Villager Yoon Chung who has been jailed since Sept. 11 under the charge of damage on private facilities was released on Oct. 24, with the fine of 2.5 million won. It was his 44th day in prison.
He was jailed on Sept. 11 when he being drunken broke the glass doors of a pro-base shop people in the village. It is known that he is one of the villagers to have his land victimized because of the naval base project (The navy forcefully expropriated 49% of the villagers’ land with much cheaper price. Please come by later for the details on it.).
‘According to the result of the ‘mental health condition,’ that the Seogwipo Daily newspaper researched on the Gangjeong villagers from Sept. 2 to 11, 2009, people that were described of mental abnormality such as antagonism feeling, depression, anxiety, compulsion occupied about 75.5 % of the whole villagers. Among the views on the mental abnormality, antagonism feeling was the most. About 57% of the whole villagers were suffering seized with antagonism. The people who feel suicide impulse reached to 43.9% of the whole villagers, which is 5.4 times higher, compared to 8.1%, the average value of suicide impulse of the Jeju Island people. In fact, the villagers who responded that they have attempted to commit suicide or have planned were 34.7%. Because of the Jeju naval base issue, the villagers’ mental status has become devastated.‘
The village that has been proud of more than 450 years community by which they kept their traditional forms of respecting elders and caring children has been broken apart with the naval base project that has sneaked into their village in April 2007. Majority of the villagers are still infuriated that small sum of the villagers were bribed by the navy and sold their village to it at the time.
It is remarkable that the villagers have been making very hard efforts to recover their community since this year, such as through May 18 Parents Day which was interrupted by the navy again.
On June 20, 2012 when there was a forum on the measure on the victims of the April 3rd massacre and uprising(1947 to 1954), some panelists have raised a issue on the Gangjeong villagers that the villagers whether pro or anti have the right to use the trauma care institute since they were all the victims of the state violence.
On Oct. 24, the Village Association exposed that a plan on the maritime firing training that is to be carried out after the completion of the naval base construction has NOT been consulted with the Island people and will be the disaster for fishes and fishermen.
In its statement on it, it says:
If the Jeju Island government is a true civilian-elected government to at least save the safety and interest of the Island people, it should have made an effort to reduce the anxiety of the Island people in advance through informing to the Island people when it acquired such information; inquiring the navy materials on how often and what size the navy would carry out training; and consulting with it on the season and size limitation.
The below is a translation of a part of the statement.
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If one looks at the basic material on the analysis on the economic effect in relation to the naval base, published by the headquarter of the Maritime Fishery, Jeju Island, in 2007, there surprisingly appears the plan on the maritime firing training field by the maneuvering flotilla that is to be stationed with the completion of the Jeju naval base construction.
The content of the plan is that the maneuver training is to be carried out in the high seas and the firing training is to be in the site where the Jeju Defense Command is currently using as the high speed patrol boat’s firing site. At first glance, one may think it is not a problem since those training sites have already been being used [for drills].
However, the arms currently being positioned in the Jeju Defense Command are merely 1 piece of 40mm naval gun, 2pieces of 20mm Sea Balkan (*a kind of naval gun) and 2 pieces of the M60 machine guns.
However, the arms of the maneuvering flotilla are of higher levels. Just to mention Korean type destroyer KDX-II, it is equipped with 1 piece of 127mm naval gun, Harpoon anti-ship missile, fleet MK 48 missile, and 324mm Chungsangeo(* Blue Shark) torpedo tube. Beside the matter on the maritime control scope, if those arms are used as live shells in training, nobody can guarantee that there would be no disturbance in the maritime ecology system.
It is more surprising to read that that the position of the Headquarter of the Maritime Fishery, Jeju Island, is that there would be no problem if there is a prior notice and evacuation order only to the applicable areas once the training plan is scheduled.
To look at the coordinates of the firing training field through the Google Earth, it is the north zone that links the Gageo Island, Chooja Island, and the north sea of the Hubjae, [Jeju] Island. The sea area is applicable to the gold fishery of yellow corvine according to the fishermen of the Chooja Island.
And to look at the coordinates of the firing training field in the southern sea of the Jeju Island, it is applicable to the South Sea of the Seogwipo area between Joongmoon and Weemme, which is also applicable to the gold fishery of tile fish and cutlass fish.
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
A woman activist, ‘Deulkkot,’ appeals to Ku Seul-Hwan, an infamous Seogwipo Police staff member with a humorous note. More Photos by Cho Sung-Bong, here.
The daily struggle is going on in front of naval base project construction gates. The numbers of committed people who daily appear are usually small-less than 20. They are daily roughed out and carried by police 10 times or even 12 times even by the night. They are hurt with bruise in all parts of their body or scratched by police women’s nails during their resistance process. As sometimes their cloths are taken off during the process of the police forcefully pulling off their bodies, humiliation is what they risk to bear, too. Seldom is time even for going to the communal restaurant for meals. Meals are carried to be taken with street dusts. Still they hardly leave the field. Blocking and delaying cement mixer truck is more important for them, even though they will be dragged and bruised, soon. Street art and graffiti are everywhere: on the street, on the wall, on the poles.
A male policeman is grabbing a woman peacekeeper’s wrist even after roughing out on Oct. 23, 2012. Photo by Kim Gami.
The construction (destruction) is being accelerated with the completion of the giant caisson production frame on the Gureombi Rock coast. It is told that the contracted companies finished test operation for producing caisson on Oct. 23. Caissons that need more than 450 ton cement mixer truck for one by filling the giant mold frame with cement will be rapidly produced soon. About 200 workers from the Vietnam and Philippine will be brought into the construction site with cheaper wages to be exploited for 24 hours. That has been the case of Hwasoon where the Samsung C & T sub-contracted companies enforced the production of 9,000 ton caissons, of which 10 are now floating, whether broken or not by typhoons in the Gangjeong Sea.
It is told that the navy has requested more policemen to enforce construction for 24 hours!The people’s struggle will be then for 24 hours in shift, too! Even the policemen think the navy is crazy. It is expected that the numbers of the policemen will increase at least by the end of this week: From about 250 (3 police companies) to 500 (6 police companies) daily. The government has been pouring the people’s tax to enforce this illegal construction (destruction). 24 hours police watch, seldom precedent since the military dictatorship of Park Chung-Hee during 60s and 70s.
On Oct. 19, 2012, the Jeju press reported that Ku Seul Hwan, the Security director of the Seogwipo Police Station got a medal from the Jeju Provincial Police Agency on the Day of the Police, being acknowledged for his exploit in his security duty for the VIPs in the WCC. But he is an infamous man for the peacekeepers in Gangjeong. He is the one very well known to direct his policemen to use hammer and electric saw to the cut the PVC pipes with which the peace keepers have connected their arms one another to block the explosive cars and cement mixer trucks on March 19 and April 16, this year. Forget human rights Gangjeong.
Despite all those, it is encouraging to hear that as of September, the navy could use only 50 billion won of the 107 billion won allocated for the base project budget, 2012, which has law-evasively been transferred from last year. The navy has planned to use 78 billion won by September. The not-executed 28 billion won is what the field protesters could bring for all of us. Their daily dedication is bringing the result.
How you can help them? Please pressure the ROK National Assemblymembers to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project .( *The government says that the total cost for the Jeju navy base project is about 1.7 trillion won)For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.
It is expected that on Oct. 26, the top-of-the-line fighters and Aegis destroyers will be gathered in the sea of Yeosu and Goheung, Jeolla province (Southern part of Korea), ahead of the planned launch of the Naro (KSLV-I), a space rocket, [ which is launched by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Daejeon)
On Oct. 23, a ROK military personnel said, “The F-15K, the top-of-the-line, of the Air Force will be on air patrol and Aegis destroyers will carry out the duty of path-tracing on the Naro.”
The navy has supported the Naro with the mobilization of the King Sejong, the Great, an Aegis destroyer in its 1st launch (* Aug. 25, 2009, failed); Yulgok Yi Yi, the 2nd Aegis destroyer, in the 2nd launch (* June 10, 2010, failed). At this time of the 3rd launch, two Aegis destroyers are positioned in the west south sea of the Jeju Island and step to trace its path at the same time.
The Aegis ships of the navy is loaded with the Aegis combat system of long distance defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare and ballistic missile defense system. Using that combat system, the Aegis ships can detect the ballistic missile flying from approximately 1,000 km and can intercept it with the Standard Missile-2 equipped to the vessel when it approaches within in-range. Since the applied launch technique is same in the space projectile and ICBM, with only difference that the space projectile is loaded with the civilian satellite projectile, but the ICBM with the nuclear and conventional warhead, it is a good chance to check the preparation ability of the ballistic missile.
The Air force supports with the fighting planes of the F-15K, KF-16. It is to block the civilian and military airplanes that may approach in the upper air of the Naro Space Center set for the temporary no-fly-zone. The F-15K fighting planes using the TIGER-EYEs Targeting Pod, will film the launch orbit of the Naro (2 km to 12 km in the upper air) from the 10 seconds before the launch of the Naro and 70 seconds after the launch of it.
The images that will be provided to the Naro Space Center are planned to be utilized as the source material of the data analysis for the development of the rocket, Naro. Also, there is a plan to provide weather, flight information in real time by dispatching the Air Force personnel to the Space Center and maintaining hot line with the Master Control and Reporting Center(MCRC), Osan, Gyeonggi Province.
The Coast Guard is joining, too. The security ship No. 3002 (3,000 ton class) belonging to the Jeju Coast Guard left the Jeju port at 9am in the morning of Sept. 22 toward the international waters east of Philippine. The No. 3002 will move to the international water 600km east of Philippine, which is 1,700 km south of the Jeju Island. It will support the tracing of the projectile after the launch of the Naro and telemetering monitoring on the flight condition information. It will also take charge of duty to grasp the location of the projectile after it is separated from the satellite and to support on the maritime safety management such as controlling the vicinity in the Pacific Sea area to prevent the damage for the falling objects.
The Jeju Coast guard ship (Jeju Sori, Oct. 22, 2012)
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# The Osan Airbase (actually based on Songtan) is known to be the biggest in the region of the Asia Pacific since the closure of the Philippine Clark Air Force base, Philippine in 1991. It is also a headquarter of the 7th Air Force of the United Sates under the US Pacific Air Force. Currently in the Osan base, the ROK Air Force Operation Command Headquarter and MCRC 1 exist together in the Osan base. The MCRC 2 is in Daeku, Kyungsangbuk-do province, beginning its operation in 2002.
During the first two weeks of October (2012), I visited South Korea, invited by the group World Without War to give a training for trainers in nonviolent action and to visit Gangjeong village, on Jeju Island, where people are resisting the construction of a naval base.
It is well known that South Korea is a militarised country, with the protracted conflict with North Korea being a permanent reminder of this militarisation.
For a decade WRI has been cooperating with South Korean antimilitarists. This began in 2001 when South Korean activists asked WRI for support in their work on conscientious objection. At that time there were hundreds of Jehovah’s Witness COs in prison for their refusal to military service. In early 2002 political COs started to organise themselves, and WRI played an important role in supporting their work. Initially their CO work came more from a Human Rights perspective but rapidly it took a more antimilitarist approach, with nonviolence being an important identity for them. As nonviolence and antimilitarism took a more prominent role in their work, they started expanding their work beyond CO support. That is how World Without War (2003) came to existence as a group resisting war by nonviolent means.
As a direct consequence of the conflict with North Korea and a legacy from the Cold War, South Korea has around 70 US military bases in its territory. US Forces have been stationed in South Korea since 1950. Historically, their main role was to deter any possible war threat posed by North Korea. However, the USA’s Global Posture Review changes the role of US Forces in Korea from a stationary army on the Korean peninsula into a regional hub for rapid deployment and capable of pre-emptive strikes. The Land Partnership Plan of 2002, agreed by South Korea and the USA, has re-organised forces into fewer but bigger bases and training areas. Bases previous clustered on the Demarcation Line have been closed, but the expansion of bases further south increases the capacity to send highly trained troops to other Asian ‘theatres’, with the Jeju base playing a crucial role in it.
Resistance to military bases has a long history in South Korea, with a wide variety of groups struggling against these bases. World Without War sees itself as taking the nonviolent direct action side of the resistance.
Nonviolence Training
World Without War has advocated and engaged in nonviolent action against the military bases and the different form of militarism in their country. This also includes their work against war profiteering, under their sister organisation, Weapon Zero. As part of this work they see nonviolence training as a key element in strengthening their commitment to nonviolence and helping to make their actions more effective. World Without War has been at the forefront of antimilitarist nonviolent actions in South Korea, carrying actions against military bases, war profiteering, military service, etc. Nonviolent direct action, however, is still a relative new concept within South Korean movements and there are strong criticism about it, but thanks to the strong commitment of World Without War and other sympathetic activists, slowly these perceptions are changing – nonviolence training has contributed to this change. Numerous World Without War members have participated in nonviolence trainings and some of them have carried out trainings.
As part of the cooperation with WRI, we had the idea of having a training for trainers, for activists to empower themselves to go out and give their own trainings, and this year (2012) the plans finally materialised, with a training for trainers taking place in early October. The training for trainers was organised by World Without War, but was open to activists from other groups. Mostly of groups engaged in the struggle against the naval base in Gangjeong, Jeju Island. As part of the whole training for trainers process, five preparatory sessions where held before the training, with World Without War members doing the facilitation. These sessions used WRI’s Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns as a guide for their sessions.
The workshop was led by Denise Drake, of the UK nonviolence training organisation Turning the Tide, and myself. It was held on Ganghwa island. This island is very near the border with North Korea, actually from the island you could see North Korea. The island is a two hours drive from Seoul, and I recommend not to fall a sleep during the journey – as I did even though there was a big tv screen on the bus – if not you will definitely miss the moment you get on the island, as it is very close to the continent and joined by a bridge.
Of North Korea I only saw some distant mountains, but just the feeling of being so close to this almost unaccessible country was special. I wished I had some binoculars to see more clearly. This excitement was shared by all participants, which goes to show how close but at the same time far is North Korea from South Korean people. The training was held at a beautiful complex, formed of a series of cosy cabins. Sleeping was Korean style, meaning good for your backs, on thin mats, which were a bit too exposed to the floor heating (useful in winter but this was autumn). Food was provided by a group from a Seoul Haebangchon Café Co-op under the name Bin-gagae and it was delicious, mostly rice and all forms of vegetable side dishes and with one night having Korean style Vietnamese wraps. Every evening we had a Peace Bar, with a good selection of beers and my favourite – soju. The Peace Bar raised funds to support the court cases of activists against the Gangjeong base.
The training itself focused on the facilitation side of nonviolence training. At the end of each day we had a long session under the title Today’s Facilitation Points, which looked at what facilitation methodologies and tools we had used and how to adapt them to the South Korean context. After the first day we had to incorporate many more ice-breaking games as it was a common feedback from participants that South Koreans in general are shy when it comes to sharing in larger groups, and it is much easier for them to do the sharing in a more playful manner. Dancing is very important among South Korean activists, so we also learned some activist dances.
During the training we used the struggle in Gangjeon against the naval base as well as the action at Samsung’s headquarters, where a group of activist poured red paint on them at the entrance of their offices – which is one of the main contractors of the naval base. If you still own a Samsung product, it is now time to get rid of it and join the boycott! This framework helped us to connect the training to actual struggles, for example an important discussion within the movement has been the phenomenon of shouting at police officers during the protests against the naval base. The point was not to agree if this is or not nonviolent, but what are the causes of it and what consequences this has. Another important issue was how to deal with people joining a direct action without being part of the preparation process, the pros and cons of this.
An important session was what we called facilitation practice, where pairs practised facilitating a session. One of the pairs after doing their session came up to me all excited saying “it is tough but fun”.
The training ended with a session on what’s next? The proposal is to form a South Korean network of nonviolence trainers, and several tasks were set up to help this process. As trainer, I saw myself mostly as an excuse to get different activists together to share their experiences and share some limited experience I have. Clearly the knowledge and experience is there and there is huge capacity to work in nonviolence training in South Korea.
No to the Naval Base in Gangjeong Style
As part of WRI’s work against war profiteering, and with the help of World Without War, WRI has repeatedly reported on the struggle against the naval base in Gangjeong, Jeju, mostly focusing on the role that Samsung is playing in the construction of the base. Also WRI’s close friend, Angie Zelter, who visited Gangjeong for a month earlier this year, wrote an article for The Broken Rifle on her experience.
From the moment I knew I was going to go to South Korea I had in mind that I had to go to Jeju Island. I was still not familiarised with the name and even less with the pronunciation of Gangjeong. I have to say that before going to Gangjeong I knew little about Jeju Island, what I did know was that it is a beautiful island, with many natural wonders, including the highest mountain in South Korea – Halla Mountain – and that it is the place where they are constructing a naval base. When booking my flight to Jeju, I was surprised that there are flights from Seoul to Jeju every 15 minutes, which is more often than my local bus! Which goes to show that it is a highly popular destination mostly for Korean tourists, though there are more and more international visitors.
Once you arrive at Jeju airport you get the bus number 600, which takes you through the centre of Jeju city. Once you get out of Jeju city you cross the island, which provides an incredible view of it. 15 minutes before you arrive to Gangjeong village, you are driven through several big tourist resorts, which is a bit of a shock. When we approached Gangjeong village, passengers told me “the next stop is Gangjeong, where people protest”, I guess knowing that I was getting off there. The bus drops you almost in front of Gangjeong’s Peace Centre, where you will always find someone to help you with information and it is the place where many meetings take place.
Gangjeong is a village of around 2,000 inhabitants, where people live from fishing and agriculture, mostly of delicious tangerines. For both fishing and agriculture water is a vital resource, and the naval base will affect both, as already the construction of the base is affecting the soft coral and the sea biodiversity as well as the blasting of the precious Gureombi rock. This rock is not only environmentally sensitive but also an ancient place of prayer – it is the only smooth volcanic fresh water rock in Korea. The fresh-water springs underneath the rock are believed to be the source of the Gangjeong Stream that provides 70% of the drinking water for the southern half of the Island, this water is also what keeps the agriculture going.
The naval base will be a South Korean base available for unlimited use by the US military, mostly to station aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and other lethal weapon platforms. As Angie says in her article, when the plan to construct the base was announced, it was a huge shock for the people in Gangjeong as “the last time a military base was located on Jeju Island, in 1948, more than 30,000 people (a ninth of the population) were killed in a genocide that is known as Sasam. They were killed by the South Korean government under US military rule, 84 villages were razed to the ground and a scorched earth policy left thousands of refugees. People were not even allowed to openly talk about this trauma until 2006 when the late President Roh Moo-Hyun officially apologized for the massacre and designated Jeju an ‘Island of World Peace’. You can imagine how terrible the sense of betrayal was when only 2 years later he agreed to build a naval base on Jeju.”
My hosts in Gangjeong were mostly people from the organisation The Frontiers, an organisation committed to peace building in conflict areas. In Gangjeong they do most of the international work as well as the sea direct actions. The founder of The Frontiers is Dr. Kang Ho Song, who a few days before I arrived had been freed from a six months prison sentence for his actions against the naval base. Members of The Frontiers share a house that a village person of Gangjeong lets them have for free, as a sign of support and appreciation for what they do. If you have come across the No Naval Base on Jeju facebook or twitter or the English newsletter, they are the main people behind them.
At the time of my visit the construction of the naval base was around 13% completed, so there is still the chance to stop it! As I was in Gangjeong a 1 month march against the base was taking place in the main land, covering most of the country, and which will end with a huge rally at the Seoul Square on 3 November. This meant that many of the regular protesters in Gangjeon were away, but still there was an important presence in the village. The resistance against the naval base is formed mostly of villagers together with what they call supporters (Gikimi), mostly coming from the mainland. I would like to use Angie’s words here to say that “the resistance of the villagers and their supporters has been remarkable despite being repeatedly subject to arrest, imprisonment and heavy fines. The South Korean military claim that the base construction approval process was approved by a democratic vote was exposed as a lie. Only 87 people, some of whom were bribed (out of 1800 residents) had an opportunity to cast a vote, by applause only. When the village elected a new Mayor and held their own re-vote, that fairly included the entire community and was done by proper ballot, 94 percent of all villagers opposed the military base—yet the government and military refused to recognize these results.”
The day protest in front of the gates from the very little I could see has a bit of a routine. It starts at 7 am, with people bowing 100 times in front of the naval base gate, then the blockaders take their places in front of the two access gates to block the entry and exit of lorries and cars from the construction site. Every few hours the police comes in hundreds and removes the blockaders, without arresting them. As soon as the police leave, the blockaders take back their position. At 11 am there is a Catholic mass in front of the gate. When a few months ago all forms of protest at the gates were banned, mass was the only action allowed and it symbolised the continuation of the protest. After mass it is time for lunch, which is provided by the activist restaurant supporting the resistance (Samgeori). The police – not officially – have agreed not to interrupt the mass and to also not remove the blockaders during lunch time. In the afternoon there is more blockading and police removal, the blockaders always getting some refreshments from the activist cafeteria (Halmangmul). The day ends at 8pm with a candle vigil in front of the gates, which is also a time to talk and share information and experiences. The candle vigil almost always ends with one or more of the several dances which have become a trademark of the resistance to the base. Dancing is a very important form of protest in South Korea, and this could not be more true in Gangjeong, with the latest hit Gangjeong Style soon topping the rankings as most watched video. I tried to learn a few dances, and I am still practising while looking at the video clips. Check them out!
Throughout the five years of resistance against the construction of the base, villagers and supporters have inspired us with the resilience and courage to continue their struggle. This is one of the best examples of the importance of continuous resistance, as people are there everyday struggling against the base. Many activists have given up their life in the mainland to join the struggle, as Arundhati Roy argued “weekend demonstrations don’t stop wars”. One question is how well they can combine their local protest with pressure in Seoul. The month long march ending in Seoul is a step in that direction. The continuous pressure on Samsung is also crucial. Perhaps South Korea’s presidential elections in December will bring some renegotiation of the relationship with the USA, and Catholic bishops have petitioned that this should include cancelling Jeju. One of the most famous anti-militarist struggles – the decade-long resistance to a firing range on the Larzac in France – resulted in 1981 in the newly-elected French president, François Mitterrand, keeping his promise and cancelling the plan. Nothing like that is likely with Jeju, however, until the movement grows even stronger. Therefore the movement needs a longer term perspective – and could certainly benefit from the long-range support and encouragement of those far away who see the importance of this struggle. Boycott Samsung – share information on what’s happening in Gangjeong – write to or picket your nearest South Korean embassy. Join the Facebook cause if that’s your way. Let’s all find some way to say “No to the Naval base on Jeju Island!”
The Jeju naval base project is divided of the 1st and 2nd work areas The 1st and core work area is ordered to Samsung C & T: The outer blocks of the south breakwater, west breakwater, and dock for aircraft carrier and cruise. The 2nd work area is ordered to Daelim: East breakwater, east break water shore protection, mooring facility and west breakwater shore protection. (Source: P. 2 & 3 of the attached file to the villagers’ open statement/inquiry, on the violation on the directives on the maritime traffic safety, Oct. 22, 2012)
On Oct. 18, the villagers raised a very important issue to the Island governor: The navy’s OMISSION on the ‘maritime traffic safety diagnosis report’ during the process of the government approval on the Jeju naval base project. See its original Korean script here. According to them:
The Ministry of National Defense (MND)’s first approval on the defense/ military facility on Jan. 21, 2009 did not need the navy’s submission on the diagnosis report since the revised Maritime Traffic Safety Act became to be effective only from Nov. 28, 2009.
HOWEVER, the MND’s alteration approval disposal on March 15, 2010 that even the Supreme Court acknowledged as a separate disposal needed the navy’s submission of the diagnosis report, which was NOT carried out: A violation of law.
Also, since the reclamation license permitted on the navy on March 3, 2010 was DONE WITHOUT the submission of diagnosis report, it is unlawful, as well.
Those exposures are very important since the Supreme Court has made a court decision that the Jeju naval base project is LEGAL on July 5, 2012. See here.
On Oct. 22, the villagers developed the issue again with the below translated statement. The village Association attached the two proof documents not translated here but useful. You can see those two PDF files at the bottom of here. The villagers demanded the Island governor’s reply to their inquiries by Nov. 7.
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[Gangjeong village statement, Oct. 22] All approval disposals related to the issue on the public water and its vicinity surface is violation of law in the Jeju naval base project (So called Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty)
Through the material resources collected upon the National Assembly inspection on the government offices, it has become clear that the Jeju naval base project has so many procedural violations of laws.
On the first inspection, regarding the matter on the non-enforcement on the maritime traffic safety diagnosis following the Maritime Traffic Safety ACT (Enforcement Date 27, May, 2009), claimed [on Oct. 18], it reads in the maritime traffic safety diagnosis guidebook supplementary provisions that [only] research reports ‘on the projects whose research service works have been finished before Jan. 26, 2010,’ should be switched to ‘diagnosis document.’ [Please notice] the investigation and test report on the Jeju naval base project 1st work area (Samsung C & T) was issued in April, 2010.
In other words, the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs (MLMT) did not demand the Chief of Naval Operations on the submission of diagnosis report even though it is clear that it is the project subject to maritime traffic safety diagnosis.
Also, the Navy Headquarter got the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface from theBusan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office, without submission of diagnosis report on the date of March 3rd, 2010. It is an act that the Office permitted the reclamation license for the law-violating project, which is also unlawful.
Further, the Navy Headquarter applied for the approval on the reclamation execution plan on the public water and its vicinity surface on the date of March 5, 2010. Even though it was supposed that it should submit the construction specifications and execution layout books etc., it got approval on the execution plan without submission of specifications on the 1st work area and execution layout books on the date of April 6, 2010. Since the 1st work area (Samsung C & T) construction specifications and execution layout books were issued in May 2010, it could not present those [to the Office].
In other words, it turned out that the Jeju naval base project is full of all the procedural violations, related to the matter on the public water and its surface, not to mention the violation of non-execution on the maritime traffic safety diagnosis following the Maritime Traffic Safety Act.
Therefore, Woo Keun-Min, the Jeju Special-Self governing Island governor, who has all the authority on the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface should be responsible for all the recovery of flaws and immediately cancel the approval on the execution on reclamation.
As the Island governor Woo Keun-Min claims fair simulation, what he should do is to demand the navy maritime safety diagnosis, according to law. It is needless to say that verification process could be objectively and fairly done ONLY when the construction stop precedes it through cancellation of reclamation license.
As clear proofs that there have been administrative procedural flaws in the Jeju naval base project beyond political arguments, we will proceed a process to strictly inquire on the responsibility on the illegality to the Chief of naval operations and Chief of Busan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office.
Finally we make clear that we would inquire Woo the responsibility for civilian and criminal cases, if he does not make a cancellation disposal on the unlawful approval to the unlawful project. We also make clear that we would recall him as the Presidential election period finishes ( * You cannot do recalling movement during the Presidential election period in Korea)
A radar-‘strange ball’ in Gunsan. . . Photo by Wooki Lee . . .For more photos, see here.
17th day of Grand March at Gunsan. . . After the meeting with renowned Buddhist monk Do-Beop…on the way to Gunsan, participants meet bus drivers who shows warm solidarity on the road. . .They did Sam-bo-il-bae (three steps and one full bow) on the street in solidarity with bus drivers’ struggle in Jeonju 3 days ago. . Arriving in Gunsan, participants looked around the US Air Base. . .had lunch at Peace Wind House where Fr. Mun’s actual house and office are located. In the afternoon had a solidarity demonstration at the air base gate and marched along the fence of US air base where villagers are suffering from the pollution, the noise of fighters and etc.. . .( from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunsan_Air_Base : Kunsan Air Base is a United States Air Force
The base is located on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is at the town of Gunsan about 150 miles (240 km) south of Seoul. The town (군산시 in Korean) can be romanized as both Gunsan and Kunsan. The United States Air Force uses Gunsan to refer to the town, and Kunsan to refer to the base .
Kunsan Air Base is the home of the 8th Fighter Wing, “The Wolfpack,” assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Seventh Air Force(*which uses most part of the base area) and the 38th Fighter Group of the Republic of Korea Air Force (*which uses only 10% of the base area). It is one of two major Air Force installations operated by the United States in Korea, the other being Osan Air Base. . . .)
Kristin from Hawai’i has visited and stayed at the village for three months from mid-June to mid-Sept., dedicating her works on the solidarity with the villagers and peace keepers who are against the naval base and try to save the Peace Island.
Kristin
Recently, she has thankfully sent us gifts. In the mailed box, there were full of medical supplies that she wanted to send to the friends in the Halmangmool (meaning ‘Grandmother Water’) street café in front of the naval base construction gates. It must have been impressive for her that the friends in the cafe have always appeared in the field with their coffee service to people and quietly make effort to save the Gureombi Rock coast now being destroyed by the naval base construction (destruction). Kristin has always been affectionate to think of Gangjeong despite language difference in the field. Thank you, Kristin, we all love you.
Letter by KristinMedical supplies sent by Kristin (Photo by Park Yune-Ae)Halmangmool cafe (Photo by Yi Norae): See the video on it by Dungree, here.Village international team members cheer for the mailed box: Wow~!
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One, beautiful writing by Kristin
The below is a writing by Kristin, forwarded through Choe Soo Sun, Hawaii, on June 1, 2012. The name of writer was cautiously omitted then. It was only later that we became to know that the writer was Kristin. At the time of May 24, there was a tearful hair-shaving ceremony in front of the Jeju Island government hall. Five villagers including Jung Young-Hee, Chairwoman of the Village Women’s Association, Kang Dong-Kyun, mayor of the Gangjeong village, Cho Kyung-Chul, co-vice mayor of the Gangjeong village, Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Gangjeong village, and uncle Kim Jong-Hwan, a villager shaved their hairs in protest to enforced naval base construction (destruction) in front of the Island government hall.
‘Went surfing this morning, hardly any people out… a lot of turtles… which is always special. I feel so peaceful when out on the ocean. But there is sadness there as well. So many of the beautiful sea turtles have white growths on their heads… a disease, thanks to us humans, which eventually blinds and kills them. It always makes me feel so sad that we have compromised their health, their beauty, and their right to live out their lives without being compromised by uncaring humans. Then, while sitting on my board and looking at the beautiful shoreline, I thought about how awful it would be if the military one day decides to build a naval base here amongst all this natural beauty. I thought about the horrible, horrible impact that would have on life as we now know it here on the north shore. I then thought about the people on Jeju and how hard they struggle and the sacrifices they are making in their effort to stop the destruction being caused by the building of the naval base on their coastline. Not to mention the drastic effect it is having on their village, their culture, and their way of life. I asked myself if I would shave my hair if that were to happen here. Yes, without hesitation. So while I was thinking about the people of Jeju who have sacrificed their hair, I wrote a short poem in their honor…
With every strand of hair that falls
A thousand tears will come to call
Upon the earth that lies below
To grow the seeds of change we sow.
It is not much, but perhaps you could send it to your friend who manages the newsletter… in honor of the people who have sacrificed their hair for the struggle. It has not gone unnoticed, and will never be forgotten.’
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Two, beautiful writing by Kristin
Gureombi
Today I heard Gureombi call
from just beyond the big white wall…
Come sit with me for just the day
I’ll tell you stories if you’ll stay.
You cannot see me anymore
but I am here beneath the shore.
They may have broken me apart,
but they will never break my heart.
For it lives on, strong and old,
I was once their rock, she said
But now they are my rock instead.
I’m sad for all they’ve done to us,
but don’t give up, the fight is just.
You cannot see me anymore
but I am here, beneath the shore,
And I’ll be here forever more.
Today I heard Gureombi call
From just beyond the big white wall.
And when the day came to an end,
I knew I’d always be her friend.
(Village Monthly Newsletter: August, 2012)
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Three, beautiful writing by Kristin
Living in Hawaii has given me a first hand experience in how the US military claims, abuses, and ruins land and natural resources. And it does so at the expense of local culture, customs, agriculture, and marine life, The struggle to stop military expansion in Hawaii is ongoing. We stand in solidarity with the brave and principled struggle taking place in Gangjeong to stop the destruction being caused by the construction of the massive naval base that is ruining their coastline, village, way of life and natural resources. It is being built against their consent or will. This is not just a local struggle. It is a global concern as destruction of land, natural resources and marine eco structures is threatening the very existance of our planet. Military bases protect only the interests of those who build them. They do not make the world a safer place.
In solidarity,
Kristin
Hawaii Peace and Justice
Oahu, Hawaii
“Insane people who attempt to build Dam in Jirisan mountain”. . .On the 15th day of Grand Life and Peace march on October 19, participants visited Yong-yu-dam, one of the most beautiful and historical places in Jirisan mountain, but also people are protesting for a long time. . . If the dam is being built, the area will be destroyed like Gureombi rock and will be submerged. A poet and activist living in the mountain is reciting his poem against the dam building. As the grand march is passing the two weeks, had a relaxed time climbing the mountain enjoying the autumn colors and came to Silsangsa buddhist temple for accommodation. For two days on October 19 evening and October 20, will have people’s assembly here to listen to the voice of voiceless. And the second people’s assembly is planned to be held in Pyongtaek on October 27 a week later. Final place of this grand march is Seoul on November 3. . . Film by Dunguree 박성수. . .
(Jirisan is a mountain in the southern region of South Korea. It is often considered one of the three most important mountains in South Korea along with Hallasan mountain in Jeju island. The mountain is 1915 high and is located in a designated national park of the same name. Jirisan National Park spans three provinces: North, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang and is the largest in Korea.)
