Photo by Lee Woo Ki/ People set up a Christmas tree on which they put their aspiration for peace, democracy, Government change, and whole budget cut on the Jeju naval base project etc. For more photos by Lee Woo Ki on the ‘Let’s live together,’ sit-in camp in the center of Seoul, see here.
Jeju naval Base Budget Cut, Construction Stop and Peace
The cut on the naval base is a core link that can actually stop naval base construction
By Oh Hye-Ran, Co-convener, National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island
The National Assembly cut 96 % of the Jeju naval base budget in December of 2011. The budget cut was a reprimand on the slapdash base layout, strongly expressing that construction must stop with verification on the flawed layout to be the first priority. In truth, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project of the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly demanded the Government to verify the matter of safe entry and exit for cruise ships in the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port (Jeju naval base) and to report the results.
A year later, it was disclosed that it is difficult for a cruise weighing 150,000 ton to safely enter and exit the port because the turning field and navigation route in the layout are short of legal standards. It was also disclosed that there are many problems even for the large military vessels to enter and exit the port. Another disclosed fact different from the Government explanation that it is a ROK base, is that the Jeju naval base is being built following the standards demanded by the CNFK (Commander of US Navy Forces of Korea) for the US aircraft carrier Flotilla to be able to enter the port.
Also disclosed was that the Government executed outside pressure in operation on the ‘Technical Verification Committee on the Cruise Entry and Exit of Port,’formed following the National Assembly recommendation, and in adaptation of the report. It was disclosed as well that the National Policy Control meeting (Feb. 19, 2012) in which the Government decided resumption on the construction drive was also based on incorrect simulation.
Only with the facts exposed during the technical verification process and without all other matters, the Jeju naval base construction must be stopped. However, the Lee Myung-Bak Government is enforcing construction by ignoring the National Assembly recommendation and by hiding, distorting and manipulating related facts, from the position of the navy. It is known that the biggest power supporting the Lee Myung-Bak Government is the military, Samsung, civil engineering and building contractors, and armament expansionists who have expanded their power relying on division and the Korean War.
The Jeju naval base budget cut was the hottest issue in the preparatory review of the defense budget in the National Assembly this year. The ruling Saenuri Party and opposition Democratic United Party (DP) countered each other in claims: Approval on the total budget as the Government proposal vs. cut on the whole amount of 201 billion won budget. The Seanuri Party used the Jeju naval base issue as the tool for the concentration of the conservative votes and for the attack on the DP. On Nov. 28, the Seanuri Party passed the Jeju naval base budget in snatched way, trampling down, by itself, the National Assembly recommendation presented in agreement with the opposition party a year ago.
The position of Park Geun-Hye and her Sanuri Party is that the Jeju naval base is inevitably necessary and that she would build the Jeju naval base as a world-famous civilian-military complex port much like the one in Hawaii. Moon Jae-In, candidate of the DP made a pledge that he would stop the Jeju naval base construction and re-examine the project if he is elected. If candidate, Park Geun-Hye is elected President on the Presidential Election Day on Dec. 19, the 24 hour construction will be enforced and the dynamic force of the opposition movement will rapidly fall. On the contrary, if candidate Moon Jae-In is elected, there is a possibility that he would take a measure to stop construction and the opposition movement against the naval base project would be sprung upward.
The Gangjeong villagers and peace-keepers have delayed construction by halting the entry of vehicles at the entrance times seven to ten times daily for at least 5- 10 minutes each. The efforts have resulted in about 50 billion won that the navy could not execute in construction work. If by encouraging citizens actions to oppose paying taxes on this unreasonable, unreliable security project and the entire 2013 Jeju naval base budget is cut in the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly which is to be held after the Presidential election, the construction budget that the navy retains will run out around March or April of next year. Even though they will want to continue the 24 hour construction, it cannot be possible without the budget.
Given that, to cut the entire budget on the Jeju naval base is in fact a core link stopping the construction. Even though Moon Jae-In may be elected in the Presidential Election there is little things he can do until after his Presidential inauguration, planned date of Feb. 25, 2012. The Saenuri Party will gear up to pass the entire Jeju naval base budget not only in the case that Park Geun-Hye is elected but even if she fails in the presidency. The National Assembly’s examination of the Jeju naval base budget to be held right after the Presidential election, would be a very important watershed for the struggle, and could decide the prospect of the struggle against the naval base project.
Through the construction of the Jeju naval base in Gangjeong village is, the United States will exploit this beautiful and heaven-blessed Jeju to make it outpost to contain China. The Jeju history of suffering as a former war base under Japanese imperialism and the painful scars from the 4.3 massacres shortly after liberation from Japan must not be repeated in Gangjeong village today. Next year marks the 60th commemorating year of the cession of the Korean War. The Cease Fire Agreement must be replaced with a Peace Agreement to permanently prevent war and to systematize peace.
I dream of the day when the peace of North East Asia starts with the peace in Gangjeong village and on the Korean peninsula, by engaging international solidarity to Gangjeong village for the Jeju naval base budget cut and to stop construction, and with the establishment of the Government through regime change that would realize inter-Korean conciliation and cooperation, concluding with a peace agreement in Korea.
In this month’s issue: A message from Chomsky to Gangjeong, a new civil disobedience movement, prison letters, prisoner releases, construction accidents, art activism and more!
Scroll down to the bottom to add your name to the petition.
As international students studying in South Korea we raise our collective voice to call upon the Government of South Korea to stop all work on the Jeju naval base construction project immediately. We are deeply concerned after learning that the Jeju naval base construction project has been pushed forward by the government without proper democratic consultation despite a sizable body of evidence showing that the project is deeply flawed and that the public has been repeatedly misled.
A wide range of human rights abuses against peaceful protesters are taking place in Gangjeong Village on a daily basis in order to ensure that the construction goes ahead despite strong local opposition. These have already been well documented by a number of human rights organizations both in South Korea and around the world including Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, Forum-Asia and three United Nations Special Rapporteurs.
This project is destroying not only the natural environment but also jeopardizing the wellbeing and health of villagers. Millions of dollars have been spent on maintaining a total of almost 130,000 police in the area since 2011. The once peaceful and prosperous seaside community of Gangjeong is now falling to pieces as the very foundations of its livelihood, the water and the land, are being destroyed.
We believe that the Jeju naval base project will not only contribute to the further militarization of the Asia Pacific region, but will also increase tensions and add to regional insecurity. The southern sea of Jeju is a critical geopolitical points linked into the Southeast Asian Sea which has recently been the focus of sharply rising tensions among the surrounding countries due to the hegemonic tug of war between the US and China. As students learning about the importance of the values of peace, human rights, social justice and cultural diversity, we cannot conceal our disappointment and indignation towards those responsible for the further militarization of the region and the continuation of the Jeju Naval Base construction project.
We hereby strongly urge the South Korean government and legislature to: Stop all construction on the Jeju Naval Base project immediately; Guarantee the human rights of Gangjeong villagers and peace activists including the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, a clean environment, and peace; Adopt all recommendations made by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island, and the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island concerning the forced construction of Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong Village; Adopt all recommendations made by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee to Stop the Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island, and the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island concerning the forced construction of Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong Village; Adopt the recommendations made by the international organizations including UN Special Rapporteurs, Asian Human Rights Commission, Forum-Asia, etc. to adhere to international human right standards and protect the livelihood of the inhabitants of Gangjeong Village; Cut all funding allocated for next year’s budget for the Jeju naval base construction project, and finally start looking for proper measures to restore the ecological and human communities in and around Gangjeong Village.
Dec. 11, 2012
International students & academics demanding an end to the Jeju Naval Base Construction Project
A peace keeper, Park Yong-Sung, who stayed in the sit-in tent across the construction gate overnight wrote in the morning of Dec. 17.
Photo by Park Yong-Sung
‘The tree of peace was made near the Gangjeong stream thanks to uncles and peace keepers in Gangjeong who cut and brought trees. The religious elders also helped to make the tree.
However, from the morning, there were construction workers’ physical and mental violence onto us. And the police responded late to such violence, while continuing circling of people with verbal violence.
As the Jejus Christ who was persecuted has become the symbol of peace and love, I hope Gangjeong would be overflowed with peace and love…’
Another peace keepers, Jang Hyun-Woo wrote on the details of violence in the morning of Dec. 17.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 17, see here.
By Jang Hyun-woo (translated/ for the original site, click here)
Around 6:30am, this morning, cement mixer and general work trucks began to gather one by one in front of the Poonglim resort building (* near the Gangjeong stream and construction gates)
Around 7am, the bows for life and peace began then around 7:35 am, workers came out in front of the naval base construction gate, 5 minutes after their gathering inside the construction site.
They began to remove the lumbers (that the peace keepers had put as barricade) in front of the naval base project committee building complex, while the construction vehicles began to slowly move.. The peace keepers stopped the trucks to come inside the gate of the naval base project building complex. When the trucks were to turn their way to the main gate of construction site, they blocked them in the crossing road.
Among five large and general vehicles, two vehicles entered into the main construction gate while the other three could not make entry but had to return back to the front of the Poonglim resort, waiting for another chance.
It occurred that we were circled by the construction workers, fell down and were injured in four or five places during the process of stopping the vehicles to the main construction gate. It even happened that a male construction worker strangled a neck and pushed the chest of a female peace keeper.
Even though there was no peace keeper who was greatly injured, the Samsung and Daelim construction workers, confirming that the peace keepers had no camera, dared to kick them.
The workers should be inquired for the charges.
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[Dec. 16]Companies install caissons before simulation, which a thorough ignoring of even Island governor’s demand
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ See more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 16, here
Following the Samsung’s input of 8800 ton caisson last night, the Daelim stationed its 3~4,000 ton caisson into the sea this morning.
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.
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.
Photo by Choi Kyung-Joon, Ohmynews, May 29, 2012 / Prof. Noam Chomsky wearing a yellow t-shirt that reads “Don’t kill the Gureombi Rock. Stop the blast!’ The t-shirt was brought by Mr. Koh Gil-Chun, Jeju artist, on May 22, 2012
Noam Chomsky, an Emeritus professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT sent an email message regarding the Dec. 19 South Korean Presidential election through Mr. Koh Gil-Chun, Jeju artist and Gangjeong Village Association on Dec. 14. He emphasized the fate of the Jeju should be an important element for the Koreans to consider in the election. Here is the whole of his message.
There is no doubt that the December 19 election will be an event of great importance for South Korea and the region, with broader implications as well. The people of South Korea have an opportunity to go forward on a path of peace and reconciliation, despite all the barriers on the way. Or to choose confrontation, militarism, and serious threats reaching as far as possible destruction.
One very important consideration should be the fate of Jeju Island, where the population has been struggling courageously for years against military projects that are undermining their hopes that Jeju will truly be an “Island of World Peace.” These projects not on have highly destructive effects on the environment and on the lives of the people of the island, but also sow the seeds of dangerous conflict, even potential superpower conflict. I hope and trust that voters will have such matters foremost in their minds when they cast their ballots.
Following the Villagers’ monthly Unity Day that started on Nov. 25, 2nd Unity Day was held amid rain on Friday, Dec. 14. On the day, about 50 villagers marched toward the gate of the naval base project committee building complex. It was a day that the villagers made public their statement on the Gangjeong Village Civil Disobedience Movement in front of the gate (You can see the original Korean statement, here).
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 14, see here.
Statement on the Gangjeong Village Civil Disobedience Movement
Our Gangjeong village is a village of more than 450 years during which we have supported all sorts of household matters and busy works one another and shared affection together based on the spirit of Sooneuleum. It is our hometown that has been called as Il-Ganjeong (Meaning Gangjeong, the best village) because of the best water, crops and life in the Jeju Island.
However, we are experiencing an act of barbarity committed [by the government] that decided one day to install so called a national policy project in the village like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, without going through the process of collection on the villagers’ opinions but reasoning that a small part of the villagers hoped the invitation of the naval base construction. We are also experiencing daily suffering because the navy and Government abetting pro-base villagers make them alienate from the anti-base villagers and overissue accusations and charges against the latter, which makes irrecoverable gaps of conflicts between parents, siblings, relatives and friends.
Even during the darkest period of 4.3 when about 80 innocent Gangjeong villagers suddenly met unnatural death by the military of the Republic of Korea, the Gangjeong villagers protected and cared for one another. However, the Gangjeong village today is divided by the hostility to suspect and hate one another.
Therefore, the Gangjeong villagers having declared the Life and Peace village in Nov. 2007, gathered their spirits to build the village where their descendents can be blessed with peace to be recovered again and environment where life can overflow. We have been unbearably fighting with the flag of ‘absolutely no naval base,’ for five years and seven months by now because the Jeju naval base not only would increase the threat of war by fostering tension with the neighborhood countries despite it is a security project restraining outbreak of war, would harm even the basis of security due to the conflict between the civilian and military but also would never fit to the value of life and peace.
However, we are proud of ourselves having our claims within the legal frame that fits to the value of life and peace and having pledged ourselves moderated acts that there should be no group violence to be occurred even when legal protests cannot be established [and we could not but unavoidably take the illegal forms]. However, during the process when the police unlawfully imprisoned the mayor, leader, of the Gangjeong village, there occurred a situation when the villagers besieged the police and confront them. Then the Government using the event as a momentum, declared the political situation of public security, dispatched a large size riot police, and enforced naval base project with physical power. And the situation of so severe infringement on human rights has been continued for more than a year.
It is not only unconvincing disposal for our cry to respect life and aspire peace to be recognized as the threatening existence to the Government but justice is being lost as even the law that is the standard of a society submits to the power of the Government, adding power to it.
Therefore the Gangjeong village residents, following the value of life and peace village and ethical standard, declare that they would manifest their rights as the citizen through the civil disobedience movement until the law is equal to everyone and the state power recovers its neutral position in the [Government]driving process of the Jeju naval base construction project.
While we resist with the principle of non-violence and peace, we will protect the Gangjeong village of the Land of Life, being firm without stepping back. To build the village where our sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters are proud that they are part of Korea and are willing to accept their responsibility to keep their hometown and care for life, we stand here deeply inscribing in our hearts that the civil disobedience movement that aims for the law to be righteously hold up is the most sacred mission for the citizens’ justice to be realized.
We demand the judicature, prosecutors, police, navy and the Government.
We hope that the judicature establishes its position again for its mission to make the authority of law righteously stand and to protect the order of democracy.
We hope the prosecutor and police are born again as those true canes for the people, not to mention their righteous establishment as the para judicature institutes, so that they get out of their mean appearance of standing sided with the haves.
We hope the navy comes into the stage of a reasonable and fair dialogue, stopping the construction itself for the purpose of ending mass production of social conflicts that take down the basis of security itself and even put the basis of the existence of a nation in danger.
We hope the Government would stop the Jeju naval base project on which so many problems have already been disclosed and by which infringement on human right violation have seriously occurred. We also hope that the Government, accepting its mission to unite the citizens, recovers the honors of the Gangjeong villagers and peace keepers who have been under false accusations and disadvantages, and totally re-examine the Jeju naval base project at the same time.
From today as the starting point, we declare that we, the Gangjeong villagers join together with their first sacred step in the spirit of time for the historical progress in which the justice of the judicature righteously stand and we make the world of no discrimination.
Dec. 14, 2012
The villagers and peace keepers of Gangjeong, the Life and Peace Village
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. The banner reads ‘Civil disobedience movement against the Jeju naval base.’ People such as Kim Jin-Suk, a legendary leader of the Hanjin Heavy Industry Workers’ struggle visited the village to encourage the villagers’ struggle. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 14, see here.Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 14, see here.After the event, villagers shared meals in front of the gate, to stop the construction vehicles. During the protest, a disable was arrested but he was released in hours.
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See also
South Korea’s a high court of justice just ruled out that the plan of military installation on GANGJEONG is lawful and valid action to go. This ruling was based on the Supreme Court’s decision that some part of the plan needed to be reviewed by the high court of justice in 2009. One more reviewing by the Supreme Court to go for the final ruling. (10:00 AM KST)
There were three lawsuits regarding the naval base. The first is the action filed by GANGJEONG Townhall claimed the permission of Jeju Provincial government to use the public water surface for naval base construction was illegal. The second is the action filed by GANGJEONG residents claimed the executive order from the provincial government to expire the absolute preservation site is illegal. The last one is the action filed by GANGJEONG townhall that the plan of military installation which is naval base at GANGJEONG is illegal. Each lawsuit had three trial cases, court of first instance, a high court of justice and the Supreme Court of justice and didn’t make it. This court’s ruling is caused by the supreme court of justice says some of details are not enough to make illegal and sent it back to the high court of justice for another hearing and ruling.
Park Geun-Hye, Park Chung-Hee and Jeju naval base: Why Park Geun-Hye should not be the President?
Photo: Time magazine: US version (internet version) (Source: Click here)
According to ‘Yeoreumgigi ‘ who put the post, the title of the Time, Asian version reads, ‘The Strongman’s daughter’ and the article title is ‘History’s Child.’ See the link above.
Park Geun-Hye is not only physical but spiritual heir of the deceased ex-President Park Chung-Hee who ruled South Korea with military dictatorship for 18 years.
At the time of the President Park Chung-Hee (1961 to 1979), the ROK Government proposed the United States through a security meeting to use the Jeju Island in any forms of whatever bases, including strategic Air Force base or naval base.
According to the archive of the Kyunghyang Shinmun, an article appears in the 1st page of June 6, 1969. Here is the whole translation of the short article.
Naval and Air Force Base in the Jeju: It looks that opinions were collected through the ROK-US defense meeting June 6, 1969 1st page, Kyunghyang Shinmun
It was informed that the ROK-US authorities gathered their opinions to build a naval base along with US air force base in South Korea to secure the security of Asia. On [June] 6, A high-rank personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered that the matter on the build-up of the US naval base that would be installed within South Korea was discussed in the 2nd ROK-US Defense cabinet members’ meeting, separate from the discussion on the measure of strengthening of the ROK navy power. He also delivered that, “The ROK government suggested the Jeju island as the candidate location for the naval base.”
President Park Chung-Hee has stated the other time that he was willing to provide the Jeju Island to the US as the US base the other time. He added that “It means it is OK that the US use [the Jeju] as all kinds of bases including naval base, not to mention as air force base. While the authority person avoided a mention on the size of the US naval base that would be built up in South Korea, he delivered that “There could be annexed facilities such as the ship-repair facility following the calling at a port by various kinds of vessels, even though it may not be the [size/quality] of the Saesebo in Japan where the [US] nuclear submarines can moor. (emphasis by me)
[..] An article in the Dec. 12 edition of the Washington Post made reference to a memo sent earlier this year by members of the Saenuri Party (NFP) presidential candidate’s camp.
“Park Geun-hye’s aides say they are sensitive about her connection to her father,” the article reported. “They sent a memo to the news media earlier this year asking that articles not refer to Park Chung-hee as a ‘dictator.’” [..]
“The reporters are taking these as attempts to control the foreign press by denying the legacy of the dictatorship,” Shin said. “It’s extremely upsetting to them.”
Photo by Rev. Cho Hun-Kook/ Release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin from the Jeju Prison, on bail, on Dec. 12. Two have been imprisoned since Sept. 6, the opening day of WCC.
‘The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island submitted individual complaints to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on human rights situation in Gangjeong. Human rights defenders including peace activists, religious leaders, villagers, and environmental defenders are continuously harassed by the government of the Republic of Korea, the navy and construction companies during their peaceful protest against construction of Jeju naval base.
Press statement was made in Korean but attachments are in English, so feel free to download the letter and case fact sheets from below link for your information 🙂
Scenes of release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)
Welcome back of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasun port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. For more photos by Jang Hyun-woo 장현우 http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/729, http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/731
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ People celebrate the release of two in front of the jeju prison on Dec. 12Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Released Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (Saltcandy Yohan) is again surrounded by the police on the same day at the gate.Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Celebration in the struggle field on Dec. 12
Welcome back to Gangjeong of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasoon port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. Video by Dunguree 박성수
Update on the conscientious prisoners against the Jeju naval base project
As of Dec. 16, 2012
Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, 188th day (No. 598)
Mr. Park Seung-Ho, 93rd day (No. 290)
Fr. Lee Young-Chan, 53rd day (No. 407) Please send each letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:
Jeju Prison
161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
Image: Kim Bok-Chul, a former laid-off railroad worker and one of the leaders of the field struggle, with a humorous sign, ‘Break down the fence.’ For the photo source, click here.
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Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28 (after 181 days). See here.
Villager Mr. Yoon Chung was released on Oct. 24(after 44days). See here.
Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26 (after 118 days). See here.
Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin were released on Dec. 12 (after 98days). See here.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.
It was found on Dec. 8 that an older brother of a wife of a dead worker on Nov. 28 posted a writing in the Gangjeong village website (Click here). On Nov. 28, the very day that the ruling Saenuri Party unilaterally railroaded 2013 budget bill on the Jeju naval base project in the National Defense committee of the National Assembly, a chief mate, Mr. Kim (43, living in the Jeju City) of a tug boat named Jungseungho died in the morning. The crews in the tug boat have been put to work on the Jeju naval base project. To see more on the background of the incident behind his death,click here. The writing was forwarded by Mr. Lim Ho-Young, village website (in Korean language) manager and peacekeeper.
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A father of a family, who has worked on the naval base construction, left this world
By Kim Sung-Ki
I can hardly restrain my very complicated heart while I write this.
On Nov. 28(Wed), I heard the news in Seoul that my sister’s husband died by accident.
Upon my sister’s cry, “Brother, please come here quickly,’ I stopped all my works and boarded myself on the airplane to Jeju
As a result of confirming the situation, I found my brother-in-law died while he worked on the Jeju naval base construction. My brother-in-law was the chief mate of the company called Jungseung haewoon (maritime transportation) and the company has made sub-contract to the Taehwa Construction who also made a sub-contract to the Samsung C &T.
According to the day’s accident story heard, my brother-in-law had been put to work of the Taewha Construction, which had not been planned. It was a work on a tug boat that drags a barge. He was returning from the Gangjoeng village to Hwasoon port after some work. The accident happened during the mooring process in the Hwasoon port. According to a Jeju Sori article, it was a human life accident caused by a rope that links between tug boat and barge( in the words of captain, it is ‘wire’). It is told that the thickness of the wire is about 18 cm. To my inference, he seems to have immediately died due to the stroke by wire. At the time, there was an excursion ship and many tourists witnessed the site. That is what I was told on the accident at the time.
Personally experiencing this incident, I became to recognize how ironic situation I am placed in. My hometown is Jeju and I am a peacenik who opposes the Jeju naval base construction in the Gangjeong village. Of course, I don’t actively participate in the struggle in the village. I only sympathize it, in my heart. Still I and my sister became to lose a member of our family during the naval base construction.
My brother in law was the head of a family, having two children. He is a dad of a daughter attending middle school and a son attending an elementary school. Do I have to think them praiseworthy as they accept the fact that their dad is not here any more in this world, with calm attitude? Or do they think it is a matter of no importance as they could not see their dad often? My feeling is complicated.
I became to think that the incident of my brother in law is an example that shows the problems of Korea society.
My brother in law is an ordinary citizen who happened to have been victimized during the process of state drive for anti-peace policies. The Jeju where the Peace museum and military base co-exist cannot be our ‘Jeju’.
My brother in law has been a worker belonging to a sub-contract company dependent upon a big corporation. As you know, a sub-contract company cannot but subordinate to the demands by its master enterprise. Probably a tremendously unfair contract was done. I cast doubts to think that, if my brother-in-law who had carried out unplanned task had worked in a proper work environment, he would not have been victimized.
A head of a family, who was responsible for the livelihood of four members of family became to meet a very sorry death due to the contradiction of this society. Taking this incident, I feel a much sense of shame that there are little thing that I can help my sister as an older brother and my nephews as an uncle. Should a petit bourgeois victimized by state policy merely cure for one’s pain inside the wall of law and system?
I feel shame as I feel like that I appeal ‘personal’ pain to the people who try to save the village from the ‘social’ scope. The incident shows the values of ‘peace’ and ‘human rights’ coexist. I hope there is no 2nd victim.
While I am writing this, two children are sleeping and their mom cannot sleep for the wound of losing her husband, only absently looking at ceiling.
I hope my hometown, Jeju is where human beings are respected, wounds of human beings are cured and peace co-exist. Various selfishness and greed stay in Jeju. That is why there are the “Saving the Gureombi Rock,” “Gangjeong village,’ and “Jeju of Olle.”
The Jeju we want is the Jeju of ‘human being,’ ‘peace,’ ‘human rights,’ and ‘happiness.’ I hope there happens no same thing that happened to my sister. How we can save the Jeju as true Jeju? I pray for the happiness of my sister’s family.
It was one of the coldest weather on Dec. 5. While thepeople’s sit-ins are ongoing in Gangjeong and Seoul near a month by now, people in both regions had to fight with cold weather that accompanied heavy snow (Seoul) and sleets (Gangjeong) in strong wind. Otherwise the village association entered judiciary measure against the navy, companies and Island government, regarding environmental destruction. A good news is that Buddhists made public their large size mobilization for care of Gangjeong. Otherwise, 333 intellectuals made a statement opposing Park Geun-Hye, the Presidential candidate of the ruling conservative Saenuri party, with concerns on the possibility of returning back of Yushin dictatorship. For the details of each, see the below.
Amid coldest weather, Gangjeong joins the protest for the victims of Samsung
In Seoul, the struggle in such bad weather was highlighted though in solidarity by the people who are opposing against naval base, who joined the emergency press conference by the workers and bereaved families of the victims of the Samsung industrial disease in front of the Samsung headquarter in Gangnam, Seoul. On the day that Samsung chairman’s only son was promoted to vice chairman. See an article, here.
Heavy and first snow fall in this winter in Seoul area on December 5, there was a protest in front of Samsung, as part of ‘Hope March’ by the ‘Let’s live together’ team. . . . .Fore more photos by Wooki Lee, see here(Facebook post by Regina Pyon)
The Samsung General Union had called for solidarity upon the Samsung’ security workers’ violence on one-man protesters on Nov. 30, the day of the 25th anniversary event commemorating the inauguration of Lee Gun-Hee, President of Samsung. For more detail, see here. The venue was in front of Samsung headquarter, Gangnam, Seoul, where even long-time staying tenants are ready always to be evicted by the corporate greed.
Workers’ Presidential candidate demands to revoke the Jeju naval base project
Kim So-Yeon, a leader of legendary Kiryung workers’ struggle and now Workers’ Presidential candidate also shined people’s protest. Still the people’s struggle would meet the Samsung’s counter-rally in which the Samsung seemed to have mobilized its workers who are not actually willing to be. The Samsung also mobilizing the police even interrupted Kim’s election campaign.
Photographer Lee Woo-Ki writes:
‘We have fought all day amid snow. Even though Kim So-Yeon has Presidential candidate debate at 11 pm, tonight, she is still with us. . She says she was sorry that there was no night time passage of construction vehicles so no police circling of people [on Sunday, Nov. 18] when she visited Gangjeong with determined mind to be with people. Kim has slept beside Fr. Mun in sleeping bag when there was sit-in in front of National Assembly.”
Photo by Lee Woo-Ki, Workers’ Presidential candidate, Kim So-Yeon. For more photos, click here.
Following the Dec. 4 TV debate held by three Presidential candidates of the ruling, main opposition, and opposition parties, there was another TV debate for three minority Presidential candidates who belonged to non-party on Dec. 5. Among the three, Kim So Yeon represented Workers. Kim Soon-Ja represented cleaning workers. Park Jong-Sun is a conservative. The other candidate, Kang Ji-Won was absent in refusal of the debate form in which major and minority candidates were differentiated.
Kim emphasizing the oppressed people, pointed out the hypocricy of two big parties. Regarding the Jeju naval base, Kim said, “While Park Geun-Hye, Moon Jae-In, two candidates emphasize the Northeast Asia peace. They are keeping silent on the issue of the Jeju naval base that stirs tension and brings war threat, regarding the US. To stop the Jeju naval base construction is to cut the US- centered diplomacy and establish the peace agreement.” See the related Korean article here
Snow can be suffering cause for night time protesters in Gangjeong
‘December 6. . .very cold, freezing day’ . . .by Saewoo at the naval base gate. For more photos by Saewoo, see here (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)
A nigfht time protestor nicknames Saewoo writes:
“Tonight, streaks of snow fluttered.
The SNS was all covered with shouts of joy. However, I was not so glad.
In Gangjeong, snow brings coldness. Our cloths are wet by sleets. Even hot packs are being frozen. Still there are people who sleep on the cold ground to stop the night time construction vehicles…
My heart is likely to fall down with pains.
My tears are not dried even though I cry and cry.”
Around 5:40pm, Dec. 5. police circling started…It is cloudy..The sign reads, ‘All part of body are bruised and wounded. Stop unjustifiable police violence’Around 5:50 pm, Dec 5 right after police circling … new music instrument created by a villager
Villagers’ statement on having entered judicial measure against the navy, companies and Island government
Following its official letter to the Island government on Nov. 20, the village association entered on judicial measure against the navy-side and Island government on Dec. 5. The Original Korean statement of the below translation can be seen here.
Photo and caption by Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base around 5:30 am, Dec. 5. 2012. ‘The barges gave up the works and are returning to Hwasoon port due to the bad weather condition.’ (Facebook post by Regina Pyon) / The navy’s illegal and law-evasive destruction of the Metboori, in the east tip of the naval base project area has brought suspicion from the people. See here
Title: Is the navy harmful insect that gnaws on the value of the Jeju to enforce the construction even in violation of the agreed items in the Environmental Impact Assessment again following the general unreliability of the Jeju naval base construction?
The Jeju naval base project committee installed silt protectors on the sea with half a heart because of the protests by the village Association and environmental groups when it started maritime construction without installing stationary silt protectors on the sea in the beginning of last year.
However, it attempted to enforce construction again in the situations when silt protectors were not still equipped and even when the silt protectors were partly or completely damaged due to heavy sea waves. As a result, the Jeju Island government, lodged with civilian complaints, has ‘demanded’ official construction pose to the Ministry of National Defense(MND) and Environmental Agency (EA) three times by this year ( * ‘demand’ is weaker measure than ‘order’ that can practically stop the construction)
Even with those facts, it is already enough for the Jeju Island government to take a measure of the business suspension to the applicable enterprises. It is right to say that it is possible for the Jeju Island government to take a measure of business suspension to the applicable enterprises and cancellation on the superintendence committee’s registration, which is more than the measure of negligence fines against them, added of its records of directions to the navy on the installation of silt protectors four times and of repeated directions twice following the none-carried directions.
The Jeju Island is proud of its heaven-blessed nature. The Seogwipo maritime environment is the only UNESCO-designated maritime Biosphere Reserve in Korea and the Gangjeong Sea is of the habitat of soft coral, ROK Government-designated natural memorial No. 442. It is the start point that made the Jeju Island as the UNESCO triple-crowned and Seven Nature of the World. Is not the navy like harmful insect that gnaws on the value of the Jeju to enforce a large-size construction in such place even in violation of the minimum agreed items on nature protection?
We have clearly stated that, if the Jeju Island government does not strictly punish on such destroying behaviors, we would take a judicial measure even against- not to mention the navy, navy-contracted construction companies-the Jeju Island government responsible for unreliable execution on the duty of management and supervision [on the navy and its contracted companies].
On Nov. [20], the Village Association has requested the Jeju Island government to give the navy direction on execution, submitting it with the proofs on the navy’s illegal construction (destruction). And the Jeju Island government notified us that it has sent its official letter to the MND and EA on the date of Nov. 30. However, in the Gangjeong Sea, illegal construction is still being committed.
Thereupon, the Village Association states that it entered the judicial measure thanks to the MINBYON (Lawyers for Democratic Society), against the navy, navy-contracted companies, superintendence committee and Jeju Island government, along with sending the Island government an official letter that demands it strong administrative measures such as the imposition on the negligence fines. We warn again the navy that dares various law-evasiveness and unlawfulness, being blinded only for securing 2012 budget. The navy should immediately stop the construction (destruction) that destroys the environment of Jeju while staging a fraud play of ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty,’ which is a nonsense. And it should bear in mind that there would be only a disgrace of judicial judgment along with people’s, if it does not take steps for re-examination on the project along with apology to people.
Dec. 5, 2012
The Gangjeong Village Association
Buddhists plan to cure the village with a religious service for the God of Sea in the port on Dec. 13.
Photo by Jeju Sori, Dec. 5, 2012/ The Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism and Jeju Buddhist Association, having a press conference in the Island People’s room of the Island Council on Dec. 5, stated that they would hold the ‘Yongwang Daejae at 2pm, on Dec. 13.”
Peace keeper, Park Yong-Sung writes:
Facing the Presidential election, the Jogye religious order, Jeju Buddhism orders and Buddhists from the Jeju and nationwide will come to the village to console the pain of Gangjeong. The Yongwangje ( a religious service for the God of Sea), the traditional village event, will be featured with the characters of Buddhism this year, as there are many Buddhists in the village. So the name will be ‘Yongwangdaejae’ combined with Buddhism ritual of ‘Jae.’ The event will be held at the Gnagjeong port, people looking at the Gureombi Rock and Gangjeong Sea at 2 pm, Dec. 13, Thursday.
It is a big event even the highest leader of the Korean Buddhism and other high-profile Buddist monks join. The monks who has had little concern with Gangjeong and temples of various religious orders will come to Gangjeong. It is to cure the pain of the village and to recover the 400 year history community
In this event, Do-Beop, leader of the Life and peace Fellowship and Chairman of Hwa-Jaeng Committee, Korean Buddhist Jogye Order will join the event
Photo by Jeju Sori, Dec. 5, 2012/ Do-Beop, leader of the Life and peace Fellowship and Chairman of Hwa-Jaeng Committee, Korean Buddhist Jogye OrderPoster on ‘Yongwanddaejae, Dec. 13
Statement of Intellectuals in Asia Who Remember the Yushin Dictatorship
Photo source: Pressian, Nov. 5, 2012/ 333 intellectuals from 25 Asian countries made a statement, expressing opposition against park Geun-Hye, Presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri party.
Excerpt:
A highly important election will be held in December in a country in Asia, known for its exemplary democratization, South Korea. This election, to elect a new President in a presidential polity, is likely to serve as a significant testing ground for the future of democratization not only in South Korea, but in Asia as well.
One concern is that the prominent presidential candidate of the conservative ruling party is none other than the daughter and heir of the late Park Jung-hee, the notorious dictator who took power by military coup and ruled the country with an iron-fist for 18 years. Park Geun-hye played not only the privileged daughter role of the dictator but acted as de facto first lady after her mother died. She won her way to the presidential candidacy through appealing to the voters with the successes of Park’s regime and calling for restoration of its honor. She thus became the choice of oligarchic political forces who share the nostalgia of the authoritarianism that was Park Jung-hee’s rule.[..]
We intellectuals in Asia who clearly remember the rule by terror of Park Jung-hee and his Yushin dictatorship, think that what is presently happening with the coming election in South Korea lays a dark cloud over the future of South Korean democracy. Contrary to the beautified stories that Park’s followers make and spread, the days of Park’s dictatorship were a series of political crises and Korean people had to suffer from totalitarian control and state violence that resembled the days of Japanese colonial rule.
An article that reminds the dark age of Park Chung-Hee, military dictatorship for 18 years (1961-1979). Park Geun-Hye, The Presidential candidate of the ruling Conservative Party is the heir of Park Chung-Hee. If she becomes the President, the future of Korea is dangerous…See also Park Chung-Hee in wiki )
