No War Base on the Island of Peace
In this month’s issue:
Gangjeong and the Naval Base Issue stir up the IUCN’s WCC 2012, New U.S. Links to the Naval Base found, ROK Government ignores the UN on Gangjeong, Interviews with Prisoner Kim Bok-Chul and a WCC participant, Articles from several Veterans for Peace visitors to Gangjeong, and more!
On Oct. 16, police roughed out people 12 times to the exhaustion of people who have kept the two gates from the endless construction trucks from early morning. It has usually been about 7 times. Many young activists got bruise and scratched wounds as the policewomen even use their nails. The navy is accelerating construction (destruction) from the anxiety that it may not get the construction budget for next year. The navy has been building caisson production area in the west part of the Gureombi Rock, for which and shipment site in the east part of the Gureombi Rock, it has blasted about 10 % of it this March and April.
Last year, the National Assembly has cut about 96% of about 130 billion won in proposed budget related to the Jeju naval base construction. Many problems including unreliable base design had been exposed through the National Assembly inspection last year. Instead, about 107 billion won budget unused in 2011 due to people’s protests was transferred to 2012 and the navy has been consuming that transferred budget for 2012. Still the navy could not even use half of that as of this October because of fierce struggles by the dedicated people who daily keep the construction gate from the construction trucks, from morning to late evening, sometimes, overnight.
As the end of this year is approaching amidst the National Assembly inspection (The National assembly inspection on the government offices related to the Jeju naval base project is from Oct. 5 to 24) and there will be a Presidential election in December, the navy and conservatives are anxious to finish their job as much as they can do. The growing criticism on the current Lee Myung Bak government is an another factor. The People here have been organizing the nationwide march from Oct. 4 to Nov. 3, which contributes to organize people’s will to change the government and to revoke the Jeju naval base project.
The Headline Jeju on Oct. 9 reported that about 200 billion won was appropriated to the ROK National Assembly in the 2013 budget for the construction cost related to the Jeju naval base concerned by the Ministry of National Defense and DAPA(Defense Acquisition Program Administration).
The cost includes about 108 billion won for the caisson production & deferment in the 1st work area and basic formation for the breakwaters; and 49 billion won for the caisson production & deferment in the 2nd work area and the basic formation of dock. It is also known that about 22 billion won was estimated for land construction.
However, people’s will to stop the Jeju naval base construction will be accomplished. One should not forget the people who daily keep the gates. They are the people who are saving us as well.
Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members 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.
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Reference
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=161923
내년 제주해군기지 공사비 2000억원 편성…항만공사 본격화
국회 제출 예산서, 항만공사비 등 대거 편성
2012.10.09 11:57:38
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See also
http://savejejunow.org/daily-struggle-budget/
Daily struggle has delayed 28 billion won. Help to cut all the budgets on base! (Oct. 23)
[Oct. 15] The National Police Agency replied to the UN human rights inquiry on oppression on Gangjeong without consultation to the Jeju Police Agency.
According to the National Assembly inspection resource material that Park Nam Choon (Democratic United party), a member of the Administrative Security Committee of the National assembly, has gotten from the Jeju Police Agency, the agency has not gotten any consultation from the National Police Agency regarding the reply letter to the UN human rights special rapporteurs’ joint inquiry on human rights violation in Gangjeong [on May 30.]
It means the National Agency has made the reply letter in the way of the arbitrary.
It was also exposed that the Jeju Police Agency has recognized on the existence of joint letter only through media and it has only become to know that there is the Gangjeong-related contents only by the preparation process on the National Assembly inspection at the end of September.
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Reference
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162350
“UN무시, 인권 위에 존재하는 경찰청은 소설가?”
‘UN인권이사회 강정 인권침해 질의서’ 경찰청 맘대로 작성
제주청은 허수아비, 공동서한 내용과 답변여부 전혀 몰라?”
2012.10.15 10:03:46
Pak Nam-Choon (Democratic United Party), member of the Administration and Security Committee of the National Assembly, has compiled and released data received from the Police Office, as part of the National inspection on the Police Office on Oct. 15:
Approximately a total of 130,000 mainland police persons have been stationed in Gangjeong village between August of 2011 and the present. A budget of 4.2 billion Won (about $3.5 million USD) was spent for primarily for food, accommodations and transportation by ferry.
According to documents submitted by the police for the parliamentary inspection on October 15, a total of 194 police units have been mobilized and an average of 352 police officers per day have stationed in Gangjeong village, reaching a total of 128,402 officers
At the same time, [during the period between Jan. 2010 to Aug. 2012] , a total of 586 villagers and activists have been arrested, and among them 493 have been taken to court or put on trial.
Reference:
Jeju Sori: 지난 1년 강정에 투입된 경찰 13만명-42억원
2012.10.15 11:29:33
On Oct. 15 when there was the National Assembly Administration and Security committee inspection on the Jeju Island government at the Island government hall, many people including village elders gathered in its yard to show their determination against the naval base project and to demand the Assembly thorough inspection on the Island government and revocation of the Jeju naval base project, from 9am to 5pm. Beside anti-base groups, there was also protest by a pro-base group in much small numbers. No physical conflict between them. Still the Island government bullying on the anti-base group people, did not even allow them to put a banner on the ground of yard in the beginning. However, people persisted to carry on peaceful 300 bows there. Picketing, songs, dances, and grafting went all day.
The below is an excerpt translation of people’s press conference statement read in front of the Jeju Island government hall upon the start of the National Assembly inspection on the Jeju Island government on Oct. 15. Original Korean statement can be seen here.
[People’s press conference statement on Oct. 15] ‘CNFK intervention, false civilian-military dual complex harbor, human rights violation: Revoke the Jeju naval base project that destroys the future of the Jeju!’
Since the Gangjeong village has been decided as the Jeju naval base project-targeted area five years six months ago, the ROK navy is enforcing construction (destruction) inputting project cost of more than 200 billion won. [..]
Two biggest issues have been disclosed in the National Assembly inspection on the government offices this time.
The one is on a clear proof that the US military has intervened in the Jeju naval base construction. As seen in the construction specifications, the CNFK (Commander of the US Navy Forces, Korea) has demanded [the ROK navy] a base design in which [US] nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarine can enter. (*See here or here)
Not to mention that the construction cost is added with about 150 billion won due to dredging and mooring facility to fit the water depth for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine, we reconfirmed the will of the United States that wants to aggressively intervene in the conflict on the maritime order in the Northeast Asia. Our concern that the Jeju Island would be the scapegoat of the supremacy competition between China and the United States turned out to be more and more realistic.
The other point is that it has come in evidence with that the Government has glossed over as if it would build a beautiful tourism port while it builds the port, in fact, only as a military port.
Scandal is being raised with the public exposure of the meeting minutes by the technical verification committee under the Prime Minister Office, in which even a government officer’s self-scorning remark was even made public, that ‘the [government] has [originally] made the base design as a military port then is to forcibly put cruises, that is why [the committee cannot prove that that cruise works in the projected base through its simulation test]. Still the remarks by the government side that intends to enforce construction by all means without the change of base design flowed in the meeting minutes. Further it turned out that the government has enforced only construction (destruction), glossing over as if the simulation report that is not the government official but has been done by the ROK Maritime University to which the Samsung C & T has privately requested and that was done even before the formation of the technical verification committee is the report that is considered of all of the claims by the Jeju Island government (* which has constantly demanded to the central government on the Jeju civilian-military complex tour beauty where two 150,000 ton cruises are supposedly to enter, The people not only oppose the idea but think it is a nonsense) [..]
Even though the navy has stated that it would use the southern sea and large size maritime shooting range nearby the Chuja Island as a shooting training by maneuvering flotilla, the maritime and fisheries bureau of the Jeju Island government is not raising any inquiry on it. The arms that are used by maneuvering flotilla have much different quality level from the machine gun–level arms that are currently used by the Jeju Defense Headquarter. Also, what will happen in the maritime ecology of that areas called ‘golden fish bank’ in case there are torpedo and anti submarine bomb training not to mention naval bombardment training in that maritime shooting training? [..]
Also the air force is openly stating that it would drive for search and rescue air force base with the development of the new Jeju airport. [..]
Woo Keun-Min, the Island governor should have no more fantasy on the local development with the naval base construction that has been full of expedient method, law-evasiveness and illegality. [..]
The navy should not extort the sacrifice of the Jeju Island people with its concession project under the mask of so called security. It should return back to its duty for true security placing the management on the southern sea transportation route and Ieodo (Rock not island) water area to the coast guard, the proper group for such duty.
Oct. 15, 2012
The Gangjeong village Association
The Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Sop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island
The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island
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Reference
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articlePhotoView.html?idxno=162359
국회 국정감사장 앞 제주해군기지 반대 시위 전개
“국감 통해 해군기지 문제점 낱낱이 밝혀내야”
제주도청 앞 100배 시위…청원경찰과 한때 실랑이
2012.10.15 11:05:21
http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35865
해군기지 공사중지 결단 촉구
강정마을회 등 반대단체 국감장앞 집회
2012.10.15 15:47:06
[Oct. 12] The relocation of the habitats for the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was driven in a rough-and-ready method: A National Assembly woman, Jang Hana, reports.
Left: Red-foot crabs that died during the process of relocation to an alternate habitat in the Jeju naval base construction process (Jeju Domin Ilbo, Oct. 12/ Original source: Press release attachment material by Jang Hana, National Assembly woman)
Right: Red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) discovered in the Jeju naval base construction area. The species has been relocated to an alternative habitat. (Headline Jeju, Oct. 12)
The below is the translation of the press release by Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman, on Oct. 12. She attached two documents (not translated here) to the press release. They are the elaboration of her press release. Otherwise, the Korean language of this site can be seen here.
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[Press Release on the Inspection of government offices] Alternate habitats for the endangered species of the Jeju naval base project area…full of the unreliable, when applied to the US guideline.
Oct. 12, 2012
Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, says, “In South Korea, alternate habitats are an indulgence for development”
1.Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman (Democratic United Party) has submitted a report titled, ‘Analysis on the environmental contamination due to military base and independent environmental impact assessment,’ as a resource material for the National Assembly inspection of the government offices by the Environment and Labor committee of the ROK National Assembly.
2. According to the report, it was proved out that the relocation of the endangered species having been processed in the Jeju naval base construction has been in a rough-and-ready method, as a result of applying the ‘Guideline on the Relocation Plan on the Endangered Species,’ by the US department of the Interior.
3. In the report that Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, has investigated, the relocation example of Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a worldwide endangered species, is presented. In the guideline on the relocation of Desert Tortoise, which is formed of total 7 stages, one glances elaborate concern and will on the protection of the endangered species in all the process of plan-investigation-relocation-adaptation etc.
4. According to the guideline, comparison and observation on the habitat environment between the alternate habitat and 3rd region should be done before the relocation [of species] to an alternate habitat. According to the 2nd stage in the guideline, one should choose original habitat, alternate habitat, and the 3d habitat and should observe all the three sites. Then one observes the individual numbers etc. of the Desert Tortoise in an alternate habitat and 3rd habitat to observe on the matter of success [of relocation] in the alternate habitat and catch hold of problems [on it, if any]. However, National Assembly woman Jang says, “there was no part on the comparison and observation on the 3rd habitat,’ in the service [company] report on the release of the red-foot crab (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government), which was processed during the Jeju naval base project into an alternate habitat
5. There is so called evacuation investigation according to the 4th stage of the guideline, which means that all the subjected species should be relocated to an alternate habitat with no individual number left in an original habitat. It means ALL individual numbers because the original habitat would be destroyed. Further an individual with abnormality in health should get heath check and rehabilitation medical treatment that costs $ 9,000 for an individual number for five years.
6. In the 6th stage of the guideline, concrete explanations on relocation method is presented. The relocation should be done as possible as in spring, while release should be done within the range of 18~30 centigrade and safekeeping box should be moved through a clean and oxygen-enough container. The sanitary condition of the container is important, as well. Containers should be sterilized with household bleach or manufactured goods certified by the Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also all the Desert Tortoises must make contact with water within 12 hours before their release and must be released in a protection zone of no high density.
7. The last 7th stage is on the monitoring and adaption management after relocation. In the guideline , monitoring point time and period is very elaborately presented. After the relocation to an alternative habitat, at least five years should be monitored. The monitoring should be done once within 24 hours right after release, minimum twice within two weeks’ release right after release, minimum once a week. However according to Jang, the monitoring cycle on the red-foot crabs in the alternative habitat (* Seongwenne Creek, nearby the Gangjeong village.See HERE) of the Jeju naval base project area was merely once in 6 months.
9. Jang Hana, National Assembly woman criticized, saying, “The alternative habitats are becoming indulgence for the big size environmental destruction. Still [relocation itself] is being processed very unreliably in a rough-and ready method. She plans to strongly demand protection measures on the endangered species in the Jeju naval base projection area during the National Assembly inspection on the government affairs.
10. Otherwise, the report submitted by Jang has been made by the Green Korea United and Endangered Species International (ESI), an IUCN member group and overseas environmental group who made joint investigation.
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See also
http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/I51g/585
[Green Korea United] ENDANGERED SPECIES RELOCATION ASSESSMENT
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Reference
http://onethehuman.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=press&wr_id=121
[국감보도자료] 제주해군기지 대체서식지, 미국기준 적용해 보니 부실투성이 . . . .
글쓴이 : 장하나의원…
http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35834
해군기지 멸종위기종 서식지 이전 ‘졸속’
장하나 의원 “미국기준 적용해 봤더니 부실투성이” 지적
데스크승인 2012.10.12 18:40:45
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162168
“해군기지 대체서식지 이전 졸속…개발 면죄부에 불과해”
장하나 의원, “미국기준 적용시 부실투성이”
2012.10.12 11:00:38
Base opponents now have concrete and irrefutable evidence to back up what they have suspected and declared for a long time. Assembly Woman Chang Ha-na has found and disclosed the full record of the meetings between the Prime Minister’s office and the Technical Committee, revealing publicly the complete lie of the so-called “civilian military dual use port”, as well as the general deception, and poor and hurried planning behind the Jeju Naval Base Project.
Evidence Shows Government Ordered Data Doctored on Jeju Naval Base; Committee recommended simulation tests, but construction was rushed ahead
By Heo Ho-joon, Hankyoreh Jeju correspondent
Evidence suggests that the government ordered data to be doctored to allow for the construction of a controversial naval base on Jeju Island without conducting simulation safety tests for cruise ships entering and exiting the base.
Accounts from members of the technical committee examining the base, ostensibly a joint civilian-military “tourism harbor,” suggest it was designed as a military port, with the simulations planned only to give the appearance that it would also be accessible to 150,000-ton cruise ships.
Democratic United Party Rep. Chang Ha-na, who sits on the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, disclosed full records on Oct. 10 from four meetings of a technical committee under the Office of the Prime Minister that convened in January and February to examine the port’s suitability cruise ship entry and departure. The six-member committee had six members recommended by the ruling New Frontier Party, the opposition, the administration, and the province of Jeju.
At the fourth meeting on Feb. 14, one committee member hinted at government doctoring of the data for a simulation on the port’s safety for 150,000-ton cruise ships.
“The government’s telling us to come up with data that would allow construction to begin right away without a simulation,” read the records of the technical committee’s meetings.
Also, at the first meeting on Jan. 26, members of the committee made statements to suggest that the port was originally designed as a naval base, with no design changes to make it suitable for use as a civilian harbor.
Statements made at the second meeting on Jan. 30 indicate that the design changes in question were not made, showing the government’s pledge to have been false.
One committee member said, “I have no idea why [President Lee Myung-bak] gave that wild figure of 150,000 tons.”
“You would need to make the boats smaller,” a second responded. “It doesn’t work for that region. The problem is that they had to go claim it could accommodate two 150,000-ton boats and design it around that.”
A third said, “So the government was building a naval base and it went ahead and made the pledge [for a civil-military harbor capable of accommodating two 150,000-ton cruise ships] without examining the design at all. If they’d looked closely enough, then maybe this 150,000-ton stuff would never have been said.”
A fourth said, “If you’re building a cruise dock, the first thing you need is harbor facilities. . . . They’ve got boats that size [150,000 tons] coming in here, and nothing’s changed with the surface. . . . And the reason is there’s an underlying assumption nothing’s going to be changed.”
The committee was chaired by Sogang University professor Jeon Joon-soo and included Korea Maritime University professors Park Jin-soo, Kim Se-won, and Kim Gil-soo, Cheju (Jeju) National University professor Lee Byung-gul, and DY Engineering executive director Yu Byeong-hwa. The secretary was Im Seok-gyu, Jeju policy officer for the Office of the Prime Minister.After four meetings, the committee concluded with the recommendation that a vessel simulation was needed to take into account the repositioning of harbor structures and placement of tugboats without major changes to the existing harbor design, and was then disbanded.
Since the committee’s fruitless discussions and non-binding conclusion, the government and Navy have pushed ahead with the construction, conducting no simulations and making no design changes to date. The project is currently 22% complete, according to the Navy.
Other evidence surfaced to suggest the committee members were told that the construction would continue and there would be no design changes.
One member said, “Ever since they set this [committee up], there has been the assumption that the construction would be going ahead all the while. They’re asking us to find some kind of technical alternative that wouldn’t require any design change.”Another member responded, “Right now, the government’s worried that the construction is going to be delayed” by a simulation.
The same member said, “We advised [the Office of the Prime Minister] that a simulation was needed, and they said, ‘Can’t you just put a little phrase in there or something without messing up the construction timetable?’”
Chang declared that the meeting records bore out suspicions that the government and military planned the harbor as a military port and looked for a way around the 150,000-ton cruise ship issue after the President made his remarks.
“They need to halt the naval base construction and reexamine [the port] from square one,” she added.
Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman has stated on Sept. 7 that “The Jeju naval base layout has been based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that the South Korean military does not retain and the layout application has been planned with the water depth that satisfies the demand by the CNFK (Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, Korea).” See here.
Mr. Koh Yound-Dae, Executive research member of the Research Institute for Peace And Reunification of Korea, has written an article on Oct. 4 that is translated as the below (translator’s arbitrary translation) . He says, ‘it is righteous to consider that the [projected] Jeju naval base is a US base in the sense that its main facilities of the water depth inside the breakwater where US aircraft carrier or cruise would moor, the water depth of mooring dock for submarine, and turning basin are designed and being constructed following the demands by the US military and fit to the vessels that the US military retains.
His writing is helpful as he explains in detail that the matter is not only for the US nuclear aircraft carrier but for the US submarines, too.
On Oct. 10, Jang (Chang) Hana, and her office has exposed a very important proof of the technical committee’s meeting note that the committee members have known that the port design is never for 150,000 ton cruises, which makes clear that the central and Jeju Island government have falsely asserted as if the port is a complex civilian-military harbor primarily for the 150,00 ton cruises. See here.
Why the Jeju navy base is the US base?
[Opinion] The base layout, including the water depth in the inner side of breakwater, is designed to fit the US warships
By Koh Young-Dae, Executive research member of the Research Institute for Peace And Reunification of Korea
The ROK (Republic of Korea) Ministry of National Defense has been consistent to deny people’s claims that the Jeju naval base enforced in the Gangjeong village is, in fact, a US base. However, clear proofs that support the fact that the Jeju naval base is ultimately the US base is being exposed one after another.
One of the critical strongholds is the fact that the Jeju naval base has been designed according to the standard demanded by the Commander of the US Navy Forces, Korea (CNFK). For example, the water depth of the inner side of its breakwater is designed as 17.40m, which is to follow the standard demanded by the CNFK (15.20m) and to secure the safe mooring of the US nuclear aircraft carrier ( P. 180, 1 Water depth of dock plan, 1-7-3: Plan on mooring facility. chapter 1 of Part 3: Basic layout, 07 Report on investigation and test, 08-301-1 Facility construction, ROK Navy)
Another strongholds that the Jeju naval base is a US base is that the ROK navy has conducted simulation on the coming & exiting alongside the pier and entry & exit of port, in which the USS Enterprise (CVN–65 level), a US nuclear aircraft carrier, was an object ship. It also directs that mooring barge is to be equipped so that the coming & exiting alongside the pier is easy for aircraft carrier of which flight deck is projected. It even directs a blueprint on it in details.(P. 52, 2. Method for aircraft carrier to come alongside the pier, 5-1-2 mooring barge, Chapter 5. Accessory facilities, 09 Summary report on the execution design, Facility construction, 08-301-1, ROK navy)
The ROK navy currently does not retain any aircraft carrier and it has no plan to do it in the future, as well. Despite that fact, it has secured water depth for the US nuclear aircraft carrier following the demand by the CNFK. It is nothing but a clear proof that the Jeju naval base is for the benefit of the US navy that the navy has conducted even the simulation on coming & exiting alongside the pier following the demand by the CNFK.
Another stronghold that one cannot but suspect the Jeju naval base as the US navy base is the water depth of the mooring dock for submarine.
Unusually, in the Jeju naval base project, while the water depth of the dock for large ship is 11.5m, the water depth of small/middle ship and submarine dock is 12m, deeper than former. In case of draft for submarine that the ROK navy retains, it is 5.5 m for the 209 class (1,200 ton) and 6m for the 214 class(1,800 ton). Even with the introduction of 3,000 ton class mid-size submarine, the draft is 7m therefore it can be safely moored in the water depth of 9m when the minimum spare water depth (1.2m) and spare safety water depth are put together, according to the ‘layout standard for defense facility.’ Despite that, the ROK navy is to secure the water depth of as much as 12m, which is considered for the large US nuclear aircraft carrier (of which the draft is more or less 9.5 m) to safely moor. In the sense that the ‘Report on the basic plan’ (2009. 1) of the Jeju naval base reads that securing of 12m water depth is by the demand of ordering subject (navy)’, it is inferred that the water depth of the mooring dock for submarine has been directed to design company by the ROK navy, following the demand by the CNFK, as well as in case of aircraft carrier.
Otherwise, the size (diameter) of the turning basin (turning water area for the ships in the inner port) of the Jeju naval base project has been designed with 1.5 times of the length of the US CVN-65 class (342.3m), which is 520m, in case tugging boat is forced to be used due to topographical limitation (‘Standard for the defense/ military facility, Ministry of National Defense and P. 41, layout directive on the harbor & bay facility). The Dokdo, the largest vessel the ROK navy retains is of 200 meter length, for which the turning basin diameter is 300 m when 1.5 times of length is applied as in case of aircraft carrier and merely 400 meter even when twice of its length is applied (turning head by tugging boat).
Otherwise, for the 150,000 ton cruise ( about 345 m length) to safely enter in and exit out, following the demand by the self-governing institute of the Jeju Island, the size of turning basin should satisfy 1,035 m(three times of ship length, when it is turned by its own exertion) or 690 m (twice of ship length, in case of using tug boat or thrust). ( ‘Standard for harbor & bay layout’ Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs, P. 696 in part 6 on ‘Water area facility and dredging/ reclamation)
The current size of turning basin in the Jeju naval base project does not fit for the 150,000 cruise to safely passing by inside the port and coming alongside/ exiting the pier. Even though the navy asserts that it has applied 1.5 times even to the 150,000 ton cruise, the regulation of 1.5 times is not stipulated in the ‘Standard on the Layout for port & bay/ Fishing port,’ different from the ‘Standard for the defense/ military facility.’
Likewise, it is righteous to consider that the [projected] Jeju naval base is a US base in the sense that its main facilities of the water depth inside the breakwater where US aircraft carrier or cruise would moor, the water depth of mooring dock for submarine, and turning basin is designed and being constructed following the demands by the US military and fitting to the vessels that the US military retains.
Currently, territorial conflicts are daily being intensified among China, Japan, Philippine and Vietnam in the East South Sea surface. Riding on it, the United States is stepping forward to strengthen her maritime domination in the East Asia. To secure additional bases for it, the United States is returning to the naval bases such as in Subic Bay, Philippine, Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, and U-Tapao, Thailand where she has stationed in the past. For the US navy to station in those bases again, it should pay rental fee for them in applicable nations.
The Jeju naval base that could be the best outpost against China is being constructed wholly by our budget (including additional costs that are being increased as the base is constructed as the US base) and shall be provided free to the US military. Whereas the only price for us is that the Jeju Island and Republic of Korea would be the target for the mid/long range missile attacks by China.
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Above article is also in http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/I51g/651
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See the related article at http://savejejunow.org/navy-report-us-nuk-submarine/
Navy report: Jeju Naval Base to Accommodate US Nuclear Submarine
On the night of October 6 into the morning of October 7, villagers and activists from Gangjeong slept on the street due to an illegal giant truck of Daelim construction company.
Around 9 pm, Sept. 6 when people were working on making pickets, a giant truck was to enter the construction (destruction) site, passing the Kosa mart four-way intersection, the center of the village. While people were sorry to hear that there was already another truck before it, people, capturing the 2nd truck, kept it all night, daring to sleep on the street of cold October night.
Before that, villagers burst out with fury. Daelim, one of the main construction companies has written a memo to them in November, last year that it would not send construction trucks through the four-way intersection where car size and speed is greatly limited. However, the truck driver who introduced himself to be from Gwangyang, Jeolla province and it was his first visit to Gangjeong, was to pass the street last night, without having been informed on it.
Looking at the materials loaded in the truck, they were giant frames that might be used in the caisson productions. The villagers have already been infuriated to hear that construction (destruction) has been ongoing even in the night and dawn, after the fall harvest holidays. Still the police pretending to hear their righteous protest words, stealthily took photos of them. Because of that, there were shuffles.
From the port, news was sent that the construction companies were noisly working on barge and caisson dock on the Gangjeong Sea. It was a Saturday night again.
Despite cold weather and tiredness, many people kept the field of street. Many people brought blankets for the people sleeping on the street.
The truck is being covered with people’s pickets and flags.
Please understand for bad qualities of photos.
October 7th, 2001 was the day the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. For Keep Space for Peace Week, October 6-13, Gangjeong activists made signs in solidarity with Afghanistan and those against the continued war and occupation.