“Writers Action 1219” held the “Gangjeong Village Peace Library Proposal Ceremony” in front of the Jeju Naval Base project construction gate on November 21. 23 representatives from the group attended and joined the civil disobedience campaign, joined by activists, villagers, and Catholic fathers. Below is their official statement made at the ceremony. Click here For further details and pictures.
We Want to Arm Gangjeong Village with Literature:
Proposal for the Creation of a Gangjeong Village Peace Library
As we stand here today each of us carries a book. We know that fire could turn this book to a handful of ashes. Water could turn it to a lump of batter. It could also be torn to pieces and scattered by the Gangjeong wind. But we know that it is the son of a tree, so it is the breath of the forest and the heart of nature. We know that the salamander and the red-foot crab live together in it, and the Aster Yomena and Cladium chinensis Nees plants grow together, and we know that life and anima are connected like the stonewalls of this village. Above all things, we know that the heart of this book is like the Gureombi Rock.
Therefore, today, we would like to launch this villager and civil group cooperative project, the “Creation of the Gangjeong Village Peace Library”. For the red-foot crab to crawl, the Cladium chinensis Nees to sway, and for the natives’ laughter to be heard by those that pass through Gureombi. For the Sarangbang [a type of traditional Korean guestroom] of beautiful life to protect and live with this sea longer than billy clubs, guns, swords, and cannons. We will arm this village with hearts of hope, peace, and solidarity against their arms of domination, hegemony, and war.
But literature does not occupy peace through destruction and replacement. We will not “build a library in Gangjeong Village” but “build Gangjeong village into a library”. We will clean and repair an old and empty house and connect homes to each other so that the whole village can be a library. We will create a library where adults can read books, children can dream, and together they can share stories, creating a presence of peace. This project will not end in a moment but will be forever with Gangjeong village.
We are going to put our effort into creating the Gangjeong Village Peace Library.
One, we will let everyone know about the meaning and necessity of the Peace Library through paper and action.
One, we will share everything necessary for creating the Peace Library and actively participate in the particulars of preparation.
One, we will steadfastly contribute to the Peace Library, the literature we have published thus far and will publish in the future.
One, we will participate joyfully in various literature events, lectures, and etc., which the Peace Library will hold in the future.
As we stand here today each of us carries a book. Tomorrow, we will become these books and protect this place as that book. Each letter in the book will crawl out like the Japanese mitten crab, wanting to see a recovered Gureombi, recovered lives, and a peaceful, beautiful Gangjeong Sea again. Because we believe literature is the food of Peace and solidarity for hope.
We desire that villagers and civil groups participate together in the preparation of this project and our will is that this project will lead to the total annulment of the Gangjeong Village U.S. Naval Base.
November 21, 2012
Seong-ho Ham & Sun-woo Kim
Gangjeong Village Peace Library Project “Writers Gathering” Preparation Representatives
On Tuesday, November 21, several members of SOS (Save Our Seas), the Gangjeong ocean observation, monitoring, and action team, reunited after several months of focusing on other activities (and several members months long imprisonment). Four members, decided to take two kayaks, one turned into a homemade sailboat, out to the sea to observe the construction. Their plan was to circle the construction site legally from the outside, observe and take pictures and video. They also just to go out to sea for the first time in several months.
The weather was a bit cold and overcast, but it was not dangerous or excessively windy and there were no sea weather warnings. All four members are excellent swimmers and kayakers as well as licensed divers. They also all wore heavy winter wet suits, both for warmth and safety. The members brought their kayaks to Gangjeong port, a small public port, and put their boats in the water. Upon doing so, the coast guard ran to them and began questioning them about their plans and motive. Since Korea is supposedly a free democracy and not a police state, the members merely replied that they were going to the ocean and felt no further need to give more details.
Coast Guard boats intercept the kayaks
As the SOS members got in the Kayaks and took off, they were suddenly surrounded by Coast Guard ships and officers. Without any announcement or information, the coast guard officers jumped in the water and began blocking the kayaks. They then grabbed the kayaks and began pulling and pushing them back to the shore. SOS members struggled nonviolently with the coast guard who continued to attack them and restrict their rights and freedom without any explanations.
Finally after a lot of struggle, one coast guard official began to announce through a microphone that because there was a the construction site nearby, it might be possible that the SOS members would go inside and doing something illegal. He even referenced the June 30 action when Kim Dong-Won climbed a crane doing illegal dredging. Of course, this is outrageous as not only was Kim Dong-Won not aboard a Kayak but also his case is still currently on trial, meaning he is still innocent until proven guilty. Further it was outrageous that simply because there was a construction site in the area (hundreds of meters away, no where near where SOS was blocked while doing something completely legal in a public place. With that reasoning the police can stop anyone from doing anything if there is ever a chance of something illegal happening, which is always and everywhere!
Coast Guard thugs block a swimmer.
The struggle continued on and the SOS members went back to shore and then attempted to enter the water at several other places, every time illegally blocked and assaulted by the coast guard. They continued until it began to grow dark. At which point they returned to the land.
It was an outrageous display of police stupidity and power (there were more than 20 coast guard officers to the 4 SOS), and total trampling on the rights of the SOS team members. It is clear that not only is Gangjeong a police occupation, but that the coast guard and the police are nothing more than free taxpayer paid security for construction companies, Samsung and Daelim. Many Korean coast guard members are very nationalistically proud of themselves for being in the coast guard, but they have nothing to be proud of. They are complicit in the destruction of Gangjeong Village, its people, heritage and culture, and the destruction of the environment, including the very sea that they are sworn to protect. This is both pathetic and shameful.
More pictures available below:
SOS members prepare their homemade sailboat kayak.Entering the water, ready for the journey.Coast Guard officers block the sailboat kayak.Not giving up, the SOS members got out of the water and entered again at another location. They were blocked again, this time by even more coast guard boats and officers.While being trapped by the Coast Guard, the SOS members found an old damaged silt protector, which again raised concerns about whether the construction site is using the required environmental protection.The silt protector viewed from underwater.
1. People’s Nov. 20 statement on the exposure of the Island Council on Nov. 19
( Translated. Original Korean statement can be seen here)
Title: The ruling and opposition parties should cut the whole 2013 budget for the Jeju naval base project as the decision on drive for the Jeju naval base project by the national policy control meeting turned out to be a clear fabrication!
In the inspection by the Administrative Self-Governing Committee of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Island Provincial Councilyesterday on Nov. 19, it was confirmed again that the government has doctored the meeting results of the technical verification committee to finish the committee’s technical verification committee report in the earlier period without design change and construction stop, thanks to the testimony by Prof Kim Gil-Sou who has participated as a member of the technical verification committee managed by the Office of Prime Minister. It was also exposed that there were models of 4tug boats not two boats in the 2nd simulation of which the report was made public by the Office of Prime minister. Further it was also exposed that the report was not the technical verification committee officially acknowledged but a mere reference.’
The Office of Prime Minister has officially taken the 2nd report, asserting its basis that it was manifested following the recommendation by the technical verification committee. However, it turned out that the 2nd simulation report is clearly a fabrication in content and procedure.
Therefore the decision to drive construction by the national policy control meeting on Feb. 29, 2012, which was held based on the report, is regarded as not valid from the origin, too. In detail, the decision of the national policy control meeting came out based on the 2nd simulation report and was concluded on the premise that it is guaranteed for 150,000 ton cruise to enter/ exit of port and to safely come alongside the pier. The premise was conditioned though, that west jetty dock is structured into the changeable and navigation route is changed by 30 degree angle. As the very basis of the decision turned out to be fabrication, the decision by the national policy control meeting can not be established as valid any more.
It was also confirmed that three dimension modeling on the harbor and bay set up in the 2nd simulation was processed borrowing the harbor and bay model established in the 1st simulation. It is a serious reason of disqualification because even though the 2nd simulation is a test formed on the premise of 30 degree angle navigation route, it directly borrowed the area-detailed basic resource for the case of 77 degree angle (vicinity of navigation route, current, wind direction and wind speed). Because it is a test processed even without investigation on the area-detailed geographical and natural conditions in the vicinities of the 30 degree angle navigation route, it is a test that lost even the value as a report.
The matter is that there is a great concern that the revival of the 3rd simulation agreed between the Jeju Island government and Office of Prime Minister could be processed, borrowed of three dimension model used in the 1st and 2nd simulation. It is told that it takes six months only for collection of the area-detailed basic resource and for composition on the three dimension model for targeted ships and harbor & bay. Therefore, given the current situation, there is a high possibility [for the Prime Minister and Island government] to borrow the 1st and 2nd simulation models for the 3rd simulation,
However, we claim that the test lay-out should be inevitably carried out on the ground of clearly collected area-detailed basic resources to take fair and objective verification that the Jeju island government has emphasized many times. Also the researchers who led the 2nd simulation that was proved out to be fabrication should be excluded in the selection of the researchers to join the tests. It is because objectivity and fairness cannot be secured if the tests are processed by re-employing the scholars who have abandoned their consciousness.
[To conclude] the 2013 budget of the Jeju naval base project (Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty) of which only re-verification would take at least six months should be righteously cut.
Thereupon, we demand like the below.
Accepting the inspection result by the Administrative Self-Governing Committee of the Island Council yesterday(Nov 19), Governor Woo should revoke his position on the pass of the Jeju naval base budget and declare the demand on objective and fair simulation.
We request the Island Council to deliver the inspection result of the Administrative Self-Governing Committee and to make efforts for the 2013 Jeju naval base budget to be wholly cut.
To realize stop on construction and re-examination on project that Moon Jae-In, Presidential candidate has pledged, the Democratic United Party should not make any concession regarding the principle of budget cut before fair and objective verification
Finally, the Saenuri party should agree with the whole budget cut for the 2013 Jeju naval base project , bearing in mind that it would be the critical elements in executing the national policy project to lose people’s trust on the Government and National Assembly to allocate budget for the project that does not secure fairness and objectivity such as of procedural flaws and in which unjust behavior such as layout flaws and unreliable construction would be confirmed.
Nov. 20, 2012
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)
2. Villagers steps for legal suit on the reclamation matter
Regarding the Island government’s license of the navy on the reclamation on public water and its surface in the Jeju naval base project (so called Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty, the Gangjeong village entered for legal step on Nov. 20. The Gangjeong village delivered to the Island governor its application letter on the demand of the cancellation of the navy on the license on the reclamation on public water and its vicinity surface, demanding the governor to reply on his acceptance or denial of it by Dec. 5, 2012. The village said that if the Island governor rejects the application by the village or does not reply to the villagers by the defined date, it would enter the procedure on the lawsuit for the cancellation on the denial disposal on application, based on the law on the administrative lawsuit.
On Oct. 22, 2012, the village has made public if Woo Keun-Min, Island governor does not cancel the navy of the license on the reclamation on the public surface and its water by Nov. 7, it would inquire him civilian and criminal responsibility for it.
Reminder: 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 unlawful. Otherwise, the right to permission and cancellation on the reclamation construction on the public water and its vicinity surface was handed over from the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime affairs to the Jeju Island in September, 2011.
3. Illegal destruction of the Gureombi Rock in violation of the EIA
Translation of photo essay by Cho Sung-Bong on Nov. 20, 2012. See original Korean language version, here:
‘According to the ‘Agreed Contents of Environmental Impact Assessment,’regarding the Jeju naval base project, it reads that double-layers of silt-protectors should be installed during the maritime construction and use of Fall Pipes and land washing of sands and stones during the input of them into the sea should be carried out.
However, construction(destruction) is being done with nothing above is observed.
Even though scattered dusts and maritime contamination have spread far wide, yet no measures have been taken.
The article 26 of the law on the Environment Impact Assessment reads that ‘matter on the performance on agreed contents should be confirmed and necessary measures should be taken for the performance of it when agreed contents were not carried out.”
4.Night time protest with the resumption of night time entry/exit of construction vehicles.
Around 11 pm, Nov 20. it is common to be like this every night during night protest. But people don’t lose hope and optimismAround 11:20 pm Nov 20. Today small tower of stones. The police took away people’ stuffs of lumbers, bicycles, and other materials this evening. But people’s imagination will be unlimited. Tonight the police threw down all the stones, too, during their roughing out. so people built the stone tower again. it will be again and again over night.Around 3:30 am, Nov. 20, Police take away stones then the people will build the stone tower again. people are building stone tower repeatedly and the police are destroying them repeatedly, too.Around 7:30 am, Nov 21, People’s recovered tower, after police roughing out of them.
Photo source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 19, 2012(above) and Media Jeju, Nov. 19, 2012(below)/ They are the scenes of movie on simulation on the cruise entry/ exit of port in the Jeju naval base project (So called Civilian-Military Complex port for Tour Beauty). In the scenes, it is possible for cruise to come alongside the pier only by the support of four tug boats, which exposes that the Office of Prime Minister has thoroughly lied and hid on the matter. The movie was open to public by an Island Council member, Park Won-Chul, during the Island Council inspection session on Nov. 19, 2012. The Office of Prime Minister, ignoring the opinions by the technical committee, has adopted the report based on such newly lie-exposed simulation. The simulation had been requested by the Ministry of National Defense to the Korea Maritime University through the Samsung C & T, which resulted in the Feb. 23, 2012 report. To see the contents on it, see No. 2
1. Budget talk was postponed again. Pressures on the members of the National Assembly, including those of Budget and Balance committee should be increased.
On Nov. 19, budget talk was postponed again because of gap between the parties but possibility of vote was implied, which may bring the ruling party’s forceful sole disposal on budget.
The talk in the National Defense committee of the National Assembly on the 201 billion won of the 2013 Jeju naval base budget was postponed again following Nov. 7-8, 12 and 16.
The general meeting of the National Defense committee could not even talk on the Jeju naval base budget because of gap between the parties. The ruling party insists the pass of budget as the original (or at least partical cut) but the DP insisted the whole cut.
The chairman ( Ryu Seung-Min, ruling Saenuri Party) and coordinators ( Han Ki-Ho, Saenuri Party and Ahn Kyu-Baek, Democratic United Party) of the committee decided to hold a meeting again prior to the day’s general meeting but the concrete schedule was not decided yet. If gap between the parties is not to be narrowed, there is a possibility of vote that was mentioned by the chairman of the committee on Nov. 19.
If vote is enforced, there is a possibility of the Saenuri party’s forceful sole disposal, excluding the DP, [if the DP opposes the vote itself.] that will bring the creeping and clash in the committee. The proportion of the committee is 9 from the Saenuri Party, 7 from the DP, and 1 of independent among the total 17 committee members.
If the proposal on the Jeju naval base is to be passed by the National Defense committee, it will be examined again by the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly (whose schedule is not known yet) that will bring final result probably by the end of December, which is after December 19 Presidential election . The whole numbers of the Budget and Balance committee members are 51.
Continuous pressure on the members of the National Defense and Budget and Balance committees will be important.
Protest against the Jeju naval base project, Gangjeong village, Nov. 19, 2012/ The sign reads, “Cut the whole 200.9 billion won of the 2013 Jeju naval base project!’
2. Important exposure in the Island Council inspection: Construction should be stopped and budget should be cut as total lies by the Office of Prime Minister were clearly proved out.
Meanwhile on the same day, important testimony by a member of the [base design-] technical verification committee meeting (Prof. Kim Gil-Soo, Korea Maritime University) and simulation screening that shockingly exposed government lies were held in the Island provincial council (Administrative self-governing committee) during its inspection on the Promotion Committee on the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty.
Related to budget matter, the Island council inspection clearly proves out that the remark by the Office of Prime Minister that it would hold simulation ‘show‘, accepting the demand by the Island government, is only an excuse to appropriate budget on base project next year, shutting down all the critiques on its enforcement of naval base construction.
The main testimony by Prof. Kim Gil-Soo was that: The report on the result of the 2nd simulation by the Office of Prime Minister [on Feb. 23] is different from the proper position of the technical verification committee (on the entry/exit of 150,000 cruises in the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty project) who adopted its proposal in its 4th meeting on Feb.14, after its session from January 26 to February 14.
It was also ‘confirmed’ that the Feb. 23, 2012 report that had been ordered by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) through Samsung C & T was adopted as a simulation verification report by the Office of prime Minister. The villagers have raised a big suspicion on it in March 27, 2012. See here.
Reference: It is useful to remind that
1. The President Lee Myung Bak declared to enforce the Jeju naval base project in the 4th anniversary of his inauguration on Feb. 22, 2012)
2. Based on the above Feb. 23 simulation report, on Feb. 29, 2012, the Office of Prime Minister claimed in its nation policy control meeting that the Lee Myung Bak government has made a final decision in September, 2008, to build the Jeju naval base as the civilian-military Complex Port for Tour Beauty where the civilian and military co-exist together. The remark by the Office of Prime Minister was criticized by the critics for distortion of facts because it added that the port had been built ‘as the Jeju naval base by the agreement from the villagers in 2007.’ There has been no agreement by the majority of villagers on the project whatever it was named. Additionally when the base building was first decided under the Ex-Roh Moo-Hyun government, it was under a cover called ‘civilian-military PORT OF CALL,’ not the ‘civilian-military Complex PORT for Tour Beauty, ‘ a new cover under the Lee Myung-Bak government (refer to Cheong Wooksik, Oct. 25, 2012)
3. The first simulation by the Ministry of National Defense(navy) was in 2009.
Finally, it was confirmed that, with the current base design, it is not easy even for military vessels, not to mention cruise, to enter and exit port. There have been numerous investigations by people themselves on it that back such confirmation. One of them is by the villagers themselves. Watch the video here.
Photo: Jeju Sori, Nov. 19, 2012/ Prof. Kim Gil-Sou, a member of the technical verification committee formed under the Office of Prime Minister on Jan. 26, 2012, has been recommended as a member of the committee by the Jeju Island. He is also a member of the civilian verification task force team of the Jeju Island.
The focus of the Island Council inspection on the base design were:
Whether there was a pressure by the Office of Prime Minister on the committee’s discussion result, also related to the 150 billion won mentioned to be needed for change of base design
Whether the 2nd simulation report by the Office of Prime Minister properly reflects the position of the technical verification committee
Whether the base was originally designed solely for naval base
Whether the base fits even for military vessels, not to mention 150,000 ton cruise
During the National Assembly inspection on the government offices, there has been a suspicion that has been strongly raised that the Office of Prime Minister pressured the committee to adopt the result report for the base design not to be changed.
Here is the rearranged translation of the Jeju media, mostly from the Headline Jeju.
◇“From the beginning, the design was not for the civilian-military complex port.”
Prof. Kim Gil-Sou pointed out that there were problems in the simulation data by the Ministry of National Defense in the beginning.
Question by Park Joo-Hee, Island Council member:
In the meeting minutes, the members of the technical verification committee, recommended by the Island Council to be the members of the committee, lastly asked to the navy personnel in charge of simulation, pointing out ‘Why is it that the simulation data of wind speed 15 knot while it should be set up to 27 knot’ and ‘navigation route is wrong.’ And there was the remark by the navy personnel that ‘It is because it is hard for cruise to enter[the port] if the data is set up to 27 knot.’
Does it mean that the base design was not for the civilian-military complex port from the beginning?
Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou, technical verification committee member
“We understand so. But I don’t know how the navy considers it.”
Question by Park Joo-Hee
“Given the contents of the 4th meeting minutes, it can be seen there was an outside pressure from the Office of Prime Minister. There appear remarks such as that the verification matter should be finalized in the early period.”
Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou
“(The measure to finalize the matter quickly) has been maintained from the start to the end.”
◇ “There was no outside pressure. But [the committee members] must have felt such mood in the meetings.”
Question by Park Won-Chul
“Was there outside pressure from the chairman of the technical verification committee (on Chairman, Jeon Joon-Soo, please see here) and the Office of Prime Minister?
Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou
“It was the chairman who worried about the possibility of construction stop and made remark on it. It became clear in the 4th meeting that the most worrisome thing for those was on the possibility of construction stop. We sensed that Office of Prime Minister was afraid of the possibility of construction stop if something advantageous to the Jeju [Island government] is brought on in the verification meeting.”
Question by Park Won-Chul
“Is it proper for us to see the reason that the Office of Prime Minister avoids construction stop is because the port has been designed ONLY as a naval base and there would be additional design costs [if the design is changed]? Is it proper for us to see that the chairman of the verification committee was clearly aware of that part, given many problems [in the design]?”
Remark by Park Joo-Hee
“There was a pressure from the Office of Prime Minister. It is confirmed.”
Answer by Prof. Kim Gil-Sou
“There was no outside pressure. But [the committee members] must have felt the mood in the meetings.”
◇ “ The 2nd simulation report by the Ministry of National Defense(MND) is not [the committee’s] proper report.”
The next questions were related to the MND’s submission of 2nd simulation report on Feb. 23, as soon as the technical verification committee adopted its result report on Feb. 14.
On the question of Prof. Kim’s view on the matter that the Samsung ordered works on simulation already before the the committee’s adoption of its own report, here are Prof. Kim’s answers.
Answer by Prof. Kim
“We did not acknowledge the [Samsung report]. At first, we thought it is for a new simulation but we found later that [the Office of Prime Minister] was to replace [ours] to it, which had already been ordered in December.
“(During the meeting) the government personnel asked us to hear the MND 2nd simulation. When we said we would not do that, they asked us again to take it as reference material. It was not our proper document. However, the government personnel changed their words later. They say as if we, the technical verification committee acknowledged it, but it is TOO WRONG. The committee has NEVER officially acknowledged it. That is why we have continuously claimed on correct simulation. Correct simulation has to be done even from now on.”
◇ Cruises can barely come alongside the pier only with the support by four (not two) tug boats
The central and Island government have argued each other on the ‘show’ of simulation, on the supposition that 150,000 ton cruise can safely come alongside the pier with the support of two tug boats of 3,500 horse power.
However, in the 2nd simulation movie made public during the Island Council inspection by Park Won-Chul, Island Council member, there are scenes that a cruise ship barely comes alongside the pier supported by four tug boats.
Given the movie, it is confirmed that the simulation was carried on with four tug boats during the entry/exit of cruise in all cases in the conditions of wind speed 27 knot and west part jetty harbor as the changeable.
However in the MND report on the result of simulation verification, it recommends to operate two tug boats with 3500 HP in case of more than 24 knot wind speed in the south breakwater; and to rearrange harbor structure and operate two 3500 HP all the time so that it would relieve psychological pressure of using jetty dock when big cruise is operated in the west breakwater (conditioned by maximum 27 knot of wind speed)
Prof. Kim Gil-Sou stated watching the movie. “It is not common that four tug boats follow cruise.” He also stated that it is for the first time he got to know it.
According to him,
“ Since the size of water surface area of cruise is big, it is impossible for cruise to come alongside the pier without four tug boats in the condition of wind speed 27 knot or more. When I pointed out that the entry of cruise would be difficult in the condition of a jetty dock in the west breakwater, [the design of the jetty dock] was changed to the changeable. However, changeable dock is very difficult to build from the point of view of harbor and bay engineering technology. The reason that it was changed to the changeable is because the (government and navy0 wanted to maintain its original purpose (construction without base design change)
Park Joo-Hee, Island Council member said, “ The Island government should be furious together on the objectively proved out facts today that; The tug boats are four not two; it was originally a design purely for naval base; It takes additional 150 billion won to change the design; even military vessels are difficult for entry and exit/and the chairman of the committee remarked that there should be no construction stop.” She demanded construction stop and space for true discussion by the Island people.
Park Won-Chul also demanded construction stop pointing out that there have been as much as 22 cases of violations of the license regulation of Public waters Act (the law on the reclamation on the public water and its vicinity surface )since last October , which have not been properly asked of responsibilities with charges. Park also demanded thorough measure against unreliable caisson production of which seven have been demanded by last typhoons through fact checks
3. Still 24 night time entry/exit of construction trucks resumed in 10 days on Nov. 19
The night time entry/exit of construction vehicles that started on Oct. 25 has been posed since Nov. 10, 2010. For the background of it, see here. On Nov. 19, the nightmare of 24 hour police mobilization and 24 hour people protest started again.
Around 9am. Nov. 19, 2012/ Protesters blocking construction trucksAround 2:30 pm, Nov. 19, 2012/The construction companies poured down dirty water toward outside gate. The dirty water flew into the Gangjeong stream, one of the absolute preservation areas along with the Joongdeok coast to which the Gureombi Rock belongs.Around 2:30 pm, Nov. 19, 2012/ Dirty water from the naval base project committee building complex flows into the Gangjeong stream.Photo by Dolgorae Goon, Nov. 17, 2012/ Such crime like above happened on Nov. 17, Saturday, too. For many more photos on the day, click here.Photo by Carol Rekinger/ Around 11pm, Nov. 19, 2012. For many more photos, click here.Photo by Carol Rekinger/ Around 11pm, Nov. 19, 2012. For many more photos, click here.Photo by Yange Gone/ Around 3am, Nov. 20, 2012. Sleepless peoplePhoto by Lee Woo Ki/ Around 5am, Nov. 20, 2012. Protestors barely sleep between police roughing out of them.
Since Prof. Shin Yong-In made public civil disobedience movement on Nov. 11 ‘for the peaceful settlement of the conflict of the Jeju naval base project and for the realization of just law,’ the movement has been extended by the below figures with their open statements.
People have already been practicing it in contents in the struggle but with the name endowed, it is expected that the movement would more grow in coming days.
Kim Seri informs: ‘Recently, young Korean writers gathering their will to save the village, formed a group called ‘Writers’ Action 1219 (* December 19 is a date for the ROK Presidential election).’ It is informed that about 22 young writers will visit Gangjeong in the morning of Nov. 21 and will make an important statement [including on Gangjeong peace library project] and recite writings. And they are told to state on their participation in civil disobedience movement and to join the struggle at the same time . See here and here.’
Otherwise, the below is a collection of open statements (excerpted translation) by four figures who joined the civil disobedience movement from Nov. 13 to 15.
The people who join the civil disobedience movement commonly demand:
The Government should respect the Constitution that reads to respect people’s basic rights
The Jeju naval base project should be revoked!
Cut the 200.9 billion won of the 2013 Jeju naval base project
The Jeju naval base construction(destruction) should be stopped since the legality enforced with lies, betrayal, illegality, law-evasiveness and violence is a clear proof of illegality.
The Government, navy and police should immediately stop violence.
Free all the conscientious prisoners!
The related personnel to the exposed problems on the Jeju naval base construction during the National Assembly inspection on the government offices should be responsible for charges.
Otherwise Carol Reckinger, a photographer, is making wonderful records on the civil disobedience movement in Gangjeong. Please visit her blog.
Jeju naval base Budget Cut Campaign. Renowned entertainer Ms. Kim Mee-hwa (Post by Regina Pyon)
Rev. Choi Hun-Kook, Chairman of the Christian Measure Committee to Revoke the Jeju Naval Base Project
The article 13 of South Korean Constitution stipulates the role of state for the social weak, considering the basic rights to live most important. The article 1 of the Bonn Constitution (Basic Law For The Federal Republic of Germany) talks about the inviolable on the dignity of human beings as well as stipulates to make best effort to protect the human rights of the economical and social weak. Those mean that law should be a standard for every citizen to live human life. In the country where money and power are concentrated, to have a virtue of concession to the weak is established as the basis of law. It is because of it that the function of law which is a regulation to set up the social community order becomes the function of good will for the protection of human rights and the weak.[..] Facing against the state power executed with physical power for the enforcement of the Jeju naval base construction, being reasoned that vicious law -used as the tool of violence- is positive law, I am joining this movement as a form of civil disobedience from the consciousness of religious person, which is a just act based on the justice of God.
(Rev. Choi Hun-Kook, Nov. 13. From his statement titled, ‘The future of life and peace: Entering into the civil disobedience movement in the Gangjeong village, Jeju!’ See the original Korean statement,here.)
Koh Gil-Chun, Jeju artist
Photo: Jeju artist Koh Gil-Chun in front of construction gate on Nov. 14, with the sign that reads, ‘No Jeju US naval base, No US Nuclear Aircraft Carrier’)
Currently, the Gangjeong village is being trampled down of such perfect “life,” by violence and greed. Also after April 3rd [massacre and people’s uprising from 1947 to 1954], “human rights” is being trampled down by state power in the Jeju Island. Even though it is clear that it would be used as the US base, the [state power] unilaterally enforces sacrifices of [the Island people] for fake security and puts against justly raised different opinions with the bridles of labels such as ‘Pro-North Korea,’ and even ‘Reds’. The state is inciting greed of the Island people with the bite of so-called economic development. Any economic development will only profit the pockets of the rich again. The Jeju Island would be destined to take only the debt of destruction [..] I am to stand sided with the law of consciousness in the site of such treason, not to regret my life as one of the Jeju Island citizen and artist.[..] I urgently appeal to many citizens, Jeju Island people, and artists to join this civil disobedience movement. Starting on Nov. 14, I will stand in front of construction gate with peacekeepers, with the aspiration of every conflict to be peacefully settled, every 2pm to midnight, Wednesday.
(Koh Gil-Chun, Jeju artist, Nov. 14, 2012. From his statement titled ‘Opposing the enforcement on the Jeju naval base construction, I join the civil disobedience movement from the heart that wants peaceful settlement.’ See the original Korean statement here.)
I will join the civil disobedience movement from the start of 100 bows for life and peace in the morning to the last time of construction vehicles’ passage on the day of Nov. 16, Friday. Civil disobedience movement is another name of direct action named ‘Manshijitan (that means ‘10,000 citizens scold’) that started last spring. Now facing, beside the Manshijitan incident, prosecution and judgment of the 1st trial, under the charges of obstruction of business by the incident called Churchmen Entering the Gureombi Rock on April 3rd, 2012 and by stopping construction vehicles, I declare participation in the civil disobedience movement that is to save democratic procedures in non-violent way and to recover my consciousness as a devotee. It is because I believe in that the civil disobedience movement will stop the enforcement of the Jeju naval base construction and will be the kindling to save the Gangjeong village. [..] We are not the people to be tamed by violent state power, fine or prison punishment. There is no fear for the people who make effort to save peace. There is no happier thing for the devotees to suffer from their practice of Jesus’ gospels with their whole bodies.
(Lim Borah, Vice-Minister of the Hyangrin Church, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Nov. 15, 2012. From her statement titled, ‘I join the civil disobedience movement to revoke the Jeju naval base project and to recover faith consciousness. See the original Korean statement, here.)
Oh Cheul Geun, a democratic citizen
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong / Mr. Oh Cheul Geun in the rain.
I am Oh Cheul Geun(66). I have practiced three steps one bow in Gangjeong from Nov. 14, 2011 to April 10, 2012. I am doing it again til I arrive the main construction gate of the Gangjeong village everyday since Oct. 24. I always wear a [traditional] funeral cloth when I do three steps one bow. There are four reasons. First, it means, death of sovereignty, second, death of human rights, third, death of democracy and last, death of the Gureombi Rock. I fully feel them as my responsibility and pray for everything to be returned back to its original place, by practicing three steps one bow everyday. Then I became to join the civil disobedience movement. As I feel that prayer cannot solely solve the matters and as I see peacekeepers and villagers who are bruised and injured and feel difficulty everyday, I became to keep pace with direct resistance, too, by joining civil disobedience movement.[..] Even though the legal system of the Republic of Korea is based on the spirit of Constitution espoused of Democracy principle, positive law has become creeping, even distorting the Constitution. To change the reality when enforcement decree and regulations made by the administrative reign over the Constitution, I became to stand countering against the police violence blow because I desperately hope many more citizens to join this civil disobedience movement.
(Oh Cheul-Geun, a democratic citizen on Nov. 15, 2012. From his statement titled, “Joining the Gureombi civil disobedience movement to stop the illegal Jeju naval base construction. See his Korean statementhere. )
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The 14th caisson. Despite the Island governor’s demand to the navy on Oct. 30 to stop the input of caisson on the sea until the finish of simulation on 150,000 ton cruise, the navy thoroughly ignores that. The navy-contracted company, Samsung C & T moved the 14th 8,800 ton caisson from the Hwasoon port to Gangjeong sea on Nov. 15. See more photos by Cho, here.
During both days of Nov. 16 and 17, issues regarding the budget on the Jeju navy base project were hot, especially with the Island governor’s request to the visiting Democratic United Party members to pass the budget on subsidiary condition. The villagers criticized on it with statement (see its translation on No.3). This article is a summary of four subjects during both days.
The four subjects are:
1. Even no discussion: National Assembly discussion on budget was postponed again because of gap between the parties.
2. Controversy on the matter of fair simulation
3. Island governor, Woo Keun-Min, sides with the navy. Villagers criticize his will to pass the budget
4. Suspicion on the navy’s enforcement of breakwater construction before simulation is raised.
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1.Even no discussion: National Assembly discussion on budget was postponed again because of gap between the parties.
The Jeju media report:
The National Defense committee of the ROK National Assembly had the plan to hold the 3rd Budget and Balance sub-committee meeting in the morning of Nov. 16. It was to talk on the direction on the disposal on the 200.966 billion won budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2013. However the committee could not even discuss on it.
The Budget and Balance sub-committee has had the meetings on Nov. 7 to 8 and Nov. 12 but those have been with no result as the parties could only confirm different positions between them.
The National Defense Committee plans to have its general meeting on Nov. 19, Monday, and will try to reach to an agreement. If it is without result again, it will consider on opening the Budget and Balance sub-committee again.
In the Nov. 19 meeting, talks on the Jeju naval base and inspection on K2 tank will be talked.
The biggest reason that the disposal on the Jeju naval base budget has met difficulty is because of big gap between the ruling and opposition parties.
The ruling Saenuri Party (New Frontier party) is insisting its position to pass the budget as the original proposal by the Defense Acquision Program Administration (DAPA). However the Democratic United Party (DP, afterward), the main opposition party has different opinions of whole cut, part cut and conditional pass within the party.
The National Assembly has cut 96% (127.8 billion won) of 132.7 billion budget last year. However, unused budget of about 107 billion won in 2011 was transferred to 2012 with law-evasive way.
How you can help? Please pressure as seen in No. 2 of here. The pressure works.
2. Controversy on the matter of fair simulation
Otherwise, regarding the decision by the Office of Prime Minister on Nov. 15 that it would ‘show’ (not ‘verification) on the simulation of 150,000 ton cruises, accepting the request by the Jeju island government, anti-base groups criticized on it on Nov. 16, saying, “The [Office’s] acceptance on simulation means that the Office acknowledges itself that there was problem on the trust matter in the 2nd simulation.”
The groups including the Gangjeong Village Association, Pan-Island and National Organizing Committees to stop the Jeju naval base, criticized that the Prime Minister Office’s acceptance of simulation is merely to pass the budget on the naval base project.
The groups also said:
“However, the limitations in the conditions of simulation that the Jeju Island government and Office of Prime Minister agree with each other are too clear to clarify on the citizens’ suspicions on the safety of the navigation by 150,000 ton cruises . The Jeju Island government has asked simulations on five types but the Office reduced them into two because the Office hard pressured the Island government to concede it.
The groups also pointed out:
“Among the three researchers in the ‘show’ team, two are recommended by the Government. Further one of them, Lee Yoon-Suk, professor of Maritime University has already brought serious controversy on objectivity and fairness matters in his order of service in the second simulation [of which the report came out on Feb. 23, 2012].”
Reference:
On July 18, 2012, the Jeju-based or origin four National Assembly members of Kang Chang-Il, Kim U-Nam, and Jan Hana (All DP) have raised an issue that the 2nd simulation on the control of ships, which should be based on observing regulations, has not been properly carried out. The four members pointed out that there are serious flaws in the 2nd simulation and demanded the Government and navy temporary stop of construction and observance on the National Assembly subsidiary opinion in 2011.
In October, 2011, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project that belonged to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly recommended to the Government to “verify on the matter of free entry/exit of port for two 150,000 cruises through the specialized 3rd institute in need. However, the Ministry of National Defense unilaterally carried out simulation and made public the 2nd report in February 23, 2012.
Otherwise, the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs submitted its opinion statement to the four members around July that it is desirable to carry on simulation again because there is a great risk of danger by occurrence of accident, with the low variables given in the 2nd simulation scenario.
3. Island governor Woo Keun-Min sides with the navy. Villagers criticize his will to pass the budget
Four members of the Democratic United Party, belong to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly visited Woo Keun-Min, Island governor in the afternoon of Nov. 16. The four members are Park Min-Soo, Yang Seung-Jo, Choi Min-Hee and Choi Jae-Sung.
The total number of the members in the Budget and Balance Committee is 51. Among them, 21 belong to the DP.
To people’s indignation, the Island governor Woo asked the DP members to pass the budget on the condition that they stipulate the ‘subsidiary opinion’ of the National assembly last year. To be concrete, he suggested to stipulate that ‘[the Government] execute budget on the premise that the recommended items by the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base under the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly last year to be carried out in substance.” (For detail, see the reference in the below)
Hearing the governor, the four members promised to the governor that they would actively support for the proposed items by the Jeju Island governor in the National Assembly. However, it is still uncertain for the DP as the party has taken construction stop and re-examination of project as the party opinion since April 11 general election, despite its recent being stirred regarding budget.
Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 16, 2012. Governor Woo (right in the photo) asked four visiting members of DP belong to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly to pass the budget on naval base on Nov. 16, 2012.
Here is the villagers’ statement refuting on the governor’s such behavior (translated from the original Korean statement):
Why does Island governor, Woo Keun-Min represent the interest of navy?
Island Governor Woo has finally revealed his hidden intention.
While he has shown his shifting attitude many times such as in the hearing on the navy in May when he was even seem to consider to make order the navy to stop construction, [on Nov. 16] he requested to [the visiting four DP members] to pass the budget [on the Jeju naval base project] with subsidiary conditions as the budget got brake in the National Assembly.
It has been clearly turned out that the Jeju naval base is a project that would make the Jeju Island to be militarized with the posturing cover of civilian-military complex. The proof is that it is conditioned that ships’ entry and exit of port is only possible under the permission of jurisdiction unit commander in the revision on the enforcement order on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act. It has also been exposed that the CNFK (Commander of US Navy Forces of Korea) has demanded the layout possible for nuclear aircraft carrier to come alongside the pier and it has been accepted in building of it.
Through exposed meeting minutes by the technical verification committee under the Minister of Prime Office, we could also confirm the will of the Government who is to drive the project without base design change. The Prime Minister office accepted the joint simulation show to merely pass the naval base budget next year in its hidden intention. It is the calculation of timing that it is to that extent only once the National Assembly passes budget biting the [government acceptance] of simulation verification that could be done only next year.
Combining all those situations. it is clear that the ROK Government neither concerns with the interest of the Jeju Island nor the public sentiment of the Island people. It is mad only to drive for military base project, hammering away to ignore even the position of the Jeju Island that is stepping toward international tourism site and whose role of bridge in the international civilian diplomacy is being promoted.
Meanwhile the Jeju naval base project committee has enforced construction (destruction) hourly ignoring the demands by the Island governor. As if deriding his words that there should NOT be breakwater construction before verification, it is enforcing actual breakwater construction by stationing caisson, only without sands filled inside, and processing reclamation in the Metboori (* east tip of the project area) for the construction of breakwater shore protection. (See the below)
In such situation, governor Woo demanded to the National Assembly to pass the 2013 Jeju naval base budget when the Office of Prime Minister agreed with re-revelation on simulation, which is not re-verification. Even though he says he conditioned that the budget should be executed under proper verification, there is no reason that Island governor demand to pass the budget since the budget that might be passed by then purely comes from the Ministry of National Defense, not from the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs.
Why does governor Woo demand the budget from the Ministry of National Defense?
Is he entirely forgetting that he is the governor of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Island?
Is he naively expecting that the navy would step for proper verification if it is allocated with budget?
Why is he requesting to pass the budget in prior to a proper simulation while the navy could be re- allocated with special budget after it as it wants?
Finally it was proved out that the Island governor Woo Keun-Min has no concern with whether the Jeju naval base would be a proper civilian-military complex port for Tour Beauty or not; and whether the Island people would get any damage from it or not. We don’t need Island governor who takes the lead as the representative of the navy and save only the interest of Samsung and Daelim.
Nov. 17. 2012
Gangjeong Village Association
Reference:
On Nov. 7, 2011, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project under the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly stipulated two recommendation items when they adopted its activity report.
The first was the recommendation to revise the enforcement decree on the Port Act and Enforcement Decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act and to conclude on the protocol on the joint use on the civilian-military harbor and bay, so that there should be no worry that the Jeju naval base would be operated centered on military port.
The second is a fair simulation on the possibility of entry & exit by 150,000 ton cruises
The revision on the decree has been carried out on June 29 while the talks on the conclusion on the protocol is still being processed and there remains the matter of simulation verification. The Jeju Island expects the simulation period at the end of December or January, next year.
Otherwise, beside budget, governor Woo requested supports on other budgets. Among them, one of the noticeable is request for service work on the ‘basic plan to form the global environmental herb,’ which is for smooth drive of following measure after the 2012 WCC (0.7 billion won)
4. Suspicion on the navy’s enforcement of breakwater construction before simulation is raised.
On Oct. 18, 2012, Governor Woo has declared to the villagers in the talk meeting with them that he would ‘stop the breakwater construction in the Gangjeong Sea without fail’ even though it is difficult for him to order construction stop before simulation.”
On May 1, 2012, even Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of military dictatorship and Presidential runner of the ruling conservative Saenuri Paty said that simulation verification has to be prior to construction on break water. See the Korean article on it here.
However, the village has raised suspicion on Nov. 17 that the construction being done in the Metboori coast(in the east tip of the naval base project area) could be breakwater construction.
Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 17, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong Village Association)/ Construction in the Metboori coast (east tip of the project area). In the map, the spot is marked with red color, planned to be the east breakwater shore protection. The current construction on the spot raises a suspicion that the navy is enforcing construction on breakwater by reclaiming land from the sea before simulation verification. For more photos by Cho Sung-Bong, see here. The east part is also for docks for submarines and small ships.
Given the photos by movie director Cho Sung-Bong, the sands and stones being put into the sea are in violation of the EIA. Those should be put into the sea after the washing process on the land. There is no washing facility for sands and stones inside the construction area and those coming from the field are directly put into the sea.”
“The biggest problem is that substantial breakwater construction is being done. Given the photo (above), it is the area spot being reclaimed from the Metboori coast to the sea, along the silt protectors. This area belongs to the east breakwater shore protection ( * in charge of Daelim) and outer facilities on the base layout map.” See the construction map here.
“ not only that, the navy is processing the substantial construction on the west and south breakwaters, too, by stationing caissons. By when will the Island government on-look companies’ such law-evasive construction.
Source: Headline Jeju, Nov. 17, 2012/ Working ships to station caissons to build west breakwater.Source: Headline Jeju, Nov. 17, 2012/ Working ships to station caissons to build southbreakwater.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo on Nov. 11/ ‘The blue-roofed housed are inferred to be the residential buildings by workers.’ See Jang’s more photos of construction site where destruction is being done in thorough violation of the EIA, see here.
1. Workers’ sabotage? Not confirmed yet.
There have been no night time entry/ exit of cement mixer trucks since last Saturday, Nov. 10. Even though it is told that 24 hour construction is continued inside the construction site. As of Nov. 16, it became a week that cement mixer trucks did not enter or exit the gates in the nights. The police would withdraw from the field in the evening and people could fortunately take break in the nights. On Nov. 16, the last struggle in front of the construction gates was at around 5:40 pm since there were no more trucks and police withdrew after it.
What’s happening? Is it just a part of normal process for caisson production that needs care period by the next caisson production? Or are the police tired to be mobilized in the nights since they think the navy is crazy, too, to rush for the construction even in the nights?
There is information that needs much more factual check. So this is just for reference. According to information that should be checked in various aspects, it is told that the Korean workers inside the construction site are sabotaging, intending to rebel against unfair work management.
It has been known that about 100 workers from Vietnam and other countries have entered into the naval base construction site in the village just before 24 hour construction (destruction). We could imagine their poor work conditions, exploited with low wages.
And it seems Korean workers are also exploited, which should be never surprising news.
According to information, the navy-contracted companies hiring Korean workers laid off them after the workers were mobilized to teach Vietnamese workers how to work.
In the morning of Nov. 16, peacekeepers in the protest field were told that the construction company unilaterally laid off 18 workers. A laid-off worker coming out of the site told people.
Beside 18 laid off Korean workers, it is told that some Vietnam workers quit the jobs that morning because they felt so cold to stay inside the containers in the coast within the construction area.
Regarding 18 laid-off Korean workers, they are workers all working with reinforced rods. There were originally 30 workers working with reinforced rods and now 12 workers are left. The company has made two caissons and the 3rd caisson has been posed in process. It is told that Vietnamese workers would fill the empty job spots.
While the daily wage of a Vietnam worker is 60,000 won, a South Korean worker gets 150,000 won, it is told. The Korean workers are told to wonder why such so-called important national policy project is built by foreign workers and why the Vietnamese workers often take records of photos on construction site with their mobile phones.
It is told that while the director of the field is the one who has worked in Hwasoon, the workers here in Gangjeong construction site are employed by the Daelim-subcontracted company called the Jeju T & C, of which the headquarter is told to be in Seoul and which they have never been informed before. The workers were employed from all over the country and there is no specific leader among them.
The workers have originally been told from the construction company that they would get 4 million won for a month for two years with the job. But the 18 laid-off workers could not get any dismissal allowance since their work term was less than two months. According to the Ministry of Labor, dismissal allowance is given to workers of more than three months. To be worse, they could not get wage from the companies yet. It is told that the companies said to them that they would send wage through their bank accounts later.
The unfair work management in the Jeju naval base project has already been exposed though in part in the Hwasoon workers’ case. See No. 3, here. The bad and suspicious work conditions for workers are being leaked…
Update on Nov. 17: It is told that beside the Korean workers who are told to have intended strike, Vietnamese workers are also in the mood of organizing strike. It is clear the caisson work inside the naval base construction site in the Gangjeong village is not being processed well. Even during the daytime on Nov. 17, Saturday, there were no more cement mixer trucks entering after 3:30pm. The police withdrew at the time. It is unusual considering that construction (destruction) has been going on by late evening on Saturday even before 24 hour construction.
Also, it is told that the employees of navy-contracted security companies are complaining on illegal registration of companies (* for that, see page 4, Nov. newsletter) and delayed payment of wages. They are in the move to file a suit on unjust employment to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
Still despite such already exposed unjust construction including unfair work conditions, on Nov. 17, the Seogwipo City Hall, being pressured by the navy, sent a notice to the villagers that if the villagers are not volunteering to remove their sit-in tents across construction gates, it will carry on forceful execution of demolition of them. The villagers and peacekeepers are ready to fight to save the sit-in tents next week.
It also became clear that the residential households nearby the construction site in the Gangjeong village are suffering for the noise during the night time construction. One resident told that she felt like in the hell when she heard the noise of crane during the night.
2. Night time construction noise has brought complaints from Hwasoon residents
There is not only a matter of work conditions for workers. The 24 hour construction to build 8,800 ton caissons in Hwasoon port (40 minutes car distance eastward from the Gangjeong village) has already been complained by the nearby residents.
The residents in Dongha-dong and Ungeun-dong, Hwasoon-li, Andeok myeon (* myeon (township) is the subdivision of gun (county)), in the Seogwipo city are being damaged by the construction noise related to the production of caissons that are put in the naval base construction area in Gangjeong village.
The residents are especially protesting to Samsung C & T, saying they are experiencing discomfort because of greater noise in the nights as the caisson production is being done for 24 hours.
The residents have demanded to the Samsung C & T to stop construction from 10pm to 5am and to take prevention measures to reduce the damage by noise.
However, the position of the Samsung C & T is that it must progress construction even in the night time, reasoning that the caisson production needs unstopping construction due to technical matter; that there would be problem in quality management if construction is stopped in the night; and that the construction period has been delayed for several months.
Eventually there have been meetings in last September and at the end of October, by the related personnel to solve the civilian complaints on construction noise by the caisson productions, for which local residents, contracted company personnel, and government officers in the Seogwipo City and Andeok Myeon joined. However, solution measures have not been provided yet.
Kim Tae-Un, Chairman of Hwasoon li stated that “The residents nearby the construction site are being harmed not to be able to sleep again if they woke up from sleep due to abrupt noise occurring from the cranes in the dead of night… Even though we have raised noise issue from the beginning of this year, it has not been properly settled. And the residents are now standing up against it”.
In this month’s issue: National Grand March for Life and Peace Comes to a close, outrageous findings in National Assembly inspections, Jesuit priest imprisoned, illegal security company hired to guard the construction site, 24-Hour construction begins and much more!
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.
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.
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 herePhoto 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)
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.
Photo by Tommy Shin Jung-Hyun/ Village mayor Kang Dong-Kyun makes a speech against the Jeju naval base project in front of the US embassy in the center of Seoul on Nov. 13, 2012: “US, listen to me!”
Citing an article of Chosun Ilbo on Nov. 14, the Jeju Sori on Nov. 14 reports that the Democratic United Party is withdrawing from its official position of ‘whole cut’ on the 2013 Jeju naval base budget. It is considering ‘conditional pass,’ of about 200 billion won budget for 2013 naval base project. Its reasoning is told that because ‘it is afraid of bad influence to the Presidential election in December, if it cuts the 2013 budget on the project.’
To the people’s indignation, the party has attributed its failure in April 11 general election to its changed position into the critique on the currently enforced naval base project to the dislike by the general South Korean citizens for whom security consciousness is presumed by the party to be important. Such analysis has gotten much criticism from the progressive who analyzed the party’s failure as the Party’s remaining unchanged without true renovations and the Party’s weak efforts to persuade people.
The Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island stated in its refuting statement on Nov. 13.
“While the technical verification committee is not neutral, the suspicions on the flaws of base design and on the unreliable caisson production has not disappeared. The matter on simulation has not properly done under the Lee Myung Bak government. It should be righteous that all the naval base budgets should be cut.”
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong in his Ohmynews article, Nov. 13 / The illegal naval base construction (destruction) is destroying environment in thorough violation of the EIA and wasting people’s tax enormously.
“The Democratic United Party has promised on the construction stop and re-examination of the project, but is now being shifted to have an opinion of ‘partial [or all] pass with subsidiary conditions. To say ‘subsidiary opinion’ so and so is an attempt to dissipate its Presidential candidates’ promise to people.” (* How self- contradictory for the Democratic United Party to say it is, reminding that the Party has cut the budget in 2012 because the navy did not kept the National Assembly’s subsidiary conditions in 2007.)’
The Pan-Island committee has a plan to carry on one-man protest to demand the ‘whole budget cut,’ in front of the Jeju branch of the Democratic United party, Jeju City from the morning of Nov. 14.
People here are mobilizing themselves to send protest messages to the facebooks and tweets of the members of the National Assembly.
How you can help us to cut the budget? Please pressure the ROK National Assembly to cut the whole budget of naval base. Contact english@assembly.go.kr, or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United Party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com
Otherwise, please leave messages in the below sites to pressure the National Assembly members (Democratic United Party)
Jang Hana’s Facebook page (Jang Hana is the Jeju-origin National Assembly woman, Democratic United Party)
# The Jeju based or origin National Assembly men/women (All are Democratic United Party members) are making their best efforts to cut the budget. Please encourage and support them to put more pressure to their party colleagues. Thanks Abigail for providing above facebook information.
TWEET/ EMAIL ADDRESS/ PHONE NUMBER of the National Defense Committee (Democratic United party):
Ahn Kyu-Baek (Floor vice- representative of the Party) @AGBhope intoan429@hanmail.net 02-788-2601
Photo by Kang Ho-Jin, Nov. 13/Peace activists are holding one-man protest in front of the National Assembly to cut the budgets on the naval base project. With 200 billion own, there are so many things that you can do for people’s welfare: Free meals and education for children, tuition support for students, irregular workers’ position change to regular workers etc.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong in his Ohmynews article, Nov. 13 /People are desperate to stop 24 hour construction(destruction) that started on Oct. 25. The photo is on Oct. 26 when people are desperate to stop construction vehicles in front of the main gates of the construction site.
On Tuesday, November 21, several members of SOS (Save Our Seas), the Gangjeong ocean observation, monitoring, and action team, reunited after several months of focusing on other activities (and several members months long imprisonment). Four members, decided to take two kayaks, one turned into a homemade sailboat, out to the sea to observe the construction. Their plan was to circle the construction site legally from the outside, observe and take pictures and video. They also just to go out to sea for the first time in several months.
