On September 22nd, a benefit concert was held for Dr. Song Kang-Ho, who was violently arrested on his birthday, April 1. September 22nd was the 175th day of his imprisonment. The concert title was ‘A Song for Gangjeong and Hope.’
Dr. Song sent a lengthy letter from Jeju Prison where he is being held, to be read at the concert, briefly excerpted here:
The hope of Gangjeong is the hope for justice and peace. The people have sung a song of hope for more than six years. Your concert is to spread the song of hope. I think your concert is beautiful. It is because the most beautiful song is the song of peace.
[…]
The prison that confines me is what jails our church and nation. You are jailed with me, too. Please sing a song for freedom. Please call for justice. And please sing a song for peace. Please sing the most beautiful song in the world, which defeats the evil spirits of violence and war that bind us.
Song Saem, Dr. Song’s daughter plays cello at the concert. (Image: Lee Daegwi)
A book by Dr. Song, titled, “Peace, walking on hope from far-off: Song Kang-Ho’s Stories of Peace from Rwanda to Gangjeong” will be published by the Intervarsity Press Korea on Oct. 8, 2012.
(Information and pictures provided by Choi Hye-Young, Lim Ho-Young, and Abigail Yoo)
In response to individual complaints sent to the UN special procedure mandate holders, a joint letter was sent to South Korean government on alleged acts of harassment, intimidation and ill-treatment of peaceful protesters in Gangjeong village on 30 May 2012.
In the letter, the Rapporteurs ask questions on the cases for clarification and request the Government to send a response within sixty days so that it can be presented at the UN Human Rights Council. Unfortunately, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights until today which has passed almost 100 days since the letter was sent, the Government has not submitted any responses to the Rapporteurs.
The letter was jointly written by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (Frank La Rue), Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of associations (Maina Kia), and Special Rapportuer on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders (Margaret Sekaggya). The letter is included in the Communications Report of Special Procedures (A/HRC/21/49) and is submitted to the 21st Session of the UN Human Rights Council which is now being held in Geneva, Switzerland (10 September~28 September 2012).
In the letter, three special rapporteurs expressed serious concerns regarding the physical and physiological integrity of all persons involved in the actions against the construction of the naval base. It also reminds the Government on principles and values in various international human rights standards including the UN code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individual, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally.
The Rapporteurs urged the Government “to take all necessary measures to guarantee that the rights and freedom of all persons involved in” the actions against construction of the naval base respected. They also requested that the Government “adopt effective measures to prevent the recurrence” of these violations.
We believe that the allegation letter and attention of the Special Rapporteurs on the human rights violations in Gangjeong shows that human rights violations on no Jeju naval base campaigners are grave. We would also like to remind the South Korean government that they will be soon reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review in October 2012. As the Government has shown their interest in running for the election to be a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2013, we urge the Government to promote and protect human rights as enshrined in the international human rights standards and respect procedures of the UN Human Rights Council including Special Procedures. The South Korean government should responds to the joint allegation letter based on facts and immediately stop human rights violations on human rights defenders who are peacefully protesting against the naval base construction.
Please note that names of human rights defenders and sites where human rights violation happened are not made public in the UN document.
For further inquiries, please contact: Ms. Gayoon Baek, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Coordinator, +82 2 723 4250, peace@pspd.org
Update! Deadline extended to September 30! Sign Now!
“Bring peace and cooperation to East Asia!
Don’t militarize Jeju Island and the pacific!
Make Jeju an Island of World Peace!
While witnessing the construction of a gigantic naval base in beautiful Gangjeong village in Jeju Island, located in the Western Pacific Ocean, we cannot help but raise questions again: why war and destructions are repeated under the name of peace and prosperity?”
Korean group People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) is promoting an asia-pacific peace declaration against the Jeju Naval Base during the International Solidarity Action Week. Please sign before September 15 30!
The water area of the so called civilian-military dual port ( Jeju naval base) was designated as a trade port. Therefore the legal basis that cruises can enter and exit the related water area was secured. However complete entry and exit of port for cruise is not guaranteed. For a cruise to enter the military facility in the water area designated as a trade port, it has to get permission from the jurisdiction unit commander. The cruise entry and exit of port can be controlled according to the condition of military unit, such as drill.
On June 26, the government having a cabinet meeting, reviewed and resolved on the ‘bill on the revision on the enforcement decree on the Port Act (*Law on harbor & bay),’ and ‘bill on the revision on the enforcement decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.’ On June 29, those bills were promulgated.
Following the enforcement decree on the Port Act, the Gangjeong area was added to the maritime zone of the Seogwipo port that is currently designated as a trade port. However, the ‘bill on the revision on the enforcement decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act,’ is still in controversy. The promulgated bill is of more or less mitigation in the regulation on the cruise entry and exit of port, compared to that at the time of advance legislation notice (on April 26) but is not guaranteeing completely free entry and exit of port for the cruises.
In the April 26 legislation notice, “the ships (including passenger and crew) that are ‘designated’ by the jurisdiction unit commander are guaranteed their entry and exit of port at maximum.’ It was the bill to let the unit commander to choose the ships that can apply for the entry permission. On the other side, the bill promulgated on June 29 reads that crews and passengers in the ships that want to enter the military base and facilities with the installation of marks on control zone in the maritime area of so called civilian-military dual port (limited to the maritime zone designated as the trade port), can apply for the entry permission themselves to the unit commander or though the Jeju Island governor.
The ships that are possible for application for the entry permission is the licensed cruise ships according to the Maritime Transport Act or ships defined by the Minister of Justice according to the Immigration Control Law.
The jurisdiction unit commander should notice the applicant directly or through the Jeju island governor within 24 hours. If he does not notice the matter on yes or no within 24 hours, it is considered as yes. The crews and passengers that are to apply for the entry permission should notice the jurisdiction unit commander etc seven days before the planned date of port entry.
However the matter on the entry and exit of cruise within the trade port is totally dependent on the judgment by the military therefore the title of so called civilian-military port is suspicious as it is only in surface in reality.
[June 15 report and Video] In an absolute opposition to the navy’s military housing project, the villagers occupied the navy’s hearing stage of it for the 2nd time. The navy could NEVER process the hearing. Still the navy attempted to enforce hearing with a sudden RAID of ‘RECORDED VOICE,’ which were absolutely and fiercely protested by the villagers. The Jeju media reporters say that the hearing was ‘crept.’
The Jeju Sori even used the phrase such as, ‘approaching the climax’ in its article title to describe navy’s such incredibly naked fraud behavior that has been in fact nothing new since the navy sneaked like thieves into the Gangjeong village in 2007 when it bribed a few villagers and made a false propaganda through TV broadcastings that the villagers were in favor of naval base. The use of ‘recorder’ for 20 minutes in the small rocked studio room in the back side of hearing stage for the navy to evade furious people’s protest and to fake the fact as if the hearing was done on June 15 will remain one of the most scandalous and shameful traces throughout the South Korean military history.
The villagers having succeeded to completely dissipate the navy’s hearing on May 29, gathered in more numbers this time when the navy attempted the 2nd hearing in the same place of the Kim Jung Cultural Hall which is about 10 minute car distance from the village. The hearing was specifically focused on the draft on the prior environmental review for the military housing project.
About 200 villagers and peace activists gathered even before the start of hearing at 5pm, in resolute spirit to end navy’s such bald-faced behavior to forcefully drive the project.
As soon as people saw the naval base project committee personnel and workers of their contacted companies, they were in great fury. Civilian-costumed policemen and a few villagers who are in favor of naval base also were shown.
Navy’s holding a hearing in the place that is not in the village was already infuriating thing. If they are honesty and dignified, why they cannot hold a hearing in the village?
The navy had even the banner that reads, “Who would be responsible for a village elementary school being disappeared when students are 80 among 1,900 Gangjoeng villagers?” It was to threaten the villagers, meaning that the villagers can only sustain their home town by accepting more populations of at least 616 households of military family members.
Does the navy conspire to make the small village with the military-friendly electorates? The banner was soon taken down by the furious villagers.
Mass protest began when the contracted companies’ workers began to attempt to distribute propaganda materials. Villagers furiously tore glossed papers of them full of sumptuous colors and false rhetoric; and throw down them on the floor in front of the two navy officers who don’t seem to recognize their wrongdoings of stealing villagers’ hometown. One of two was a lieutenant commander Jung who had been detected to secretly hang a banner in the village last year, which was to falsely impute the protesters as pro-north leftist.
It even appeared that the navy side (policemen?) stealthily took photos on the protesting people in the rocked studio, which provoked villagers. Mayor Kang and villagers demanded a police intelligence officer to identify the men inside but the police officer rejected it. People blocked the window of the studio with banners.
Further preposterous thing happened around 5:10pm. People were shocked by the sudden recorded voice heard in the hall, that the hearing started. Of course, people protested demanding to stop it.
Infuriated mayor Kang heightened voice, “This is the navy’s another fraud. What on earth hearing being done by recorded broadcasting! The men inside the close studio should show up themselves!”
The recorded voice (talking on the purpose and content of hearing) went on for about 20minutes and the navy officers withdrew from the hearing hall around 5:30pm as people’s protest became stronger. People were more infuriated by their attitudes to attempt to evade the site without proper explanation on recorded voice. People surrounded them and fierily protested to them: “It is totally betraying of villagers!”
The navy left out the hall around 5:45pm. People followed them to their car and continuously protested them.
Mayor Kang said, “We the villagers have made an agreement that we absolutely oppose the military residence in our village. We will never allow it!”
It is expected that the navy would still enforce the project as it asserts that the hearing ‘has been done.’ Can you believe? It plans to finish the housing project by 2015 when the base is planned to be complete. In more detail, after today, it plans to work on the document on prior environment review, to complete the work-ordering on it in August through consultation with the Ministry of Environment next month and to start on environment impact assessment on the other hand. If the Ministry of National Defense approves the project in October, it will begin to purchase lands from November.
However, if it enforces the project, big controversy on scandalous procedure matter will surely arise. The navy should remember that there were about 200 witnesses of people today, who clearly remember ‘recorded fraud,’ OPERATED by the navy.
[June 10: Important] Navy plan on military housing project and designation of military restriction area
People have fiercely protested on May 29 when the navy attempted to hold a hearing on Military housing project without informing or consultation with the villagers. The navy hearing failed because of fierce protest by people who occupied the stage of the event with banners right before the event.
The navy is told to secretly hold a meeting again on June 15 that should be definitely blocked by people this time, too..
1.As you see in the map, the navy plans to expand the military area by building a military family housing (about 616 households, about 100,000 m2) in one of A to F areas and entry road (about 66,000 m2) along with already illegally and violently expropriated lands of about 280,000 m2 for the naval base project area (total 480,000 m2, including coastal reclamation of 200,000 m2).
Navy’s military housing project in the Gangjeong village
Since it is about 600 military households, you can imagine at least 1,200 military family members would be the new members of the village then. Please remind the whole population of the Gangjeong village is only about 1,900 (including 1,050 electorates). The village will be eventually swallowed into the military-friendly electorates.
The navy is to build those of military households and entry road with transferred money of about 100 billion won from last year ( About 75% of Last year’s was transferred to this year) Please remind that the National Assembly has made a tremendous 96% budget cut for naval base project for 2012. Only 4.9 billion won just for layout compensation fee etc. for 2012 was allowed by the National Assembly, while ALL ACTUAL construction (destruction) budgets for 2012 were cut.
2. The navy is also planning to designate a military restriction zone in the planned so-called civilian-military dual port, that will be eventually a military-only a port for 20 war vessels including a US nuclear aircraft carrier.
Navy plan on the military restriction zone
It is illegal as you cannot designate such zone while construction (destruction) has not been completed yet. It is known that the navy officially told the work rate was 13% (the amount of budget used) as of March this year. By June it is expected about less than 20%. However, excluding compensation fee for expropriated lands, the ACTUAL work rate is expected only 8~10%, currently. The navy could not even accomplish its original construction plan for 2011 even at the time of June, 2012, because of ‘most of all, people’s strong obstruction on project,’ in its own words.
What would happen with such dangerous designation on military restriction zone?
_The navy can expand its control area to 500 meter surrounding the area, except for settlement area (which is limited to 300 meter then).
_ People cannot build, rebuild, repair their houses in their own will. Everything is controlled by the military.
_ Further the navy will far expand control area under many excuses. The case of Daechuri, Pyeongtaek well explains. The military zone of Pyeongtaek was originally 11,550,000 m2 long years ago but it is now 33,000,000 m2, about three times fold.
The navy will first build the naval base of 480,000 m2. Then gradually increase its area size for all the war vessels, war planes and other advanced tech weapons.
_The navy says, with the influx of population by the military housing project (that they want to build in an area of ‘good view, easy traffic, easy securing of land,’ which is of no consideration on the natives), the numbers of children in an only elementary school in the village will be increased. And the market’s economy will soar, it says. Do you think the people will keep their children of high school ages in such a small village in Korea where competition is so high? Do you think people will still buy goods in local markets when there is PX inside a base, which sells goods in much cheaper price? The navy’s such false propaganda should be strongly refuted.
Therefore the village will disappear from a map but shall be transformed into a military city where people can only depend on military for economy.
-Struggle will be much harder. With such designation, you have to risk of at about three year prison term for your protests.
Those are why the people here have no time to break. We should stop such conspiracy.
Please take some actions appealed for in the ‘Take action’ section of our weekly news letter.
The Jeju Naval Base Construction that Marches against the Peace and Prosperity of Northeast Asia Should be Immediately Stopped
Participating in the Peace Activists’ Conference for the Life and Peace of Gangjeong Village held in the Gangjeong Village, Jeju, from May 30 to June 2, we have discussed cooperation measures to save and nurture Jeju as the Island of Peace. During the process, we reconfirmed the overall problems of the Jeju naval base construction which is being enforced against the will of the residents of Gangjeong Village.
First, the Jeju naval base construction is being enforced in an anti-environmental manner, even though it is clear that it would bring serious destruction to the heaven-blessed natural heritage of the island. Gureombi Rock and the surrounding sea in the coastal area of Gangjeong Village is an absolute conservation area, Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea-designated Natural Memorial No. 442, and heaven-blessed natural heritage which is close to the UNESCO-designated World Natural Heritage Site of Beom Island. However, for the purpose of enforcement of the naval base construction, the government is proceeding without proper evaluation while expediently easing various regulations. It should be obvious that the construction runs counter to the basic purport of the World Conservation Congress that will be held on Jeju Island this coming September.
Second, the Jeju naval base construction is being anti-democratically enforced, ignoring the opposition of the majority of the villagers. Even though it is a basic role of a government to protect the right of residents to live peacefully, the Government is employing various anomalies and illegalities to deprive the rights of Gangjeong Village residents. By charging villagers as lawbreakers, it is also oppressing those who express their opposition to the illegal and abnormal enforcement of construction (destruction) in peaceful ways with arrest, detention and huge fines.
Third, in driving the naval base construction, the government is irresponsibly making economic promises to the people of Jeju Island that it cannot keep. The government has made a public pledge to provide economic compensation to Gangjeong villagers and Jeju islanders by constructing a civilian port for the simultaneous docking of two 150,000 ton cruise ships within the military port. However the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged that such a pledge can hardly be kept, considering its economic validity and reality. Also, it has never been verified whether a civilian ship of such size could make a safe port entry to the base without military control. It is becoming increasingly clear that the government has no will to seriously carry out its promise to construct a civilian port.
Fourth, above all, by militarizing Jeju Island and the Northeast Sea in the name of maritime security, the naval base construction is actually threatening the peace and prosperity of the region. The government and Navy, which has regarded itself a junior partner in the U.S.-led maritime initiative to dominate Northeast Asia of recent years, recently developed ROK-US-Japan maritime military cooperation against China. The Jeju naval base is expected to be utilized as its outpost. It is expected that US nuclear submarines and nuclear aircraft carriers, not to mention South Korean Aegis destroyers, would use the base as a port of call. This is not advisable for the peace and prosperity of the whole of Northeast Asia, not to mention the future of South Korea-China relations which will be marked by the 20th anniversary of good relations in 2012.
Jeju Island given its location should adopt a central role in Northeast Asia by making the 21st century a true ‘era of peace and prosperity,’ overcoming the era of confrontation and conflict. In designating Jeju as the World Peace Island the stated purpose was to make it an exchange and cooperation hub of Northeast Asia and the Sea of Northeast Asia as the Sea of Peace and Coexistence. The Jeju naval base construction runs fundamentally counter to such a vision.
The Jeju Forum, an international forum that marks its seventh year this year, aims for the construction of a Northeast Asian community for Peace and Prosperity. In this year’s forum, of which the subject is ‘New Trends and the Future of Asia’, it is known that global corporate personnel, bureaucrats, politicians, and researchers, not to mention Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Shik, will join. To make a sea of horror and tension where the most technologically war vessels would confront each other can never be the future of East Asia. The pursuit of profit through militarism and to be silent on environmental destruction and human rights violations can never be a new trend. We urgently appeal to forum participants to seriously discuss the matters of militarization of the Northeast Sea, environmental destruction and infringement of the human rights of residents.
For the coexistence and prosperity of Asia into the future, Jeju Island should remain wholly as the Island for Life and Peace. To make the Sea of Northeast Asia as the Sea of Peace and Cooperation, the Jeju naval base construction should be stopped.
June 1, 2012
All the participants present of the Peace Activists’ Conference for Life and Peace
Hosting organizations: Gangjeong Village Association, Peace Activists in Gangjeong, Pan-Island Committee for Prevention of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island, Nationwide Committee to Stop the Jeju Naval Base Construction, Preparatory Committee for the Peace Activists’ Conference
[May 29, 2012 Breaking News] The navy’s hearing on building on military residence in the area of village was totally dissipated by villagers’ strong protest. A small victory to the people!
Photo: Headline Jeju/ May 29, 2012. The navy’s hearing on building on military residence in the area of village was totally dissipated by villagers’ strong protest.
About 100 villagers and activists, storming with great fury into the building of Kim Jung Culture hall, Seogwipo City, completely dissipated the navy’s hearing on military residence.
The naval base project committee had planned to have a hearing on the draft of prior environmental examination on the project for establishing military residential buildings at 5pm, May 29.
However, the villagers and activists greatly uniting themselves, totally dissipated the hearing by fierce protest to the navy and building companies, even before the hearing.
The villagers shouted in fury, “Even though the navy says it has informed on the building to the nearby villagers, there was no mention on it to the very villagers of Gangjeong.” “If the military residential houses come into the village, the village will be surrounded by a big military facility, soon .”
The navy is very likely to still enforce the project. But it has become very clear to everybody that the villagers greatly oppose naval base construction(destruction). Most Jeju media reported.
Below is the translation of the Gangjeong Village Association’s statement on May 22, 2012. (Sorry for any mistakes for hurried translation in advance). You can see the original Korean script here.
…………………………………………………..
Title: The Jeju Island government should take stern legal action on illegal and unreliable construction (destruction) of the Jeju naval base project!
The caissons that would be thrown down in the construction area of the Jeju naval base project are of giant structure of 38m length, 25m width and 20m height for each. Considering such giant structure of 8,800 ton for each, it should be natural that the [steel] frames of those should be strictly made as in the layout. However, there has been a controversy that the frames of the caissons [..] have been made unreliably.
(# The Jeju Sori May 12 article reports on the raised suspicion on unreliable caisson production by Samsung, see the bottom)
[The government] has seriously ignored democratic procedure without holding any hearings for the villagers during its process to get villagers’ agreement but allowing only the people who were bribed before; has annulled absolute preservation areas [in the village] in snatched way; and has been lack of persuasive explanation on the urgent reasons for security matter. NOT ONLY THAT, even though prior environmental review following the law on protection of natural environment had to be done before selecting location, it was done AFTER A YEAR of location selection while the government having APPROVED the project WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT. The whole process of naval base construction (destruction) was of the extreme of irrationality throughout all its process.
As if it is not enough to get the permission on the altered condition, holding down the law on protection of cultural treasure by the force of the Ministry of National Defense, it PROCESSED construction(destruction) EVEN DURING the excavation period on buried cultural treasures, using shortcut method of so-called ‘partial construction.’ The purported ‘Beautiful Tourism Port for Mixed Civilian-Military Use,’ of which the name was put to deceive the Island people, while the government clearly promoting a military-only port, has been proved out to be DUAL FROM THE BEGINNING.
While port operation rate has been suspected with the exposal of flawed layout, the Jeju naval base project that is now being in conflict with the position of the Jeju Island government for the matter on the two cruises’ simultaneous port entry & exit is now bringing reputes as the [central government] attempts to establish A MILITARY FACILITY PROTECTION ZONE in the current stage, which can be done ONLY AFTER permission for building completion according to the Port Act (law on harbor and bay). It is really suspicious whether it is truly a national policy further with the matter on unreliable construction (destruction).
In a word, it is ‘an example of business wasted of national tax’!
Furthermore, blast has been enforced even though the Gangjeong village association has warned many times that precise investigation is needed on the underground water vein, concerning about the water source of the Gangjeong stream. And now the blast has been enforced, the front sea and the port area of the village are now being increased with damage for daily dirty water, despite no rain. The Jeju Island government that has not taken any measure is committing DERILICTION of DUTY even though it was confirmed that the silt protection layer has never been restored by the result of underwater investigation and the village has submitted the Island government its opinion statement on the date of May 15, demanding construction stop at least until the completion of reduction measure following the law on the Environmental Impact Assessment and Public Waters Act.
Further unbearable is that the Island governor has not made public any of its position even though he himself was humiliated when a low-level personnel of the Prime Minister Office scolded the Island government for its boycott on the simulation [on May 16] and declared on enforcement of construction (destruction) […] on the very day.
(The Jeju Island government boycotted the simulation as the Prime Minister office refused to accept its demand on the simulation on three among five cases.)
The Gangjeong village association strongly demand the below to the navy and Jeju Island government.
The navy should not hide any more on the unreliable caisson production. It should remove away related caissons not to mention two caissons that it has already provisionally installed in front Sea of Gangjeong [..]
The Gangjeong village association clearly says that it would constantly take measure of accusation on the chief of the naval base business committee and joint chief of naval operation, by the proofs on the fields of dirty water flow because of enforced destruction despite damage on the silt protection layers.
The Jeju Island government should take precise investigation on the underground water regarding the Gureombi Rock and should be clearly responsible for its dereliction of duty in post management and supervision of environmental impact assessment based on related laws. If it finally abandons its responsibility, the village association would constantly raise dereliction charge against it with criminal cases. And the village association warns it that the village would stage the movement on the resignation of [governor, Woo Keun-Min] if he is not be with the village despite the fact that it is becoming clear that it is only a naval base ( # not a civilian-military dual port).
Finally it is nothing but impudicity that the navy that has been allocated only 4.9 billion won for the item of layout compensation because the National Assembly has cut 96% budget on the Jeju naval base project [due to exposed frauds in process and layout of the project] plans to hold an environmental impact assessment fair following [the plan] of building of military official residence, in the Kimjung Culture Hall on May 29. How does the navy dare to hold such fair when its budget for purchase of land for that business that will be taken in the vicinity of the village, has been ALL CUT? If it attempts to place an order on that business by diverting budget previously approved, we would definitely ask it for that charge.
To save Gangjeong, the Life and Peace village, to realize the Jeju, the Peace Island, and to build peace without threat of war in Korea, Northeast Asia and world, the Gangjeong village association and villagers will fight to the end, along with people in the world who support the Island people and Gangjeong village.
Photos presented by an informant to the Jeju Sori. The informant claimed that the caisson-producing subcontract company of Samsung in Hwasoon port has been doing unreliable caisson-production works by reducing the amount of steel frames of caissons, in violation of layout.
In the photo on the combination of steel frame, lower part is connected with the reinforcing rods of 800mm while upper part is connected with far shorter 200 mm.
According to that informant, the strength of structure is weaker when the joint of the reinforcing rods is shorter.
He also said, “If caissons are unreliably constructed, the possibility of damage by shocks due to sea wave and big military vessels when they come alongside the pier becomes higher. Even verification becomes impossible once those caissons are thrown into the sea.
It is known that about 220 workers including 180 Vietnamese and 40 Koreans are working on caisson production doing all-night works in Hwasoon port.
The Samsung C & T is to throw 57 caissons of 10 stories height caissons into the 1st work area of the Gangjeong Sea for coming 19 months.
(# If the construction is completed, it is expected that about 89 caissons will be put into the sea as a whole.)
[May 3~7] It is a military-only not civilian-military port. As the fakeness of dual use port was confirmed, People will have an emergency protest on May 7.
Image source: Headline Jeju, May 7, 2012 / Proposal on the establishment of maritime zone in the Gangjeong section of the Seogwipo port. (Source: Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs and Headline Jeju)
People will have emergency protest in front of the Island government hall in the morning of May 7, to demand Island governor Woo Keun-Min’s special decision to stop construction (destruction) and to revoke the project on the Jeju naval base which is so-called, “Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty (or Beautiful Tourism Port for Mixed Civilian-Military Use).’
It is because it was confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has secretly promoted military-only port by making a prior legislation notice on the revision of bill on the enforcement of decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act on April 26, even without informing to public. The notice was informed only by a Headline Jeju article on May 5 and 6, 2012.
According to a Headline Jeju on May 6, the item 2 of article 8, enforcement of decree, which is newly established reads:
‘Regarding the entry permission in the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty, among the zones applicable to each item […] of article 9 or military base and facilities […], the JURISDICTION UNIT COMMANDER should acquire the license on the ‘cruise passenger transportation business,’ or complex maritime passenger traffic business according to the maritime traffic law and guarantee maximum of port entry by the ships designated by him, among the approved and registered ships for the purpose of cruise business, following the ‘tourism promotion law.’
The most furious thing is that it is to take double-designation of water area of so called dual use port as both trade port and military protection(restriction) zone-which means the cruise entry and exit of port would be under military control in reality.
Second, as seen in item 2 of article 8, the MND has no will to hand over the right to official regulations, [regarding cruise] to the MLTM (Jeju Island)
Third, there is no mention on commercial ships but only cruise, bringing confirmation that it would be a trade port only by name.
It is the violation of MOU (* which is dual itself) between the 3 parties of MND. MLTM, and Jeju Island on April 27, 2009, of which primary purpose was for the entry and exit of two 150,000 ton cruises. It is also violation of the recommendation item of sub-committee of Budget and Balance committee of National Assembly last October, which was of independent rights to official regulation for cruise by the MLTM (Jeju island) and for military vessels for MND respectively.
(# MLTM: Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs)
The headline Jeju May 5 article reported navy’s press release which has not been informed to the public yet. The MND (navy) whole statement titled, “Position related to the establishment on the military facility protection(restriction) zone on the water area of the Jeju civilian-military complex port,” is like the below:
– Even though some media on the date of May 4, Fri. (* reported in Jeju media on May 3), 2012, has reported that, if water area is designated as a trade port, breakwater, inner port area, and navigation route related to cruise entry and exit of port would be excluded from the military facility protection(restriction) zone, it is different from the facts.”
– To guarantee cruise’s entry and exit of Jeju civilian-military complex port, the MND has made a prior legislation notice on the revision of bill on the enforcement decree on military base and facility protection law on April 26 and the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) has made a prior legislation notice on the revision of bill on the enforcement decree on Port Act (Law on harbor and bay) as of May 4, in which the content is to designate the cruise related area as a trade port system.
– “If related procedure (procedure on the revision of enforcement of ordinance) is finished, the water area of Jeju civilian-military complex harbor would be DOUBLY designated as military protection(restriction) zone and trade port kind so that the capacities as operation base that can accommodate maneuvering flotilla and as entry -exit port of cruise can be guaranteed.”
-The MND(navy) is in process of negotiation with related institutes to conclude a protocol on common use to effectively operate the Jeju Beautiful Tourism Port for Mixed Civilian-Military Use.”
The sub-committee of the National Assembly has recommended through synthetic opinion of its report last October, that “The MLTM revise the ‘enforcement of ordinance on harbor and bay,’ by this June and change the ‘harbor and bay basic plan,’ so that the cruse harbor and bay water area and its facilities can be designated as a ‘trade port.’
It also ordered that “The MND(navy) revise the enforcement of ordinance on military base and facility protection law by this June and the MND, MTLM, and Jeju Special Self-Governing Island promote the conclusion of ‘common use on the civilian-military harbor and bay,’ by June so that they can wipe out concerns that the base would be operated centered on military vessels.
Following it, it recommended that “Regarding the right to official regulations on harbor and bay, they finish the consultation by June so that the MLTM (Jeju Island) has it on cruise while the MND(navy) on military vessels, while regarding maintenance and repairing costs, the three conclude a protocol by June.”
