 9:20 pm, Oct. 27 to 7:15 pm, Oct 28.

    Around9pm, Oct. 27, Sat.

    Around 9:20 pm, Oct 27: About 500 policemen just to block tens of protesters. Whenever the police appear in the night, it is like a lightened stage. The 500 policemen ate told to come from Seoul and Busan ( policewomen). To the waste of our tax, the navy mobilized 500 policemen for the exit of only two trucks, entry of two trucks and an automobile.
    Around 9:20 pm, Oct 27: Mayor Kang protests to the police

    Around 11pm, Oct. 27, Sat.

    Around 11 pm, Oct 27: Police are mobilized again
    Around 11 pm, Oct 27: Police, we are ready to welcome you.
    Around 11 pm, Oct 27: Police you may do your best to take apart each of us.
    Around 11;50pm, Oct. 27: Mr. Kim Jong Hwan, a  villager and cook thankfully brought  brief food of instant noodle and Kimchee.  Everyone’s joyful time.
    Around 1 am, Oct. 28, Sun.
    Around 1 am, Oct. 28, Sun. Another police roughing out. But everyone is in great positive and determined spirit-yes team spirit.
    Around 1 am, Oct 28: People were infuriated during the police roughing out since some policemen were especially provoking. Those kinds of policemen love to hit and even pinch isolated protester. They also pretend to mistake woman as man. You should shout them that you are a woman then! (In Korea, men is supposed to be dealt by the male policemen while women, by the policewoman)
    Around 3:10 am, Oct. 28, Sun
    Around 3:10 am, Oct. 28: To a policeman who said he belongs to the Jeju provincial police agency, Mr. Kim Jong Hwan, a villager, shouts, “Bastards, recover the Gureombi rock!”
    Around 3:10 am, Oct. 28: When a male peacekeeper who had been with female peace keepers when the police came, he had to shout to them, ‘ I am a man.’ (In Korea, it is supposed that males are dealt by the policemen while female are by the policewomen). But as soon as he said it, the police grabbed his neck from the behind and twisted his arm. Otherwise, people protested to the police on the lights that the police intentionally shined to people inside the detention circle.
    Around 5am, Oct. 28, Sun
    Around 5 am, Oct. 28: Cement mixer trucks come out again. Peacekeepers that had a short sleep on the tents and cars etc. appeared again with tiredness. Violent police roughing out began again. A young male peacekeeper appealed later. When the police carried out him, they happened to drop his head so he had to elect his upper body himself. When he appealed his pain to the policemen, the police dragged one of his leg.. And after he was detained inside a police circle, isolated, the police grabbing the front and backside of his jumper in the neck made him breathless. Further, even though it might be just accidental, he felt as if some policemen are hitting him with their fists. The thin and small young male peacekeeper could not understand why the policemen inhumanly dealt with him as such as he wasn’t doing little resistance to them. There were only three trucks coming in and two trucks coming out. What a mad construction! What a waste of people’s money to mobilize 500 policemen and to commit human right violation.
    Around 5:30am, Oct. 28: People are still keeping the gate amidst cold and strong wind.
    Around 6am, Oct. 28: It was seen that workers enter the gate from 6: 30 am amidst cold wind and darkness. Can you imagine 24 hour/ 7 days construction (destruction)? It means people here can seldom rest.

    Around 7:15am, Oct. 28, Sun.

    Around 7:15am, Oct. 28: The police even interrupted 100 peace bows that is held daily. The police have interrupted bows for the 1st time on Oct 26, with the start of 24hour construction
    Around 7:15 am, Oct. 28: When even the peace bows were interrupted, two female peacekeepers who stayed overnight for struggle tried to block the two cement mixer trucks with their bodies in the gate.
    Around 7:15 am, Oct. 28: Still the peace bows go on: The graffiti on the gate reads, “Peace to Gangjeong, Love you, Gureombi,”
    Around 7:15 am, Oct. 28: After the police disturbance, the 100 peace bows were continued in front of the naval base project committee building complex. Recently the Jeju local court made a decision on ‘no-guilt,’ on a young peacekeeper who was accused to bite the shoulder of a policemen during his resistance against illegal police roughing out of people. The judge said that the police performance at the time cannot be considered as the fair carrying of government affairs so the charge against him cannot be established. See here. The people made copies of the court decision document and put them on the fence.

     

    …………………………………………………….

    Otherwise Rebecca Kim posted on her and her friends’ protest in Seoul at 11 am, Oct. 27. See the note on the protest at the bottom of here.

    ‘8 people got together today in Gwanghwamun Square to protest the 24-hour sheer madness happening in Gangjeong. (Tom Smith, Fielding Hong, Adit Satrya, Alfian Tahir, Akihiro Togashi, Jonghwa Rhee, Jung Jo, and me.)’

     

    Video link: Facebook 

    “No naval base!” in four different languages.
    (English, Korean, Bahasa, Japanese.)
    No naval base in Jeju!
    No naval base in Korea!
    No naval base in East Asia!
    No naval base in the world!
    Stop the illegal construction of the Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong!
    Stop the 24-hour a day sheer madness!

    Video link: Facebook

    “Down down Samsung!”
    “Up up Peace!”

     Video link: Facebook
     …………………………………………………….

     Please write letters to the political prisoners against the Jeju naval base

    As of Oct. 28

    Mr. Kim Bok Chul (No. 598) 138th day in jail

    Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (No. 187) 52nd day in jail

    Mr. Park Suk-Jin (No. 188) 52nd day in jail

    Mr. Park Seung-Ho (No. 290) 43rd day in jail.

    Fr. Lee Young-Chan 5th day in jail

     

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

     

    Release all the peace activists!

    Stop the illegal and absurd naval base construction!

    ( Source  by Cho Sung-Bong)