Category: Uncategorized

An Appeal Letter to Jeju Governor Woo Geun-min from 78 Individuals

It is evident that Civilian-Military complex port is not possible. We urge you to give orders to stop construction of Jeju naval base and conduct a preliminary feasibility study.

Seventy-Eight figures from various backgrounds have once again come together to appeal to Jeju Governor Woo Geun-min for stopping the construction. They urge the Governor to demonstrate his democratic leadership and courage to resolve fundamental problems of conflicts by facing innumerable problems and flaws regarding the naval base construction.

Dear Governor Woo Geun-min,

We express our respect for your efforts to resolve conflicts generated by the naval base contraction.

As you may already know, construction of naval base at Gangjeong village has been full of illegality and expedients from the beginning, and it has been forced to be carried out without legitimate process even though most villagers opposed the plan. Fundamental principle of democracy is to consolidate people’s opinions through democratic process. Unfortunately, this process has never been respected. Moreover, dismissal of absolute preservation zone near the Kurumbi rockbed and authorizing alterations to the Gangjeong coastal water (natural monument number 442) have also been carried out by unsuitable and unlawful means. Looking at the dire environmental damage faced by a majority of naval bases located at places such as Hawaii, Guam and Subic, it is obvious that serious and extensive environmental damage to Gangjeong village and Bum Island will be done once the navy base is constructed.

Moreover, since it was pointed out last year at the National Assembly, a number of facts have confirmed that constructing a civilian-military complex port has not realistic chance of realization despite the promise made by the South Korean Government and the navy. We understand that your decision on last March to take one step back and implied ordering cease of construction was based on these factual errors regarding construction of navy base.

Despite your efforts, the Government and the navy only resort to a temporary expedient while in fact forcefully continue to construct naval base and has not presented either its political will or realistic plan to construct the civilian-military complex. Fundamental problems cannot be solved by a navy-led simulation test led by navy or assigning the base as a trade-port. By designating even the cruise harbor part of Jeju naval base as military installation protection zone and letting commanding officer have jurisdiction over harbor access authorization, the South Korean Government is building complete Naval Base rather than a civilian-military complex port.

It is evident that the base under construction in Gangjeong village is designed for easy access for aircraft carriers while the civilian port function which allows access to 150,000ton cruise ship is not even under taken into consideration. The Government had suggested designing a harbor where 150,000ton cruise ship can be anchored, but it became clear that the Government itself proved the plan unrealistic. The uncovered facts so far are enough to halt the landfill operation of public water surface that was authorized previously by Jeju island and may even enough to revoke public water surface landfill license.

Governor Woo,

Countless nation projects have degraded to inefficient projects and are becoming nuisances to civilians and self-governing bodies. Main reason for degrading is exaggerated demand predictions and poor validation survey to force national project. Even though we regret after completing the construction, it is too late to compensate destroyed environment, damaged resident communities and economic loss by the self-governing bodies.

Rather than letting future of Gangjeong villagers to deceptive remedies such as transferring of controlling ports, it is time to conduct entire re-investigation on fundamental basis of constructing navy base including preliminary feasibility study, environment impact study and simulation test of accessing 150,000ton cruise ship. We need to closely examine a benefit in return by damaging wonderful natural environment at Gangjeong costal water and constructing a navy base that most Jeju people worry about. For doing this, giving order to halt construction must be given as a first step.

Governor Woo,

Ordering to stop construction is crucial to protect human rights of Gangjeong villagers. Whole village community is destroyed due to enforced construction without having proper consultation with villagers. Conflicts between villagers who have continued peaceful protest and police and navy who have enforced construction resulted in arresting more than 250 people this year only. Police even created a situation similar to martial law by prohibiting any peaceful demonstration at major places near Jeju navy base construction sites. We sincerely appeal to you to order stopping construction in response to earnest request of Gangjeong villagers. What we urgently need now is a fact finding mission on human rights violations in Gangjeong rather than blasting the Kurumbi rockbed and landfill operation.

Governor Woo,

Since the construction of Jeju navy base, the Government and navy’s attitude is not anything more than a momentary way out of the complaint. To resolve these problems, we urge you to order stopping construction. As the Governor of Jeju, we urge you to demonstrate his democratic leadership and courage to resolve fundamental problems of conflicts by facing innumerable problems and flaws regarding the naval base construction

7 May 2012

Below 78 individuals endorse this letter (alphabetical order)

AnKim, Jung-ae (The National Campaign for Eradication of Crimes by U.S.Troops in Korea)
Bae, Jong-ryul (Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea)
Baek, Chang-wook (Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea, Daegu)
Baek, Gi-wan (Research Institute of Unification)
Baek, Mi-soon (Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center)
Baek, Nak-chung (Professor, Seoul National University)
Choi, Jin-gyung (Women Making Peace)
Chung Hwa (The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism)
Chung, Hyun-bach (People’s Solidarity for Participatory, Civil Peace Forum)
Do Bub (Buddhist monk, The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism)
Ham, Sae-woong (Catholic priest)
Huh, Sang-soo (Jeju Social Issues Consultation)
Hyun, Gi-young (Writer)
Jang, Seok-woong (Korean Teachers & Education Workers’ Union)
Jeon, Byung-saeng (Protestant minister,
Ji, Young-sun (Korean Federation For Environmental Movement)
Jo, Hun-jung (Protestant minister)
Jung, Hae-sook (former Korean Teachers & Education Workers’ Union)
Jung, Hyun-gon (Civil Society Organizations Network in Korea)
Jung, Ji-chang (The Korean People Artist Federation)
Jung, Sang-duk (Won Buddhism)
Jung, Wook-sik (Peace Network)
Jung, Yong-phil (Federation of Korean University Students)
Kang, Jeong-goo (Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea)
Kang, Woo-il (Bishop in Jeju, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea)
Kim, Geum-ok (The Korean Women’s Association United)
Kim, Hong-sik (Professor, Myungji University)
Kim, Hyung-tae (Catholic Human Rights Committee)
Kim, In-jae (Democracy and Law Study Association)
Kim, In-sook (Korea Women’s Association for Democracy and Sisterhood)
Kim, Jin-sook (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions)
Kim, Kyu-bok (Green Korea)
Kim, Kyung-hee (The Korean Women’s Association United)
Kim, Kyung-il (Anglican Gwangju Parish Priest, Lifepeace)
Kim, Mi-hwa (Comedian)
Kim, Sang-geun (Protestant minister, South Korean Chair of the All Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration)
Kim, Se-kyun (Professor, Seoul National University)
Kim, Sun-su (Minbyun-Lawyers Association for Democratic Society)
Kim, Young-hoon (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions)
Kim, Young-ju (The National Council of Churches in Korea)
Kwon, Hye-hyo (Actor)
Kwon, Mi-hyuk (The Korean Women’s Association United)
Lee, Chul-su (The Korean People Artist Federation)
Lee, Do-heum (Professor, National Association of Professors for Democratic Society)
Lee, Gang-sil (Korea Alliance For Progressive Movement)
Lee, Gang-taek (Korean Federation of Press Unions)
Lee, Gwang-suk (Korea Farmers’ League)
Lee, Hae-dong (Protestant minister, Peace Museum)
Lee, Hae-hak (The National Council of Churches in Korea)
Lee, Ho-jung (Catholic Human Rights Committee)
Lee, Si-young (The Association of Writers for National Literature)
Lee, Suk-tae (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy)
Lee, Sun-jong (Won Buddhism)
Lim, Bo-ra (Protestant minister, Hyanglin Church)
Lim, Gwang-bin (Protestant minister, National Clergy Conference for Justice and Peace)
Lim, Jung-hee (Culture Action)
Lim, So-hee (Nanum Munhwa)
Mun, Jeong-hyun (Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice_
Mun, Kyu-hyun (Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea)
Myung Jin (Buddhist monk)
Myungsook (Activist, Sarangbang Group for Human Rights)
Nam, Boo-won (Civil Society Organizations Network in Korea)
Oh, Jong-ryul (Korea Alliance For Progressive Movement)
Oh, Myung-sam (Korean Island)
Park, Dong-ho (Seoul Catholic Parish Commission for Justice and Peace)
Park, Heung-soon (Association of the Korean National Fine Artists)
Park, Jae-seung (Lawyer)
Park, Kyung-jo (Green Korea)
Park, Rae-gun (Human Rights Foundation Saram)
Park, Suk-Un (Citizen’s Coalition for Democratic Media)
Park, Woo-jeong (Citizen’s Coalition for Democratic Media)
Park, Young-suk (Salimi Foundation)
Pyun, Regina (Korean House for International Solidarity)
Shin, Tae-sub (Citizen’s Coalition for Democratic Media)
Yang, Moon-heum (Professor, Dong-guk University)
Yeo, Hye-sook (Women Making Peace)
Yun, Hui-sook (Korea Youth Corps)
Yun, Mi-hyang (Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan)

May 7, 2012
Park Geun-Hye, Stop absurd remark on Hawai’i : Kyle Kajihiro’s letter

“I would invite Ms. Park to take a swim in Hawai’i’s most famous military-tourist attraction: Pearl Harbor (the true name given by Native Hawaiians is Ke Awalau o Pu’uloa). However, the water is too toxic. And before she could get very far, she would be arrested by the Navy for trespassing in military waters. There is no tourist activity within Pearl Harbor except for those museum sites controlled by the government.” (Kyle Kajihiro)

Photo: Sisa Jeju, May 1, 2012/ Park Geun-Hye met protests in the Jeju

On May 1, Labor Day, Park Geun-Hye, daughter of deceased ex-President Park Chung-Hee who ruled South Korea for decades with military dictatorship made absurd remarks that, “In case of Hawai’i, tourism income is 24% while military-related income is 20% in its whole finance,” and “If we construct the Jeju naval base as civilian-military dual use port and make it well so that 150,000 ton cruise can enter and exit, it would not likely to be less than Hawai’i” (Headline Jeju, May 1).

On March 30, before General election on April 11, Park, supporting the candidates of the Saenuri Party (the ruling conservative Party)-though none were eventually elected in the Jeju Island whose citizens has been furious on the naval base project, has said, “We should make Jeju like Hawai’I famous for global tourism site and naval base.” It was a happening that reminded absurd remark by Kim Tae-Yong, ex-Minister of National Defense on March 20, 2010.

Amidst raining all day, Gangjeong villagers and activists protested against her spreading absurd remarks of so called civilian-military dual port, from morning to afternoon.

Kyle Kajihiro has sent a below writing refuting her remarks on April 25. Kyle Kajihiro is the program director for the American Friends Service Committee in Hawaii. He works on demilitarization, environmental justice, and Kanaka Maoli human rights issues. He has been involved in immigrant worker organizing, community mural projects, antiracist/antifascist activism, the Central America Solidarity movement, Hawaiian sovereignty solidarity efforts, and community radio and television. He has visited the Jeju and has many times expressed his solidarity on Jeju. Please refer to DMZ Hawai’i / Aloha ‘Aina (http://www.dmzhawaii.org/)

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Protest letter to Park Geun-Hye

http://www.parkgeunhye.or.kr/english/01pgh/pgh01.asp

http://www.parkgeunhye.or.kr/english/

……………………………………………

The Military Impacts in Hawai’i should be a Warning to Koreans about the threat to Jeju island.

By Kyle Kajihiro

April 25, 2012

Source: DMZ Hawai’i/ Militarized areas of O’ahu, Hawai’i

Ms. Park Keun-Hye is gravely mistaken to claim that military bases have been good for Hawai’i and therefore would be good for Jeju. The U.S. invaded and occupied the sovereign country of Hawai’i in order to build a military outpost. This included the taking of more than 200,000 acres of land for military bases, training and other activities. The result has been the destruction of the environment with more than 900 military contamination sites identified by the Department of Defense. The military’s toxic cocktail includes PCB, perchloroethylene, jet fuel and diesel, mercury, lead, radioactive Cobalt 60, unexploded ordance, perchlorate, and depleted uranium.

When the U.S. took over, especially during WWII, the military seized thousands of acres of Hawaiian land. Whole communities were evicted, their homes, churches and buildings razed or bombed for target practice, their sacred sites destroyed by bombs or imprisoned behind barbed wire.

Recently, hundreds of landless Native Hawaiian families were evicted from a secluded area of O’ahu where they had been living in cars and makeshift tents. They are the internally displaced native people, evidence of the so-called ‘benefits’ of militarization. Meanwhile the military occupies more than 13,000 acres of Hawaiian land, comprising a third of the land in that part of the island.

The enormous military presence did not bring security. On the contrary, it made Hawai’i the prime target during WWII and the Cold War. Militarization imported the most virulent forms of racism and martial law to the islands and provided the U.S. a launching pad from which to expand its empire. The military interests of the U.S. continue to override the needs and security of local communities as it distorts our development in ways that serve empire.

I would invite Ms. Park to take a swim in Hawai’i’s most famous military-tourist attraction: Pearl Harbor (the true name given by Native Hawaiians is Ke Awalau o Pu’uloa). However, the water is too toxic. And before she could get very far, she would be arrested by the Navy for trespassing in military waters. There is no tourist activity within Pearl Harbor except for those museum sites controlled by the government.

Ke Awalau o Pu’uloa is a perfect example of the dangers of militarization. The U.S. invaded and occupied the Kingdom of Hawai’i in order to take Ke Awalau o Pu’uloa as a strategic port. What was once one of the most productive fisheries for Native Hawaiian people with extensive wetland agriculture and aquaculture complexes that fed many thousands on O’ahu island has become a giant toxic Superfund site. Today there are approximately 749 contaminated sites that the Navy has identified within the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex. The seafood from Ke Awalau o Pu’uloa is no longer safe to eat. The famous pearl oysters are no more.

It is partially true that the military has become a major economic source in Hawai’i, but at a very high price. The military economy is artificial. It is largely a result of the corrupt processes of the military-industrial-political complex that injects money for pet projects in the islands like a drug. Politicians, businesses, and even unions become addicted to the quick high of these federal infusions and then become desperate to chase the next fix, even at the expense of the environment, Hawaiian rights and sovereignty and peace in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile the real source of Hawai’i’s economy – the beauty and health of our natural environment and our cultural richness – deteriorates at an alarming rate.

The questions that we must always ask about the alleged economic benefits of the military in Hawai’i are: “Who gets paid? Who pays the price? What are the real social, cultural and environmental costs of such a dependent economy?” The native people of the land are the ones whose lands are always stolen and destroyed by the military. They and other poor groups live in the toxic shadow of the bases. Other productive capacities wither away as Hawai’i has grown completely dependent on imports (90% of food is imported) and federal spending. Meanwhile those who benefit most from the military economy are the contractors (many who flock to Hawai’i when new military funds are approved) who feed on the destruction wrought by all this so-called ‘prosperity’.

Jeju island is a unique cultural and natural treasure that must be protected from military expansion. The beautiful islands of the Pacific are being targeted because the governments think we are small and insignificant. But islands do not have to be isolated. As the peoples of the Pacific have known for centuries, Ka Moananuiakea (the great ocean) unites us, brings us life, culture, food and solidarity. We must join our efforts and broaden our solidarity beyond our local shores, we can weave a net that is big and strong enough to restrain those monstrous fish that threaten to devour us all.

………………………………………………………

Reference

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=149257
박근혜 “해군기지로 제주발전 재도약 뒷받침할 것”
해군기지 업무보고…”70년대 감귤이면, 지금은 해군기지가 성장동력”
제주도 “15만톤급 크루즈 안전성 꼭 필요”…박 “좋은 결론 나왔으면”
2012.05.01 14:43:44

http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=146386
[사진]짧은 거리 경호원이 우산 펴자, 박근혜 위원장 손 저으며…
2012.05.01 13:24:46

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=149232
박근혜 위원장, “제주해군기지 업무보고 받겠다”
오후 1시 제주도청서 민군복합형 관광미항 업무보고 받기로
제주항 터미널 현장투어…노인복지시설 현장 방문 후 이도
2012.05.01 09:44:34

http://www.pressian.com/article/article.asp?article_num=60120330170329
박근혜 “제주, 해군기지로 ‘동양의 하와이’ 만들어야”
“민간인 사찰, 지위고하 막론하고 철저히 수사해야”
2012-03-30

http://www.jejuall.co.kr/

May 2, 2012
The navy guarantees its own fraud of the Jeju naval base project

[ Video on April 20, 2012] The navy guarantees its own fraud of the Jeju naval base project

Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base explains how the navy has distorted the base layout to enforce the project, by showing maps in the navy’s investigation and test report (Jan 2010) on the matters of ship transportation and mooring safety. The below is the summary translation of the video.

Video by Dungree

Youtube ( Source: Click here )

1. With a drawn circle of 2km radius from the center of the naval base project area (so called Beautiful tourism port for mixed civilian-military use or Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty), the navy cannot avoid to include the UNESCO Bio-sphere Reserve and buffer zones in its base project area.

However, the navy, being aware of such reality, has made a shortcut of setting up environmental impact area around the project, in rectangular not circle.

More ridiculous thing is that the navy, finding that the rectangular form still includes those zones, distorted the square again to a bashed one, only to be looked as if the base would not affect those zones.

2. In the harbor and bay layout (time code, around 1:44), cruise and aircraft carrier are shown to moor in a same dock, which brings only laugh. Further in case of cruise–docking, the ships moored inner side of dock go through difficulty in entry and exit of port, are in need of skillful naval shipbuilding, and are even recommended to use another dock.

It means the cruise should not enter the dock when military vessels already moor. By the propensity of defense facility, there could be no civilian-military dual use port in the world. That is why the navy cannot but conduct such series of frauds in enforcing the project.

3. In the table on the subjective navigation difficulty degree (time code, around 2:50), which ranges from the easiest to the most difficult, the entry & exit of big military vessels are evaluated ‘difficult,’ or ‘very difficult.’ What a waste of tax! It could be interpreted that the navy wants to warn cruise that are bigger than military vessels not to enter such dual use harbor.

Mr. Go Gwon-Il says ( time code, around 3:30)

“The navy sends the villagers in favor of naval base in travel abroad; cheats them as if it would give them with tremendous compensation fee; and makes villagers estrange within themselves. The naval base project is being irrationally driven despite violation of law on cultural assets and of environmental impact assessment, and layout flaws. The project would only profit Samsung and Daelim.”

April 21, 2012
Details of Father Moon’s Tetrapod Accident on April 6, 2012

As you all may know, today we here in Gangjeong have suffered a huge shock. Finally we see the result of the over aggressive and illegal actions of the police. Father Moon was almost murdered. It is a miracle that he is still alive.

Today is Good Friday according to the Christian calendar. Because of this, at 11 a.m., the ocean team, the catholic fathers, other catholics, and other activists joined together to perform the “Stations of the Cross” traditional catholic ceremony. This ceremony involves 14 “stations” marking the last moments of Jesus’ life before his death. We adapted it and made 14 stations all around the edge of the destruction site. At each stop the Fathers led us in prayer and short meditations related to Jesus death and also to our struggle here. We began at the Naval Base Office gate and ended on the west pier of Gangjeong Port. It was a very beautiful and moving time.

During the final station, #14, an activist went down the huge concrete tetrapods to the water to swim. This area is a public area and none our actions were even close to illegal. As the activist attempted to enter the water, a coast guard officer very aggressively chased him, despite both of them being on the dangerous tetrapods. This scared and angered many of the people attending the mass, and several people walked out onto the tetrapods to see, and also to ask the coast guard officer to be more careful.

When this happened, another coast guard officer came and also began acting very aggressively, trying to illegally block our access to the public area of the tetrapods and the surrounding water. As the coast guard officer tried to block another swimmer from going down to water, Father Moon, tried to help the swimmer and block the coast guard officer. Shockingly the officer was very aggressive even though they were both dangerously at the top of the tetrapod pile (and he was a young man, while Father Moon is elderly and walks with a cane). Many people called for the officer to be reasonable and careful and that Father Moon could fall down. As they struggled, suddenly the coast guard officer accidentally caused Father Moon to lose his balance and fall.

The next moments were a terrible shocking nightmare to all of us watching. The young coast guard officer regained his balance but Father Moon could not and fell into a huge hole between the tetrapods. As he dropped around 5 meters, his body bounced off the tetrapods below three times, before he landed at the bottom. All of us were totally shocked at this horror that had happened for absolutely no reason, and many of us thought that Father Moon was dead. Although several people went down to him, it was very deep and we were afraid to move him in case of spinal injuries.

Finally, the 119 (Korean Emergency Rescue) came and after around 30 minutes lifted him out. He was taken to a hospital in Seogwipo for tests and treatment. He has been conscious this whole time. Very, very happily, he did not die. As has been reported, according to initial tests and scans he broke several vertebrae in his back quite seriously and will need to stay in the hospital at least 3 months. He has been moved to Jeju University Hospital in Jeju City. We are still waiting for the final report about his condition after a complete medical exam, but its seems that he didn’t hit his head. Of course he is very weak and shocked and in a lot of pain. When we met him, he asked about Brother Song and when he heard that Brother Song has developed a ringing in his ear because of police violence, he cried. We are all in a state of shock here.

Finally to add to our shock and sadness, the coast guard has decided that our lives are not important and that they are going to lie to cover their mistake. They are claiming that Father Moon pushed the coast guard officer and then the officer didn’t touch him and he fell on his own, losing his balance because of the push. Of course, in the moments after it happened, you could see very clearly in the face of the officer that he knew he had made a huge mistake. And even if this story were true, why was he even there and why was he aggressively blocking us from a public area? But now the police are going to lie to cover it all up! Are they really human? Have they no sympathy for suffering? Do they not care about human life? Unbelievably shameful.

Please pray for Father Moon. Please pray for all of us here. And please pray for the hearts of the coast guard, that they will not lie about what they have done.

Update 1: April 6, 11:44 p.m.

We are still waiting for more details but a slight update: apparently Father Moon has broken 4 vertebrae in his back (earlier 3 were reported) and also broken one of his hands. Also he will need to stay at least 6 months in the hospital to recover (before 3 months were reported). More updates as we hear them…

Update 2: April 19, 11:44 p.m.

Father Moon is out of the Hospital! 13 Days ago we watched this 71 year old man fall 5 meters to what we thought was his death. He said he thought it was his death too. He broke 4 vertebrae in his back, he broke his arm, he was bruised all over. The doctors said, that two other patients who were in their 30s and fell only 3 meters were paralyzed. The doctors said he would have to stay in the hospital for 6 months. 13 Days later, and he’s walking around, smiling! Tomorrow, he will go to his hometown to rest for around a week. Amazing and unbelievable! If you don’t believe in miracles, now’s your best chance…Hurray!!!

April 6, 2012
Navy attempts to define the naval base construction area as military restriction zone: an alarm for people

[April 3 Catch up: important] Navy attempts to define the naval base construction area as military restriction zone: an alarm for people

Source: Headline Jeju, April 5, 2012 / Article 8 of the MOU, April, 27, 2009

Article 8 (Exclusion of the limitation in the exercise of rights) In constructing the civilian-military complex harbor, the Minister of National Defense, despite the article 4 in the Military Bases and Installations Act, shall not designate the outside areas of the fence border in the civilian-military complex harbor on the ground and of the seawall in the military harbor on the sea, as the protection(restriction) areas for the military base and military facilities; and shall not do the activities that condition the exercises of the villagers’ survival rights such as passage, altitude, farming, fishing & architecture and their property rights.

Source: Headline Jeju, April 5, 2012, Gureombi Rock wired-fenced by the naval base project

According to the Jeju island government on April 4, the navy defense command headquarter of the Jeju sent it an official letter titled, ‘Inquiry on the opinion of the [Jeju] self-governing province regarding the matter on designation and management of beautiful tourism port for mixed civilian-military use as military facility protection zone,’ on March 12.

The navy’s point was to inquire the Island government whether it is OK to define the current naval base construction (destruction) zone as military facility protection zone.

The Island government rejected the navy’s letter, saying it is a violation of recommended items in the report by the sub-committee on the investigation on the Jeju naval base project (which was under the special committee on budget and balance, National Assembly) in 2011.

The ‘military facility protection(restriction) zone’ means a zone defined by the Ministry of National Defense to protect the facility in direct common use for the military purpose and to carry on smooth military operation. By the designation, these are not allowed: entry without permission; capture and collection of marine products; picture-taking, description, recording, measure of military base or facility; and publication and duplication on documents or books on them

The 1st clause of the report by the sub-committee of the National Assembly on Oct. 22, 2011 reads: “The Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) should revise the ‘Enforcement decree on the Port Act ( law on harbor and bay),’ by June, 2012 and alter the basic plan of the harbor and bay so that the water area of cruise and facility can be designated as the ‘TRADE PORT’

The report also reads that the Ministry of National Defense(navy) should revise the ‘Enforcement decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act,’ by June, 2012 and [the three parties of] the MND(navy), MLTM, and the Jeju Island should promote the conclusion on the agreement on the common use on the civilian-military harbor and bay until June 2012 so that those steps should wipe out concerns that the Jeju naval base would be operated primarily as military harbor.”

The position of the Jeju Island government, rejecting the navy’s report is that if the construction area is to be the military protection area when the Enforcement decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act and agreement on the common use on the civilian-military harbor & bay are not concluded yet, it does not fit to the recommended items by the sub-committee of the National Assembly.

People here are suspicious that the navy attempts to thoroughly block the entry by the villagers and peace activists in the construction (destruction) area during the remaining construction(destruction) period. It is because more strict control than current would be possible once the project area is designated as military zone.

Problem is that there is no way for the Jeju Island government to stop the navy when it promotes the designation on the military facility protection zone, completely ignoring the MOU in 2009 and National Assembly report in 2011.

The MOU on April 27, 2009 reads:

Article 8 (Exclusion of the limitation in the exercise of rights) In constructing the civilian-military complex harbor, the Minister of National Defense, despite the article 4 in the Military Bases and Installations Act, shall not designate the outside areas of the fence border in the civilian-military complex harbor on the ground and of the seawall in the military harbor on the sea, as the protection(restriction) areas for the military base and military facilities; and shall not do the activities that condition the exercises of the villagers’ survival rights such as passage, altitude, farming, fishing & architecture and their property rights.

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Here is an excerpt translation from the Headline Jeju on April 5:

‘Even though the details of type of military facility protection zone and scope of control, regarding the Jeju naval base project, were not given, it was confirmed that the navy’s inquiry to the Island government is a suggestion of the whole area of the Jeju naval base project area(* 480,000 square meters)

By law, military facility protection zone should be defined within 500 m distance from the most outside barrier of military facility.(* therefore more than 480,000 square meters of land and water area)

If the Jeju naval base is designated as military facility zone, the area of the Gangjeong village becomes the military zone where ordinary people’s entry is prohibited.

By law, forceful leaving is applied as measure in case of trespassing, and more than two years’ imprisonment, if there is damage on military facility.

The problem is that there is no way for the Jeju Island to deter the navy if the navy attempts to promote the designation on the military facility protection zone, completely ignoring the MOU in 2009 and recommended items by the National Assembly in 2011.

It is because, by the law on the military facility protection, the designation on the military facility protection zone is done by the examination committee on the military facility protection zone by the Ministry of National Defense.

It is not an item that should be permitted by local self-governing province but ‘consulted’ with administration agency for designation. However, the opinion of ‘OK’ is not mandatory but merely ‘procedural’ item.

Therefore if the navy ignores the MOU and National Assembly advice, and enforces designation, there is possibility that [the navy’s conspiracy] works.

It is why the Jeju Island government demanded the navy to carry on the National Assembly recommendation, ignoring the navy’s official letter.

The matter on designation on the military facility protection zone would be led to controversy on serious violation of the two documents, along with the promise of the docking capacity of two 150,000 cruise.

………………………………………………………….

The villagers and activists reject the idea whether it is a so called beautiful tourism port for mixed civilian-military use or military base. Woo Keun-Min, the Jeju Island governor, should revoke the resolution by the ex-Island government that cancelled the designation of the absolute preservation area ( * the Gangjeong stream and Joongdeok coast of which most part we call it as the Gureombi Rock) in Dec. 2009 ; and should revoke the navy over the license on reclamation on public water and its adjacent surface(coastal area) of the Gangjeong village, if he truly wants the stop of current destruction by the Jeju naval base project and don’t want to see his Jeju island as a war base.

Woo Keun-Min kmj5369@jeju.go.kr or jejumaster@jeju.go.kr

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………
Reference

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=146918
‘기본협약서’ 약속 파기…군사시설보호구역 ‘파문’
[초점] 제주해군기지 군사보호구역 설정, 기본협약 파기 수순?
“군사보호구역 지정 안한다” 협약 정면 위배…국회권고도 무시
2012.04.05 08:26:41

http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=30344
제주해군기지 부지 군사보호구역 지정하려다 ‘퇴짜’
지난달 12일 제주도에 의견 묻는 공문 보내
도, “국회예결 소위 권고사항과 위배” 거절
2012.04.04 19:53:58

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=146804
제주해군기지 사업부지를 ‘군사시설보호구역’ 지정?
[초점] 제주도에 군사시설보호구역 공문 보낸 해군의 의도는
6월말 ‘시행령 개정’ 국회 권고 또 무시…공사방해 차단용?
2012.04.03 23:00:42

……………………………………………….
For Koreans: 해군은 군사 시설 보호 구역 지정 시도를 통해 어떻게 아래의 계약을 스스로 위반하는가?

1. 2011년 10월 22일 국회 권고 사항: ‘무역항’ 이란 단어 및 제주해군기지가 군항 중심으로 운영될 것일는 우려를 불식시키도록 할 것’이란 귀절에 주목

‘2011년10월22일 국회 소위원회가 채택한 보고서 1항에는 “국토해양부는 크루즈항만수역과 시설을 ‘무역항’으로 지정할 수 있도록 2012년 6월까지 ‘항만법시행령’을 개정하고, 항만기본계획을 변경하라”고 적혀있다.

또 국방부(해군)는 크루즈 선박이 출입할 수 있도록 2012년 6월까지 ‘군사기지 및 군시설보호법 시행령’을 개정하고, 국방부(해군)•국토부•제주도는 ‘민•군 항만 공동사용협정서’를 체결을 2012년 6월까지 추진해 제주해군기지가 군항 중심으로 운영될 것일는 우려를 불식시키도록 할 것”이라고 명시돼 있다.’ (제주 도민 일보)

2. 2009년 4월 27일 MOU (국방부, 국토부, 제주도): ‘군사시설보호구역으로 지정하지 아니하며, 통행․고도․영농․어로․건축 등 주민의 생존권과 재산권 행사를 제약하는 행위를 하지 아니한다.’ 에 주목

제8조(권리행사의 제한 배제) 국방부장 관은 민․군복합항을 건설함에 있어 군사기지 및 군사시설보호법 제4조에도 불구하고 육상의 민․군복합항 울타리 경계와 해상의 군항방파제 밖의 지역에 대하여 군사기지 및 군사시설보호구역으로 지정하지 아니하며, 통행․고도․영농․어로․건축 등 주민의 생존권과 재산권 행사를 제약하는 행위를 하지 아니한다.

(전문은 마우스를 내려주세요)
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2010/07/jeju-naval-basetranslation-memorandum.htmlImage: Article 8, MOU, April 27, 2009 by the Ministry of National Defense

April 6, 2012
April 5 People’s news conference on police violation on human rights; History is repeated 64 years later

Source: Lee Sang-Min, Jeju Domin Ilbo, April 5, 2012/ A disabled woman holds a banner depicted of police violence on people during the April 5 press conference

As daily sit-in was continued on April 5, the people in the village had a news conference in front of the naval base business committee building complex at 10:30 am, April 5, 2012. The title of the statement by the Gangjeong village was “Are the police taking the citizens as rioters even until the 64th anniversary of 4.3? The police should try to get public trust.’ Cho Hyun-Oh, the Chief of ROK Police Agency visited the Jeju, bringing clash with the Gangjeong villagers who demanded meeting with him, in front of the Seogwipo police station (# He is to meet local officers on April 6)

In the statement, the people pointed out that:

“Like the main land policemen 64 years ago who led the massacre of the Island people on April 3rd, the police that have been led by Lee Dong-Min who came from the main land have made a record of accidents in a month since his inauguration, which is more than the whole numbers of illegal and unjust police behavior in Gangjeong village in the past.” ( # Lee Dong-Min, the new police chief is also the one who allowed the navy to blast the Gureombi rock)

“When the male policemen arrested women, the male policemen indiscriminatingly took away them touching their thigh, taking off their clothes. The police broke citizens’ fingers, arms and legs, wielding violence to them. Citizen’s hands were swollen by hammers, wrists were broken off, teeth were smashed, and chin was torn. Since the start of the blasting the Gureombi Rock, more than 90 people were arrested while 20 people, swooned, were carried in ambulance. We are living days like being slaughtered dogs and pigs.”

The numbers of 90 within less than a month are compared to 164, in the whole last year. The numbers are in detail; 19(near the naval base committee building etc on March 7), 20 (in the Gureombi Rock etc. on March 9), 16( in the Gureombi Rock on March 12), 9 (in the explosive storage etc on March 31) for example. The charges have been obstruction of business, obstruction of government affairs, general obstruction of traffic, property damage etc.

The people demanded police of open hearing regarding police mal practice of fake charges against people; halt of illegal taking camera shots of citizens that provoke citizens; and fairness.

Full translation of 3 page statement comes later. You can see the original Korean script here.

In the conference, a disable woman also testified on police’s metal harassment and physical injuries to her and on arrest of a man who protested against such violence on her.

There were two banners in the news conference: one about police violence and the other, painting by Natasha Mayers

Source: Lee Sang-Min, Jeju Domin Ilbo, April 5, 2012

You can also watch the news conference video here. Dungree, the video editor put the scenes of mentioned cases on March 29(when Mr. Lim Ho-Young was arrested) and April 1 (When Dr. Song Kang-Ho was arrested) beside the cases of March 19 (police hammer violence), March 25(police trampling down a villager’s garlic field and arrested citizens protesting to it) and March 26( When the Jeju island government officers forcefully demolished people’s tent to an injury of a woman head. (Video source)

April 5, 2012
Dr. Song Kang Ho’s Handwritten Statement Regarding his Violent Arrest on April 1st, 2012

(Translated from Korean; Click here for original Korean version)

On April 1st, at around 2 p.m., I was on Gureombi to protest against the heavy construction equipment that is destroying Gureombi. From outside the razor-wire fence on the western side of Gureombi, I was shouting, “Don’t Destroy Gureombi!” and “Stop Construction!” and “Stop!”

In that place, I was not alone but together with Priest Moon Jung Hyeon, Priest Kim Sung Hwan, and [former Jeju Assembly woman] Hyun Ae Ja, venting our pent up anger. Despite our protests, about 10 meters inside the fence, two huge hydraulic excavators were break rocks and loading the broken rocks into a dump truck. I felt deep despair because even though we yelled and shouted, the construction workers didn’t listen. Because of my despair, without knowing what I was doing, I found myself grabbing the fence, pulling it down to the ground, and stepping across it, wanting to shout at them near the excavators. In front of me, around 30 riot police blocked the way with their shields and their captain sneered mockingly. As soon as I crossed the fence, I was surrounded and isolated. When I tried to resist, the police beat me, pushed me to the ground and held me down with their feet. They twisted my left hand and pinned it behind my back. One police officer painfully jabbed his finger into my ear. The ground was covered with sharp, broken rocks but their feet pushed my feet forcefully downward. While they carried me, my head hit the rocks on the ground two or three times.

Around 2:30, I was delivered to a naval jeep and transferred to the Naval base office gate. There, a police car was standing by. Around 100 police officers made a big wall and blocked the villagers and activists who came to protest, making a space for the police to move me into the police car. I thought that my arrest was unjust, so I resisted being put in the car. During that time, the police tried to force me into the car. While doing so, my body was turned upside down at the open car door and my upper body fell to the ground and under the car. Because of this, I tried to hold anything that I could grab causing my upper body to be pulled underneath the car. Several police officers pulled my legs but my head became stuck between the car and the asphalt ground. I yelled that my head was stuck, but the police officers were not concerned, and pulled my legs more strongly. From the left side of my chin to the middle of my chin my neck was stuck on some metal structure underneath the car.

My lower body continued being pulled by several people and because of the pressure on my neck, I couldn’t speak anymore, only groan furiously. As the police pulled my body more strongly, the edge of my teeth began to crack. I could feel and chew tiny sand-like grains of tooth inside my mouth. I heard the bones in my neck popping and became afraid that my head was separating from my body. To protect myself from dying or at least protect my head from separating from my neck bones, I frantically tried to escape to my left. During this whole time, the police just continuously pulled my legs and several times some of the police officers even pulled my genitals. I couldn’t see their faces but I could hear their mocking laughter. Behind me, I heard Priest Kim Sung Hwan protesting their cruel treatment towards me. After 5-10 minutes of fear and pain, I pulled myself towards the left with all of my strength, to release my chin from the metal structure where it was stuck. I could barely release my neck and then police pulled me out.

After the police put me into the police car, I spit out my broken teeth, which the police complained about. Behind the driver’s seat, one police officer with the last name of “Goh”, punched me with his fist. I felt pain from his fist on the left side of my stomach.

After that, in the Seogwipo Police Station, I appealed about the pain in my chin, neck, right shoulder, and back. I was lying down at that time and asked them to borrow a cell phone to make a phone call. However, they derided me saying that since I was lying down, I must just be sleepy, so I should just sleep. After giving this answer they disappeared. I had requested that they call 119 [Korean emergency medical number] but they didn’t call for 30 minutes.

I am filing a lawsuit with the Korean National Human Rights Commission against the police officers who arrested me. I request legal punishment and penalties for the police officers who treated me in an unreasonable way, so that the police will no longer trample on people’s human rights, threaten people’s lives, and disrespect people’s bodies.

April 2, 2012,
Song Kang Ho

April 3, 2012
Corporate greed behind the Jeju naval base project: Gangjeong villagers’ statement

The Gangjeong villagers’ statement on March 27, 2012 shows the connection between the central and Island governments and Samsung C & T, One of the main contracted companies for the Jeju naval base project (So-called Beautiful Tourism port for mixed civilian-military use). Different from the original MOU by the ex-Island government and ex-ministers of the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of the Land, transportation and Maritime Affairs on April 27, 2009, of which the purpose was for the docking capacity for two 150,000 cruises along with military vessels, the currently flawed Harbor & bay layout by which even the military vessels cannot even freely enter, not to mention cruises, has been in big controversy since last October. The villagers’ March 27 statement provides an important clue that the project came from corporate profit-oriented greed rather than ‘national security.’

(Translated by volunteers) Emphasis is by the arbitrary.

………………………………………………………………………………..

The Jeju Island government should not join the re-evaluation of the simulation test.

Only by that, it would avoid Island people’s suspicions on it.

We have doubt why the Jeju provincial government agreed with Korea Maritime University’s sailing simulation result that had exclusively been requested by the Samsung C&T Corporation. Even more suspicious of the government is that the illegitimacy of many criteria reflected in the report has been questioned. Especially for the re-evaluation, it is the prime minister office’s suggestion that the possibility of cruise operation is more focused than the adaptedness for a port facility so the changing the detail rule should necessarily be led as the result unless the operation itself is judged to be impossible. Only the possibility of putting into and out the port’ is to reckoned, not the moor stability, the very important function for the port. It means, in other words, that the Jeju Island government is involved in the decision highly likely to result in something that the navy has already framed. The Island government is subject to going through the channel in an approval for the way of construction that now the navy goes ahead.

<figure.1> The cover of Ship operation simulation and its report on Feb. 23, 2012

(# The report subject is described as the Korea Maritime University)

Let us look at some of the reasons the simulation report must not be accepted.

<figure.2> Project outline on ordering ship operation simulation

(# The ordering institute is Samsung C & T in the task period of Dec. 12, 2011 to Feb. 28, 2012.)

According to the report and outline above, on Dec. 12. 2011, Korea Maritime University was requested for the sailing simulation by Samsung C&T corperation. The report says the simulation has been done by suggestions made by the technology verification committee which we adequately think was in charge of the prime minister’s office of which the verification committee has been the only existing committee on the verification on putting out/into the port for 150,000 ton cruise.

The technology verification committee, however, held their meeting on Jan. 26. 2012 and on Feb 15, the report with proposals of the technology verification committee was submitted. How can then it be possible to place an order for outsourcing on Dec.12. 2011, 2 months before the report the committee proposed? There should be behind the scene between the interested parties as seen by the simulation stated with 27 knots which has originally been claimed to be the standard of the maximum wind velocity for a safe port in the Jeju island. The report is cooked otherwise.

Another question is raised that the ordering client is Samsung C&T corporation, not the Ministry of National Defense. The client should be the Kunil Engineering which set up the master plan for the construction and took a charge of outsourcing If not the Ministry of National Defense, but how come Samsung C&T corporation only responsible for the construction site #1 in the port facility for the naval base did those instead. The report is nothing but a reference provided it is made not by the design agent, but the construction company. Why did the prime minister’s office make a choice of the report? Was the office without condition supposed to go along with what the global trader, Samsung does?

On [Jan. 21], 2011, the Jeju Island government signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung C&T corporation to boost the export. The unveiled terms and condition in the MOU caused many suspicions. We cannot but to ask if there is a relation between the Island government and Samsung which could possibly make the simulation with 27 knots.

Lastly, ‘Jeju Naval Base subcommittee’ of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts of National Assembly advised last October to the prime minister’s office that the technology verification committee be organized with the same number of appropriate experts recommended each by both the government party and opposition party in National Assembly, Ministry of National Defense, and Jeju province. The simulation must be done with the advice mentioned as such. No one our province suggested is found in the committee whatsoever.

This report should in conclusion not be and cannot be accepted. We can say that there is no use trying the re-evaluation based on the result from this report. In the meantime, Samsung C&T corporation committed illegal businesses twice for the caisson conveyance with a barge which did not undergo the safety inspection and pushed ahead the unlawful construction yesterday by drilling to blow up the Gureombi rock at night and attempting blast at dawn. The Jeju Island government must for now turn down the re-evaluation, carry out the hearing held on 29th and issue a stop order for the construction.

.

Tomorrow, we will address the issues on the illegitimacy and short of design criteria in this report.

March 27.2012

Gangjeong village Association

( # Translated by volunteers)

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# For more on the MOU between the Jeju Island government and Samsung C & T on Jan. 21, 2011, please see:

‘Jeju Island government had made contract for partnership with Samsung C & T to achieve export of 1trillion won on Jan. 21, 2011.

It reported that the Jeju Island and Samsung made contact to collaborate on scouting for bright export goods, supporting for foreign marketing and inheriting on export know-how for the Jeju Island government officers.

The Samsung C & T is told to be the matrix of Samsung with its total sale price exceeding 10 trillion 876 billion won last year, which is near four times of the Jeju Island budget for [2011]. It was also told that all the information and resources acquired during the process of execution on the agreement conclusion would be ‘absolute secrete.’ (Please mouse down of the source site)

March 30, 2012
Will the Jeju naval base business make rich the Island people?

Will the Jeju naval base business make rich the Island people? Park Ki-Hak, Research Institute for Peace and Reunification of Korea, refutes such navy and government logic. Beside the translated parts below, he also mentions the cases of naval bases in Pyeongtaek, Donghae, Jinjoo, and Busan in South Korea and of Hawai’i where economic and environmental damage is serious. The government used to mention Hawai’i as an example that the Jeju should refer to and follow, saying that the Hawai’i tourism has been benefited from the military bases there.

……………………………………………………..

Pressian

Will the Jeju naval base business make rich the Island people?

By Park Ki-Hak

Oct. 14, 2011

( # Summary translation)

The navy says more than 40% of 772.6 billion won (six years’ business term, standard in 2006) of the Jeju naval base construction cost would be allocated to the Jeju local enterprise. However, the ‘result on the impact analysis of the Jeju naval base,’ carried by the joint civilian-government team in 2006 evaluates that it would be only 18% of the construction cost that directly contributes to the income improvement(annual average income improvement: 23.2 billion won/ job numbers: 1,697) therefore ‘it would not be desirable to cling to that point.’ Still, even 18% is excessively exaggerated.

Even though the report assumes that the Jeju region construction enterprises would take charge of 30% of harbor & bay construction, 30% of land construction and 70% of new construction on the military residence, regarding smallness of the construction business in the Jeju region it is unrealistic,. It is proved by the fact that the share rate of local enterprise is 15% each in case of harbor & bay and land construction that the Samsung and Daerim carry in consortium each. Also the assumption that the Jeju local enterprise would use 100% of the labor force from the actual field of the Jeju is unrealistic in cases of the constructions on new apartment, harbor & bay, land, and communication construction. In accounting the numbers of jobs, the report is also exaggerating the numbers of jobs by basing on total production by one person, which is far smaller than the wage of Jeju worker that should be criteria.

(source: http://www.spark946.org/bugsboard/index.php?BBS=s_news3&action=viewForm&uid=1415&page=1)

Pressian

제주 해군기지가 도민 호주머니 두둑하게 해준다고?
[기고] 해군기지 경제효과를 반박한다
기사입력 2011-10-14 오전 8:17:51

October 14, 2011
警方非法逮捕江汀村村長，並且承諾跳票

韓國當局目前正在推進在旅遊勝地濟州島建設海軍基地，但這一舉措遭到當地市民的強烈反對。市民認為，建設海軍基地不但破壞環境，而且會加劇“緊張氣氛”，不利於和平。8月24日，濟州島西歸浦市市民與警方爆發激烈衝突，包括當地村長在內的多名市民被拘捕。

市民阻止警方非法逮捕江汀村村長姜東均

8月24日下午，海軍基地施工現場突然開始進行起重機作業，江汀村村長姜東均、村民以及和平運動家趕赴現場了解情況，村長姜東均致電西歸浦市府為確認此作業合法與否，並要求作業員於確認期間暫停作業，以等待市府正確回應。然而作業員通知警方，警方也無視村民要求，不等待市府之回應，逕行以｢妨礙｣海軍基地施工現場起重機作業之名義逮捕江汀村村長，即便江汀村村長以及村民的要求不過只是｢等待市府確認作業之合法與否｣。

員警雖將村長江東均帶上警車，但在旁邊的居民們湧向車前，使車動彈不得。同時，江汀村的村民警報系統啟動，全村警鈴大響，現場很快地又湧出了200餘居民，道路被居民們設置的障礙車輛擠得滿滿的。在建設現場出入口的江汀橋上，10余名居民用鐵鍊把身體和橋墩連了起來，擋住了警方鎮壓裝備的進入，當地員警署雖然後來出動了400余名員警，但事情卻演變成了員警被居民們包圍的局面。和平活動家金東元(Kim, DongWon)爬上逮捕姜東均的警車阻止警車離去，因而遭警方以妨礙公務罪一同逮捕，另外村民Kim, JongHwan也在此衝突中遭捕。

警民對峙一直持續到晚上10點，員警推出了“苦肉計”，與示威隊伍進行協商後承諾｢調查之後會釋放江東均｣。居民們得到這一承諾之後解散，江東均則去了警局。但這個承諾並沒有被履行，事實證明警方公開撒謊，江東均入警局後，當地檢方立即對江東均實行了｢拘留調查｣。聽到這一消息的居民們紛紛湧向警局進行了一夜的示威，表示強烈抗議，稱無法理解警方的做法。示威隊伍湧向西歸浦員警署的正門時，警方將大門緊閉，並加強了警備。

警方最後承諾跳票，且許下此承諾的西歸浦警察署長宋陽華遭到韓國警察廳廳長趙顯五於25日上午突然撤職，並任命該署聽政監查官薑浩准為新任署長。江汀村村民以及和平市民運動家對中央政府強烈介入濟州｢特別自治道｣之舉感到相當反彈。人們戲稱濟州島的警察要比中央送來的警察要親切多了!。

August 26, 2011