Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

  • People’s appeal to the President-elect

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    Photo by News1, Jeju Domin Ilbo/ The banner reads, ‘The Jeju naval base construction without carrying out of the National Assembly recommendation is illegal, Immediately stop construction and carry out thorough verification!’ In front of the Presidential transition committee building, Seoul, Jan. 13
    hani jan 14
    Photo by Lee Jung-Ah, Hankyoreh, Jan. 13, 2013/ Press conference in the morning

     

    1. The Ministry of Nation Defense reported its will to continue construction

    It was Jan. 11 that the Ministry of National Defense was told to have reported to the Presidential transition committee that the ministry would continue the Jeju naval base construction without stop. The Jeju Domin Ilbo, Jan. 12, 2013 reads:

    The Chosun Ilbo reported through its Jan. 12 article that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has declared its policy of enforcement on the Jeju naval base project, through its Jan. 11 job report to the Presidential transition committee.

    The Chosun Ilbo, citing the words by the core personnel of the committee, reported that ‘the Ministry of National Defense has stated its position that it should continue the Jeju naval base construction even with inputting the remaining budgets from the last year.’

    The personnel said that the ministry took three reasons for  continuing construction: 1. It would take a tremendous period to recruit again  workers in case of construction resumption 2. It would take damage compensation for construction stop. 3. The opposition groups’ repulsions will be intensified in case of construction resumption.

    In other words, the ministry meant that, while there are currently about 230 domestic and foreign workers in the Jeju naval base project, it would take five months to recruit workers again after construction stop and it would have to pay about 6.5 billion won of damage compensation cost for construction stop to the construction companies that are working employing various heavy equipments.

    It is known that the MND also emphasized that the construction period would be extended without defined due because of expected more intensification of the repulsions by opposing groups in case the Jeju naval base construction is resumed after its stop.

     

    2. People’s request to meet the chairman of the Presidential  transition committee was denied.

    It was Jan. 13, Sunday, that the representatives of the villagers left the village in the early dawn to join the press conference in Seoul, with the representatives of the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island and Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island. It was a day when the Defense Acquisition Program Administration(DAPA) also delivered its job report to the Presidential transition committee. The Press conference for thorough verification and construction stop was held in front of the building of the Presidential transition committee, Samchungdong, Seoul. After the conference, Kang Dong-Kyun, mayor of the village, Mr. Go Gwon-Il, chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base and Mr. Bae Gi-Chul, co-representative of the Pan-Island Committee delivered their opinion statement and a letter by Mr. Yoon Sang-Hyo, a village elder and member of the advisory board of the village. See the letter at the bottom.

    delivery
    Photo by Andy Dukjin Kim/ Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun deliver people’s letters and opinion statement to a person of the Presidential transition committee, in the morning of Jan. 13.

    The representatives also requested to meet the Chairman of the Presidential transition committee, demanding the construction stop, but it was finally rejected to the fury and remorse of the people. There was a press conference denouncing the committee’s rejection at 4pm. Mayor Kang expressed his strong sorriness saying that “How will the new government communicate with the people if it shows its non-communicative attitude from the time of transition?” See the Korean article, here.

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    Photo by Andy Dukjin Kim/ People denounce that the Presidential transition committee rejected their request to meet the committee’s chairman. Jan. 13, around 4pm.

     

    3. People’s letters for the demand of construction stop to Park Geun-Hye

    The below is the expert translations from the letters to Park Geun-Hye, the so called the President-elect regarding whom the controversy on unfair election is still going on, by the opposing groups and Mr. Yoon Sang-Hyo, a village elder. You can see the original Korean language letters, here.

    Excerpt from the letter by the opposing groups

    According to some press report, it is told that the Ministry of National defense has reported to the Presidential transition committee on Jan. 11 that it would continue the Jeju naval base construction without stop. Its main logic is that if construction is stopped, it would take much time to recruit the domestic and foreign workers again and billions won of damage compensation costs following construction stop is expected again. It is a poor logic to be used for the government and navy  not to carry the pledge by the members of ruling and opposition parities of the National Assembly to the citizens and villagers. Are the National Assembly’s Constitutional rights to legislation and budget & balance cheaper than billions won? Further isn’t it that the government who has promised a thorough verification disclosing itself its intention for no thorough verification to the world, to enforce construction as if verification has been all done? It means that the government and navy are to push an unreliable state policy project without villagers’ agreement disregarding matters. The behavior itself is the derision and provocation of the villagers and Island people. We ask whether it is a way that Park Geun-Hye, the [so-called]President-elect who has emphasized on trust, agrees with. We demand: The government and navy should immediately stop construction.

    President-elect, Park Geun-Hye, the National Assembly has demanded again of 70 days’ thorough verification at the end of 2012 since the verification on the flawed base layout that the ruling and opposition parties had promised to the Jeju island people at the end of 2011 had not been thoroughly done. For the 70 days’ verification to help to settle all the controversies and conflicts in relation to the naval base construction in the Gangjeong village, it has to be a thorough verification truly to the name. The government and Jeju Island should present a proper & independent verification methods and period so that ‘a though verification work,’ could be entirely accomplished. However, the navy is saying that it would finish a verification in 10 days, starting around Jan. 20. On the contrary, the position of experts is that it should take at least six months for a proper verification to be established. The hasty schedule to finish verification on Jan. 30 should be totally re-examined. The verification institute should be re-examined, too. For a thorough verification, the 3rd institute should be newly designated and carry it, following the subsidiary conditions by the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project of the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly [in 2011], for the conflicts not to be more intensified.

    The verification work should be a process in which common-sensible and reasonable evaluation and verification on the below matters should be established.

    -The matter of the proper and reasonable of the location selection to build a giant port in Gangjeong, a projected area at the southern tip of the Jeju Island, exposed with the strongest wind and sea waves, currents and typhoons in the Jeju Island

    -An objective and scientific examination on the influence to the area of the natural memorial No. 421 and 422 ecology system protection area, and the UNESCO biosphere reserve, which are located in the port and entry-exit navigation routes,

    – Matter of the precedent cases of ports that carry the functions of the civilian and military at the same time, its smooth operation possibility, validity and reasonability

    -And the matter of the residents’ agreement on the execution process of the construction, as well as of the mental, physical violence and conflict-fostering behaviors by the state power and civilian companies that employ thugs

     

    Excerpt from the letter by Mr. Yoon Sang-Hyo

    I am a country old man. I was born in the Gangjeong village and have never left my hometown. I am 77 years old.

    The Gangjeong village established about 450 years ago has been called as the Il-Gangjeong (一江汀), meaning the best village because of its beautiful nature and rich farm lands. Further it was designated as the ecology-excellent village by the Ministry of Environment in 2005. And I was excited with the will to more preserve and keep water and ecology, the big pride of Gangjeong.

    However, the issue that had been driven with various kinds of underground promotions, appeasements, operations, became to appear on the surface on April 26, 2007, like the lightening in the clear sky. And only after that, I and majority of villagers became to know the fact.

    Especially it was a time that ex-Ministry of National Defense, Kim Jang-Sou visited the Island on April 13, 2007, when the location of the naval base construction had been decided in Weemee, Namwon-eup, therefore, the Weemee villagers’ protest in front of the Island government hall, opposing the plan of the installation naval base in their village reached its highest. In other words, the decision to install the naval base in Gangjeong was decided only in 13 days.

    Also, the Gureombi Rock is like a bosom of our mother. It has been more than two years that I could not sleep in the nights hearing the moaning of the Gureombi day and night, which is like mother’s breast but being torn to pieces by the noise of explosives and excavators.

    The state power that has to protect the property and life of the citizens has arrested more than 690 villagers and peace keepers, imprisoned 22 people and made indiscriminate legal disposal on more than 480 people. A village that has lived peacefully for hundreds years is being terribly destroyed and the peace keepers who are with us are crying shedding bloody tears.

    [..]

    The Gangjeong villagers are not opposing against security and ideology but opposing against the naval base project, to save the site and community that has been succeeded from our ancestors to generations and to live happily with our neighbors. I will tell you why I and the Gangjeong villagers oppose the naval base construction.

    Firstly, it is because of the procedural flaws.

    Not to mention the villagers’ agreement, there was no presentation meeting [to get villagers’ agreement]. From the procedure for agreement to that of  expropriation, it is an undemocratic and immoral project. It was such a preposterous incident in which even the villagers’ rights to participation and private property protected by the Constitution have been violated. We, the villagers, suffer for unfairness because our village is where the Constitution was trampled down by the State power. Such flawed administration has to be nullified.

    Secondly, it is a matter of location selection.

    Despite the fact that it is an important national policy by which the fate of a nation depends on, the target area of the project was decided only in 13 days without prior investigation on the location reasonability. The governing management capacity will be continuously suspected and be the target of criticism. Therefore the project should be re-examined without fail after investigation and examination.

    Thirdly, it is a matter of the reason of the cancellation of absolute preservation area.

    The Gureombi Rock, the target area of the naval base is a site that has been designated as the absolute preservation area by the Special law of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Island. Because of the weak power of the Island, the power and big capital can destroy the nature environment of the Island in the name of ‘development,’ any time. The preservation system was set up to stop horrible destruction by them and is divided by three stages of absolute preservation zones, relative preservation zones and preservation zones. Among them, absolute preservation zones are the sites defined as the sites where cancellation is impossible at any case. Still it was cancelled in the illegally snatched way. In other words, a preposterous thing happened, in which  a legislated system to block the things such as the naval base in Gangjeong was illegally cancelled so that the beautiful nature environment of the Jeju Island could not be kept in the future .

    Fourthly, the so called civilian-military complex port for tour beauty is absolutely impossible.

    It is not only because there is no such port in the world but it is impossible that the civilian and military use a port together. It is like that oil and water cannot be mixed together.

    Fifthly, the Jeju has already two cruise ports in the Jeju City and Hwasoon so there is no problem with the invitation of cruise tourists.

    Last year, a 140,000 ton cruise has already entered the Jeju port for tour. And cruise tour is carried on, used of dinghies in the Hwasoon port that is a natural port. Our country doesn’t have much money. It should be necessarily examined and analyzed why the government plans to make one more cruise port in this small Island.

    Sixthly, we can never acknowledge a naval base built with frauds.

    At the time of 2007 after the village was selected as a location, real admiral Kim Sung-Chan, the chief of naval strategic planning then declared that there would not be land expropriation at any case, in the site where 400 villagers gathered hearing that there was a presentation explanation.

    He said that he did not have the slightest plan for expropriation even though he would build the base by landfill of the  the sea if consulted negotiation on land purchase is not accomplished. However as soon as he became the Chief of General staff, he expropriated lands. My heart is broken by the reality of our country where a general becomes promoted and rises to a high position as a National Assembly member despite his lies and frauds.

    (* Note: Kim Sung Chan is now a member of the Defense Committee of the National Assembly)

    Mentioned as above, I will not oppose the naval base in Gangjeong if there were any thing that was justly driven.

    Currently, the Gangjeong villagers became antagonized, hating and not trusting one another, not to mention not being able to trust any administration or military due to their lies and estrangement behaviors onto the villagers. Moreover, affection between parents and children was collapsed therefore we are in the middle of suffering and pain [because of the naval base issue that has brought in con-and pro conflicts to the villagers][..]

    You, the President-elect, has promised the great unity of citizens and stated that you would respect the National Assembly for co-existence. However, it was never precedent that the National Assembly passed the budget bill passing the due of the year, with its subsidiary conditions attached to the budget bill on the naval base at 6am of Jan. 1, 2013. The National Assembly had not kept the items agreed by the ruling and opposition parties in the budget and balance committee of the National Assembly in 2011.

    As the navy pushing the project interpreting the meaning of the National subsidiary conditions-budget execution after verification- as the construction first then budget execution, construction companies are violently enforcing the project with the police at the head in the village from the dawn of everyday.

    You, the President-elect, has stated that it is right that the Jeju naval base should be driven after the agreement by the Island people is established.

    For us, last six years were like a war daily. Please save the Gangjeong villagers of the kindhearted and good. Please help this old country man to see our Gangjeong village to recover its original beautiful and peaceful appearance in my life time. Please help to make our country where the people are the true masters.
    [..]

    January 2013

    Yoon Sang-Hyo, Gangjeong villager

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    Photo by News 1/ Jeju Domin Ilbo. Jeong Young-Hee, chairwoman of the Village Women’s Committee to Stop the Naval Base is holding a sign that reads, “Promptly stop the construction of the naval base [..]” Jan. 13

  • Military Coup? Navy and Police Even Rough Up National Assembly Members

    Jan. 10, the villagers’ first monthly Unity Day in 2013 was a day to be remembered, as the military and police even ignored the national legislature by exercising police violence to two National Assembly members who joined people’s press conference and struggle in protest to illegal construction that is being done despite the National Assembly ruling on 70 days’ construction stop for a thorough verification on the base design. You can see a video on the day here.

    At 10:30am , the villagers declared their will to stop illegal construction in the press conference where representatives of the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island, catholic priests and protestant reverends and two National Assembly members such as Jang Hana and Kim Gwangjin joined.

    Mayor Kang said, “The National Assembly has broken its own promise on through verification on base layout to people by passing all the 2013 Jeju naval base budget. Even though it attached the subsidiary conditions on 70 days in its passing the whole budget, the navy is still enforcing illegal construction and mobilizing state power, committing human rights violation on people.”

    See the Korean article, here.

    CHK_press
    The banner reads, ‘Construction on credit is illegal! Struggle of 30,000 bows to stop construction! The navy should stop illegal construction and take responsibility for thorough verification!’ People will carry on 1,000 bows everyday in rotation. Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun is the one who is doing the bows everyday. For more photos, on the day, see here.
    red_hats
    Right before the press conference, a group of ultra right wing members such as the navy fellow association visited the naval base project committee. Even during the conference, the tension due to the construction trucks to enter the gate was continued. For more photos on the day, see here.

    Regarding the incident on the violence on the National Assembly members, see the below translation of an article by reverend Jeon Yeon-Gil in the Gagjeong village. Rev. Jeong was released on Dec. 12, 2012, after 98 days’ imprisonment in jail. He was one of the five activists who climbed up on a caisson dock in the Hwasoon port, in protest to the Jeju naval base project.  

    Kim Gwangjin, Jang Hana, the two National Assembly members were encircled by the police

    On Jan. 10, two National Assembly members, Jang Hanna and Kim Gwangjin visited the site of the naval base construction in the Gangjeong village.

    The two National Assembly members visited the village to urge [ the navy] to properly keep the ‘70 days’ construction stop’ that  the ruling and opposition parties have agreed with each other.  The two National Assembly members have made prior talks with the chief of the base project committee and demanded construction stop to the Ministry of National Defense. However, seeing that construction is still being enforced, the two have stated that they would block construction even with their bodies, visiting the site in person, so that the recommendations by the National Assembly can be carried out.

    Kim Gwangjin, the National Assembly man demanded saying in the Press conference on the day that, “the agreement by the ruling and opposition parties was that there should be inevitably a construction stop for a thorough verification. The matter on the execution of budget is decided only after verification. It means there will be no subject to provide construction cost during the 70 days if it is proved out to be an improper project later as a result of verification. Immediately stop an illegal construction, being enforced without allocated budget!”

    National Assembly member, Jang Hana stated, “it is  with so bitter lamentation to see the reality that the National Assembly recommendations are considered merely as a sheet of paper. To see the behaviors by the Government and [ ruling conservative] Saenuri Party, they  do seem to have concern with neither 70 days’ construction stop nor thorough verification. They were merely betraying people to pass the whole budget. We clearly state that there would be no verification without construction stop nor possible execution of budget without verification. Since construction has not been practically stopped, the verification period of 70 days has not even  started. It is a time when even more members of the Democratic United Party, a party of the subjects of promise to the citizens so that construction can be practically stopped and verification could be thoroughly done.”

    However, it happened that the police forcefully encircle and detain the National assembly members who demanded a thorough execution on the National Assembly recommendations and legislature works in the site. [See the two National Assembly members’ Jan. 11 protest statement below]

    Saltcandy_KWJ
    Photo by Jeon Dae-Hyub/ Kim Gwangjin, National Assembly man is forcefully dragged out by the civilian-costumed policemen, Around 3:20pm, Jan. 10, 2013.
    Kim
    Photo by Jeon Dae-Hyub/ Kim Gwangjin, National Assembly man is forcefully dragged out by the civilian-costumed policemen. Around 3:20pm, Jan. 10, 2013
    SH_hana
    National Assembly woman Jang Hana is protesting against the navy’s illegal construction and the police’s illegal encircling of people. Lee Dong-Min, chief of the Seogwipo police station was also in present. Around 3 pm, Jan. 10, 2013.
    Jang
    National Assembly woman Jang Hana being encircled by the police, along with other people, Around 3 pm, Jan. 10, 2013.
    sh-KWJ_protest
    National Assembly man, Kim Gwangjin shouted knocking the base project gate in protest to navy’s illegal construction and the police’s violent roughing on him and people. Around 3:30 pm, Jan. 10, 2013. The navy did not open the gate for him.

    Looking at that, a villager Kim expressed his piled up agony, “ Has there any coup recently happened in the Republic of Korea? How do the police dare to forcefully encircle and detain the National Assembly members in their legislature works? I so deplore the reality of South Korea. It seems Gangjeong became the lawless world where neither law order nor democracy system work, only with police violence being rampant.”

    Two National Assembly members, Jang Hana and Kim Gwangjin made  peace bows along with the villagers to demand construction stop in front of the base project until 6pm.

    Leaving the village, two members expressed their will saying that “given that construction is not stopped by two of us, we will do our best for our promise to the citizens to be carried out by making more members including [Park Gi-Choon, representative of the Party] to visit here. We will come again with more National Assembly members.”

    You may see another essay with lots of photos on the day’s incident, here.

    CHK_police
    Photo by Rev. Choi Hyn-Kuk/ Night time entry and exit of construction vehicles, and police mobilization to rough out protesting people went on to the fury of people.
    9_30pm_encircling
    Around 9:30pm, even an old female villager was pushed inside the police circle. Not to mention illegal construction, the night time construction went on.

    .………………………………………………………….

    Statement by Kim Gwangjin, Jang Hana, members of National Assembly, on Jan. 11, 2013

    We denounce the Jeju naval base project enforced with illegal construction and violence by the police that used physical powers even to the National Assembly members, shielding the project.

    1. Yesterday (Jan. 10), Kim Gwangjin and Jang Hana, members of the National Assembly (Democratic United Party), visiting the Gangjeong village, strongly criticized that the 24 hour construction is still going on in the Jeju naval base project without observation on the National Assembly subsidiary conditions.

    2.After the press conference on the day, the navy entering the enforcement on construction including the entry and exit of construction vehicles from 3 pm, brought in conflicts between the villagers who have been carrying on 1,000 bows and police. The police pushing away the villagers to a side with the mobilization of physical power, encircled and detained them.

    3. During the process, National Assembly man Kim Gwang-Jin and woman Jang Hana, pointing out the problems following the navy’s enforcement on construction, demanded the stop of construction including the operation of construction vehicles. However, it was not received. Rather, Kim Gwang-Jin, the National Assembly man was dragged out and Jang Hana, National Assembly woman was detained and encircled for a long time.

    4. We strictly warn once again. The currently being enforced Jeju naval base project is an undeniably illegal construction even without contract action therefore the dispatch of force that protects it is illegal. We will ask legal and political responsibility to the commander who ordered physical power even to the National Assembly members who visited the site. Given that such violence is done even to the National Assembly members in their legislature works, it is unquestionable to imagine how it would be to the villagers and activists in the site. We will make a prompt correction on the police violence in the lawless world of the Gangjeong village

    5. Also, the Ministry of National Defense who unreasonably enforce construction even breaking the National Assembly order items, should take the 1st responsibility on the situation. An illegal enforcement of construction is a defiance in the front against the authority of Constitution by which the National Assembly composed by the citizen representatives has the rights to legislation and budget and balance. We strongly demand it to promptly make an order on construction stop and to carry on full verification

    (Original source: Click here)

     

  • Release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Park Suk-Jin/ PSPD:Individual Complaints to UN Special Rapporteurs (Fwd)

    Photo by Rev. Cho Hun-Kook/ Release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin from the Jeju Prison, on bail, on Dec. 12. Two have been imprisoned since Sept. 6, the opening day of WCC.

    ‘The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island submitted individual complaints to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Freedom of Opinion and Expression‍, Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on human rights situation in Gangjeong. Human rights defenders including peace activists, religious leaders, villagers, and environmental defenders are continuously harassed by the government of the Republic of Korea, the navy and construction companies during their peaceful protest against construction of Jeju naval base.
    Press statement was made in Korean but attachments are in English, so feel free to download the letter and case fact sheets from below link for your information 🙂

    People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

     

    …………………………………………………………………………………..

    Scenes of release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    Welcome back of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasun port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. For more photos by Jang Hyun-woo 장현우 http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/729, http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/731

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    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ People celebrate the release of two in front of the jeju prison on Dec. 12
    Rev
    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Released Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (Saltcandy Yohan) is again surrounded by the police on the same day at the gate.
    celebration
    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Celebration in the struggle field on Dec. 12

    Welcome back to Gangjeong of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasoon port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. Video by Dunguree 박성수

    http://tvpot.daum.net/v/va3c28P8V6P1n190HHV6nPc

     

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    Update on the conscientious prisoners against the Jeju naval base project


    As of Dec. 16, 2012

    Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, 188th day (No. 598)

    Mr. Park Seung-Ho, 93rd day (No. 290)
    Fr. Lee Young-Chan,     53rd day (No. 407)

    Please send each letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:

    Jeju Prison
    161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
    Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea

    Kim_Bok_Chul
    Image: Kim Bok-Chul, a former laid-off railroad worker and one of the leaders of the field struggle, with a humorous sign, ‘Break down the fence.’ For the photo source, click here.

    ………………………………………………………..

    Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28 (after 181 days). See here.
    Villager Mr. Yoon Chung was released on Oct. 24(after 44days). See here.

    Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26 (after 118 days). See here.
    Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin were released on Dec. 12 (after 98days). See here.

  • A writing by a family member of a dead crew on Nov. 28

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.

     It was found on Dec. 8 that an older brother of a wife of a dead worker on Nov. 28 posted a writing in the Gangjeong village website (Click here). On Nov. 28, the very day that the ruling Saenuri Party unilaterally railroaded 2013 budget bill on the Jeju naval base project in the National Defense committee of the  National Assembly,  a chief mate, Mr. Kim (43, living in the Jeju City) of a tug boat named Jungseungho died  in the morning. The crews in the tug boat have been put to work  on the Jeju naval base project. To see more on the background of the incident behind his death, click here. The writing was forwarded by Mr. Lim Ho-Young, village website (in Korean language) manager and peacekeeper.

    …………………………………………………………………

     

    A father of a family, who has worked on the naval base construction, left this world

     By Kim Sung-Ki

     

    I can hardly restrain my very complicated heart while I write this.

    On Nov. 28(Wed), I heard the news in Seoul that my sister’s husband died by accident.

    Upon my sister’s cry, “Brother, please come here quickly,’ I stopped all my works and boarded myself on the airplane to Jeju

    As a result of confirming the  situation, I found my brother-in-law died while he worked on the Jeju naval base construction. My brother-in-law was the chief mate of the company called Jungseung haewoon (maritime transportation) and the company has made sub-contract to the Taehwa Construction who also made a sub-contract to the Samsung C &T.

    According to the day’s accident story heard, my brother-in-law had been put to work of the Taewha Construction,  which had not been planned. It was a work on a tug boat that drags a barge. He was returning from the Gangjoeng village to Hwasoon port after some work. The accident happened during the mooring process in the Hwasoon port. According to a Jeju Sori article, it was a human life accident caused by a rope that links between tug boat and barge( in the words of captain, it is ‘wire’). It is told that the thickness of the wire is about 18 cm. To my inference, he seems to have immediately died due to the stroke by wire. At the time, there was an excursion ship and many tourists witnessed the site. That is what I was told on the accident at the time.

    Personally experiencing this incident, I became to recognize how ironic situation I am placed in. My hometown is Jeju and I am a peacenik who opposes the Jeju naval base construction in the Gangjeong village. Of course, I don’t actively participate in the struggle in the village. I only sympathize it, in my heart. Still I and my sister became to lose a member of our family during the naval base construction.

    My brother in law was the head of a family, having two children. He is a dad of a daughter attending middle school and a son attending an elementary school. Do I have to think them praiseworthy as they accept the fact that their dad is not here any more in this world, with calm attitude? Or do they think it is a matter of no importance as they could not see their dad often? My feeling is complicated.

    I became to think that the incident of my brother in law is an example that shows the problems of Korea society.

    My brother in law is an ordinary citizen who happened to have been victimized during the process of state drive for anti-peace policies. The Jeju where the Peace museum and military base co-exist cannot be our ‘Jeju’.

    My brother in law has been a worker belonging to a sub-contract company dependent upon a big corporation. As you know, a sub-contract company cannot but subordinate to the demands by its master enterprise. Probably a tremendously unfair contract was done. I cast doubts to think that, if my brother-in-law who had carried out unplanned task had worked in a proper work environment, he would not have been victimized.

    A head of a family, who was responsible for the livelihood of four members of family became to meet a very sorry death due to the contradiction of this society. Taking this incident, I feel a much sense of shame that there are little thing that I can help my sister as an older brother and my nephews as an uncle. Should a petit bourgeois victimized by state policy merely cure for one’s pain inside the wall of law and system?

    I feel shame as I feel like that I appeal ‘personal’ pain to the people who try to save the village from the ‘social’ scope. The incident shows the values of ‘peace’ and ‘human rights’ coexist. I hope there is no 2nd victim.

    While I am writing this, two children are sleeping and their mom cannot sleep for the wound of losing her husband, only absently looking at ceiling.

    I hope my hometown, Jeju is where human beings are respected, wounds of human beings are cured and peace co-exist. Various selfishness and greed stay in Jeju. That is why there are the  “Saving the Gureombi Rock,” “Gangjeong village,’ and “Jeju of Olle.”

    The Jeju we want is the Jeju of ‘human being,’ ‘peace,’ ‘human rights,’ and ‘happiness.’ I hope there happens no same thing that happened to my sister. How we can save the Jeju as true Jeju? I pray for the happiness of my sister’s  family.

     

     

  • Samsung, Samsung victims, Workers’ Presidential candidate and snow

    It was one of the coldest weather on Dec. 5. While the people’s sit-ins are ongoing in Gangjeong and Seoul near a month by now, people in both regions had to fight with cold weather that accompanied heavy snow (Seoul) and sleets (Gangjeong) in strong wind. Otherwise the village association entered  judiciary measure against the navy, companies and Island government, regarding environmental destruction. A good news is that  Buddhists made public their large size mobilization for care of Gangjeong.  Otherwise, 333 intellectuals made a statement opposing Park Geun-Hye, the Presidential candidate of the ruling conservative Saenuri party, with concerns on the possibility of returning back of  Yushin dictatorship.  For the details of each, see the below.

     

    Amid coldest weather, Gangjeong joins the protest for the victims of Samsung

    In Seoul, the struggle in such bad weather was highlighted though in solidarity by the people who are opposing against naval base, who joined the emergency press conference by the workers and bereaved families of the victims of the Samsung industrial disease in front of the Samsung headquarter in Gangnam, Seoul. On the day that Samsung chairman’s only son was promoted to vice chairman. See an article, here.

    Heavy and first snow fall in this winter in Seoul area on December 5, there was a protest in front of Samsung, as part of ‘Hope March’ by the ‘Let’s live together’ team. . . . .Fore more photos by Wooki Lee, see  here(Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    The Samsung General Union had called for solidarity upon the Samsung’ security workers’ violence on one-man protesters on Nov. 30, the day of the 25th anniversary event commemorating the inauguration of Lee Gun-Hee, President of  Samsung. For more detail, see here. The venue was in front of Samsung headquarter, Gangnam, Seoul, where even long-time staying tenants are ready always to be evicted by the corporate greed.

    Photo by Samsung General Labor Union, Dec. 5, 2012. The protesters held the images of victims by Samsung on Nov. 30, in the emergency rally, in front of the Samsung headquarter, Gangnam, the richest district of Korea.  For more photos, click here(Samsung General labor Union) or here(Photos by Lee Wooki).

     

    Workers’ Presidential candidate demands to revoke the Jeju naval base project

    Kim So-Yeon, a leader of legendary Kiryung workers’ struggle and now Workers’ Presidential candidate also shined people’s protest. Still the people’s struggle would meet the Samsung’s counter-rally in which the Samsung seemed to have mobilized its workers who are not actually willing to be. The Samsung also mobilizing the police even interrupted Kim’s election campaign.

    Photographer Lee Woo-Ki writes:

    ‘We have fought all day amid snow. Even though Kim So-Yeon has Presidential candidate debate at 11 pm, tonight, she is still with us. . She says she was sorry that there was no night time passage of construction vehicles so no police circling of people [on Sunday, Nov. 18] when she visited Gangjeong with determined mind to be with people. Kim has slept beside Fr. Mun in sleeping bag when there was sit-in in front of National Assembly.”

    Photo by Lee Woo-Ki, Workers’ Presidential candidate, Kim So-Yeon. For more photos, click here.

     

    Following the Dec. 4 TV debate held by three Presidential candidates of the ruling, main opposition, and opposition parties, there was another TV debate for three minority Presidential candidates who belonged to non-party on Dec. 5. Among the three, Kim So Yeon represented Workers. Kim Soon-Ja represented cleaning workers. Park Jong-Sun is a conservative. The other candidate, Kang Ji-Won was absent in refusal of the debate form in which major and minority candidates were differentiated.

    Kim emphasizing the oppressed people, pointed out the hypocricy of two big parties. Regarding the Jeju naval base, Kim said, “While Park Geun-Hye, Moon Jae-In, two candidates emphasize the Northeast Asia peace. They are keeping silent on the issue of the Jeju naval base that stirs tension and brings war threat, regarding the US. To stop the Jeju naval base construction is to cut the US- centered diplomacy and establish the peace agreement.” See the related Korean article here

     

    Snow can be suffering cause for night time protesters in Gangjeong

    ‘December 6. . .very cold, freezing day’ . . .by Saewoo at the naval base gate. For more photos by Saewoo, see here (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

     

    A nigfht time protestor nicknames Saewoo writes:

    “Tonight, streaks of snow fluttered.

    The SNS was all covered with shouts of joy. However, I was not so glad.

    In Gangjeong, snow brings coldness. Our cloths are wet by sleets. Even hot packs are being frozen. Still there are people who sleep on the cold ground to stop the night time construction vehicles…

    My heart is likely to fall down with pains.

    My tears are not dried even though I cry and cry.”

    Around 5:40pm, Dec. 5.  police circling started…It
    is cloudy..The sign reads, ‘All part of body are bruised and wounded. Stop unjustifiable police violence’
    Around 5:50 pm,  Dec 5 right after police circling … new music instrument created by a villager

     

    Villagers’ statement on having entered judicial measure against the navy, companies and Island government

    Following its official letter to the Island government on Nov. 20, the village association entered on judicial measure against the navy-side and Island government on Dec. 5. The Original Korean statement of the below translation can be seen here.

     

    Photo and caption by Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base around 5:30 am, Dec. 5. 2012. ‘The barges gave up the works and are returning to Hwasoon port due to the bad weather condition.’ (Facebook post by Regina Pyon) / The navy’s illegal and law-evasive destruction of the Metboori, in the east tip of the naval base project area has brought suspicion from the people. See here

     

    Title: Is the navy harmful insect that gnaws on the value of the Jeju to enforce the construction even in violation of the agreed items in the Environmental Impact Assessment again following the general unreliability of the Jeju naval base construction?

    The Jeju naval base project committee installed silt protectors on the sea with half a heart because of the protests by the village Association and environmental groups when it started maritime construction without installing stationary silt protectors on the sea in the beginning of last year.

    However, it attempted to enforce construction again in the situations when silt protectors were not still equipped and even when the silt protectors were partly or completely damaged due to heavy sea waves. As a result, the Jeju Island government, lodged with civilian complaints, has ‘demanded’ official construction pose to the Ministry of National Defense(MND) and Environmental Agency (EA) three times by this year ( * ‘demand’ is weaker measure than ‘order’ that can practically stop the construction)

    Even with those facts, it is already enough for the Jeju Island government to take a measure of the business suspension to the applicable enterprises. It is right to say that it is possible for the Jeju Island government to take a measure of business suspension to the applicable enterprises and cancellation on the superintendence committee’s registration, which is more than the measure of negligence fines against them, added of its records of directions to the navy on the installation of silt protectors four times and of repeated directions twice following the none-carried directions.

    The Jeju Island is proud of its heaven-blessed nature. The Seogwipo maritime environment is the only UNESCO-designated maritime Biosphere Reserve in Korea and the Gangjeong Sea is of the habitat of soft coral, ROK Government-designated natural memorial No. 442. It is the start point that made the Jeju Island as the UNESCO triple-crowned and Seven Nature of the World. Is not the navy like harmful insect that gnaws on the value of the Jeju to enforce a large-size construction in such place even in violation of the minimum agreed items on nature protection?

    We have clearly stated that, if the Jeju Island government does not strictly punish on such destroying behaviors, we would take a judicial measure even against- not to mention the navy, navy-contracted construction companies-the Jeju Island government responsible for unreliable execution on the duty of management and supervision [on the navy and its contracted companies].

    On Nov. [20], the Village Association has requested the Jeju Island government to give the navy direction on  execution, submitting it with the proofs on the navy’s illegal construction (destruction). And the Jeju Island government notified us that it has sent its official letter to the MND and EA on the date of Nov. 30. However, in the Gangjeong Sea, illegal construction is still being committed.

    Thereupon, the Village Association states that it entered the judicial measure thanks to the MINBYON (Lawyers for Democratic Society), against the navy, navy-contracted companies, superintendence committee and Jeju Island government, along with sending the Island government an official letter that demands it strong administrative measures such as the imposition on the negligence fines. We warn again the navy that dares various law-evasiveness and unlawfulness, being blinded only for securing 2012 budget. The navy should immediately stop the construction (destruction) that destroys the environment of Jeju while staging a fraud play of ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty,’ which is a nonsense. And it should bear in mind that there would be only a disgrace of judicial judgment along with people’s,  if it does not take steps for re-examination on the project along with apology to people.

    Dec. 5, 2012

    The Gangjeong Village Association

     

    Buddhists plan to cure the village with a religious service for the God of Sea in the port on Dec. 13.

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Dec. 5, 2012/ The Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism and Jeju Buddhist Association, having a press conference in the Island People’s room of the Island Council on Dec. 5, stated that they would hold the ‘Yongwang Daejae at 2pm, on Dec. 13.”

    Peace keeper, Park Yong-Sung writes:

    Facing the Presidential election, the Jogye religious order, Jeju Buddhism orders and Buddhists from the Jeju and nationwide will come to the village to console the pain of Gangjeong. The Yongwangje ( a religious service for the God of Sea), the traditional village event, will be featured with the characters of Buddhism this year, as there are many Buddhists in the village. So the name will be ‘Yongwangdaejae’ combined with Buddhism ritual of ‘Jae.’ The event will be held at the Gnagjeong port, people looking at the Gureombi Rock and Gangjeong Sea at 2 pm, Dec. 13, Thursday.

     It is a big event even the highest leader of the Korean Buddhism and other high-profile Buddist monks join. The monks who has had little concern with Gangjeong and temples of various religious orders will come to Gangjeong. It is to cure the pain of the village and to recover the 400 year history community

    In this event, Do-Beop, leader of the Life and peace Fellowship and Chairman of Hwa-Jaeng Committee, Korean Buddhist Jogye Order will join the event

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Dec. 5, 2012/ Do-Beop, leader of the Life and peace Fellowship and Chairman of Hwa-Jaeng Committee, Korean Buddhist Jogye Order
    Poster on ‘Yongwanddaejae, Dec. 13

     

    Statement of Intellectuals in Asia Who Remember the Yushin Dictatorship

    Photo source: Pressian, Nov. 5, 2012/ 333 intellectuals from 25 Asian countries made a statement, expressing opposition against park Geun-Hye, Presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri party.

    Excerpt:

    A highly important election will be held in December in a country in Asia, known for its exemplary democratization, South Korea. This election, to elect a new President in a presidential polity, is likely to serve as a significant testing ground for the future of democratization not only in South Korea, but in Asia as well.

    One concern is that the prominent presidential candidate of the conservative ruling party is none other than the daughter and heir of the late Park Jung-hee, the notorious dictator who took power by military coup and ruled the country with an iron-fist for 18 years. Park Geun-hye played not only the privileged daughter role of the dictator but acted as de facto first lady after her mother died. She won her way to the presidential candidacy through appealing to the voters with the successes of Park’s regime and calling for restoration of its honor. She thus became the choice of oligarchic political forces who share the nostalgia of the authoritarianism that was Park Jung-hee’s rule.[..]
    We intellectuals in Asia who clearly remember the rule by terror of Park Jung-hee and his Yushin dictatorship, think that what is presently happening with the coming election in South Korea lays a dark cloud over the future of South Korean democracy. Contrary to the beautified stories that Park’s followers make and spread, the days of Park’s dictatorship were a series of political crises and Korean people had to suffer from totalitarian control and state violence that resembled the days of Japanese colonial rule.
    (For the whole statement, see here)

     

    ( Kyunghyang, Dec. 5:  Digging up the Grave of Chang Chun-ha to Identify Cause of Death

    An article that reminds the dark age of Park Chung-Hee, military dictatorship for 18 years (1961-1979). Park Geun-Hye, The Presidential candidate of the ruling Conservative Party is the heir of Park Chung-Hee. If she becomes the President, the future of Korea is dangerous…See also Park Chung-Hee in wiki )

     

    See also Carol Reckinger’ s blog, ‘Camera War,’

     

     

  • Booking a tug boat captain on charge? The fundamental issue is a collusion among the Government-navy -Samsung

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Beyond a barge and tug boat, the Beom Island is shown. The Beom Island is the UNESCO Geology Park itself and the sea area around it is the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where the world-largest soft coral habitats  inhibit. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Nov. 26, see here.

     

    Booking a tug boat captain on charge? Saving the sharks but a minnow?

    On Dec. 3, the Seogwipo Coast guard is told to have booked a captain named Mr. Koh(60) of a 45 ton tug boat named Samyangho 3001 belonging to the Samsung C & T on the charges of faults on work and violations on the law on the management on the maritime environmental contamination.

    Around 1 am, Nov. 26, the Samyangho has submerged hit by a  caisson broken due to the typhoon Bolaven at the end of August in the Jeju naval base project 1st work area operated by Samsung C & T. It was to return back to the Hawsoon port after finishing its work of tugging a barge that puts in caissons into the sea. (Some media has raised question of why the navy and Samsung informed the fact to the media seven hours later of the accident.)

    It is known that great amount of gasoline had been shipped on the boat and part of it was leaked to the vicinity sea water. (For the details of the accident, see here)

    It is told that the Seogwipo Coast Guard booked the captain on charges on the destruction of ship following the fault on work, seeing him have made an accident by neglecting attentive works during the night time operation; and on the violation of maritime environmental destruction in relation to oil leak.

    It is an another example to dilute the essence of event to investigate and book the tug boat captain who has merely made a contract with the navy, the order-placing subject, and Samsung  C & T, the main construction company who brought upon themselves such accident by enforcing unreasonable construction (destruction)

    The Samsung C & T has illegally opearted its floating dock without permission to carry 8,800 ton caisoon made in the Hawsoon port to the Gangjeong Sea in the beginning of this year. On March 11, 2012, the Samsung C & T floating dock has also made an accident to hit three fishing ships when it was to moor into the outer port of the Hwasoon port in the situation when high sea wave warning had been informed

     

    Disclose the fundamental reason behind the death of a crew on the day of the budget snatched in the National Assembly!

    On Nov. 28, the very day that the ruling Saenuri Party unilaterally railroaded 2013 budget bill on the Jeju naval base project in the National Assembly, the problem of the navy’s unreasonable enforcement of construction became obvious with the death of a chief mate, Mr. Kim (43, living in the Jeju City) of a tug boat named Jungseungho (216 ton) at 11:25 am. He was hit in the head by rope on the sea 300 meter southward from the Hwasoon port, Andeok-myoen, Seogwipo City. Of course, most conservative media was silent on that  most mainstream media did not dealt with it with great concern.

    According to the Seogwipo Coast guard and headquarter of the Jeju Fire Fighting and Disaster Prevention, 10 meter rope was broken and hit the head of Mr. Kim when the tug boat, Jungseungho, was dragging a barge named Sanchung 2700 with the rope. The tug boat belonged to the T Construction company, a participating company in the naval base construction.

    Mr. Kim, shocked, fell down into the sea. Even though the captain of Jeungseung No. 3  immediately saved him into the land and moved him to the Seogwipo medical center, he died. The Nov. 28 Jeju media mentioned that the Seogwipo Coast guard is investigating on correct reason for the accident, calling for Mr. Kim’s colleagues. However, we haven’t heard yet on the afterward in the media even after a week. Even though it happened on the very day of the railroaded budget in the National Assembly, the Government and National Assembly evaluated it with weak concern.

     

    The exploiting structure on the workers in the construction areas of Hwasoon and Gangjeong should be disclosed.

    Otherwise, as disclosed by the testimony of a worker who exposed on unreliable caisson production, the workers in Hwasoon are not getting proper wages at proper time. They are also having difficulty to communicate with the foreign workers with whom they can hardly communicate in language in works. The foreign workers are even taking charges of the works as company thugs along with the Korean thugs employed by the companies.

    The situation of Gangjeong is similar regarding workers’ job condition. According to the facts disclosed from Nov. 10 to 19 when there were no night time entry/exit of construction vehicles, at least 18 workers have been laid off when they complained on the bad work condition. The workers who came to hear that they would get 4 million won monthly wage and get higher daily wage 150,000 won, compared to daily wage 60,000 won for the Vietnamese workers, were expelled as soon as they taught techniques to the Vietnamese workers and became useless. The Korean workers are told to have questioned why the Vietnamese workers should be employed in the so called National security project and why they so often take photos of construction site with their phones.(Is it right that it is a national security project?) (For details, see here).

    We even hear that some Vietnamese workers quit the jobs because of coldness staying in  containers on the cold coast. According to a peacekeeper, they were even mobilized as ‘Gochak‘ (detention circle usually being done by the police) thug around 3 am, Nov. 26,Monday. The peacekeeper, looking at the Vietnamese workers who only finely smile  concerned about possible incident with them with whom he cannot properly communicate with same language. (For details, see here.)

     

    Salvaging broken caissons by cutting? The Jeju naval base project of irresponsible destruction on environment, occupation and human rights should be immediately stopped and all the budgets on it should be totally cut!

    According to the Dec. 3 Jeju media, it was confirmed that the navy is considering not to remove seven broken caissons (by typhoons) that became the cause of recent submersion of a tug boat in the naval base construction on Nov. 26 until the typhoon period, next year.

    It is told that Yoon Seok-Hwan, a navy captain and Construction Director of the Jeju naval base project committee explained that “salvage of caissons are not urgent. They do not even affect such as environmental damage in current situation.”

    Has captain Yoon  already forgotten the Nov. 28 accident when a tug boat hit the broken caisson and leaked oil? Does he ignore the fact that the caissons of which each costs 5 to 10 billion won in production and its price is 1.5 billion won have been poisoning the sea with its cement materials and chemicals such as retardation material inside it?

    Beside safety matter, local fishermen are already having difficulty in navigation and having trouble in their occupation because of caissons put in the sea like reefs.

    The navy assertion that cement dusts that would occur from cutting of broken caissons would less affect environment than explosion of those brings fury beyond its absurdness

     

    The enforcement of construction came from lie and manipulation by the Government

     It has already been disclosed that the Office of Prime Minister who declared enforcement of the Jeju naval base construction on Feb. 29, 2012 had replaced official simulation report by the technical verification committee with the report that the Ministry of National Defense had ordered to Samsung and that was merely a reference material. The Government lie and manipulation have been disclosed through the exposure by Jang Hana, National Assembly woman who made public the meeting minutes of the technical verification committee on Oct. 10 and testimony by Professor Kim Gil-Sou, member of the technical verification committee on Nov. 19. Before Feb. 29, there was a declaration by the President Lee Myung-Bak who declared the enforcement of construction in his speech upon the  4th anniversary of his inauguration on Feb. 22. On the same day, the chief of the Seogwipo Police station was replaced with  Lee Dong-Min, a man from the main land. And the blast of the Gureombi Rock that would be done for two months started on March 7.

    If the Presidential Candidates look on such illegal and unreliable national policy project and allow the naval bass budget to be passed in the National Assembly, even though it has become clear that all the state of things were clearly of collusion among the Government, navy and Samsung, they will be greatly punished.

    Jeon Joon-Sou, chairman of the technical verification committee belongs to the think thank (국가미래연구원, Institute of National Future) of Park Geun-Hye, the Presidential runner of the ruling and conservative Saenuri Party (See here). He has been also promoted as a member of the local development committee on the Jeju naval base project. He has pressured the members of the technical committee not to conclude on construction stop and not to change base layout (* though change of base layout was needed for the proper function for 150,000 cruise), which is told to take 150 billion won more.

    Park Geun-Hye, Presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, who says so and so on her ambition to make the Jeju as the 2nd Hawai’i and Moon Jae-In,  Presidential candidate of the Democratic United Party who still mentions on the Civilian-Military Port of Call should stop their words on them and take position on construction stop, whole budget cut and revocation of the naval base project!

    Otherwise, Samsung has demanded 23 billion won reasoning of construction delay. See here.

     

    We should stop the Fascism of Samsung in Jeju

    On Jan. 21, 2011, Woo Geun-Min, Jeju island Government and Samsung C & T whose  total yearly sale price is 4 times more of the whole yearly budget of the Jeju Island government made a secret contact behind the open cause of the Samsung C & T’s support for the Island Government  to reach the goal of 1 trillion won export.  If we can say it is Fascism that the root of democracy is destroyed by the corporate greed, we have already seen the Fascism in the regime of the Lee Myung-Bak who originally came from Hyundae. If Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of the military dictatorship, Park Chung-Hee, becomes the President, the Fascism of Samsung  will more stifle the Jeju. We should stop this Fascism in Jeju.

    If the naval base is built in Gangjeong and Jeju becomes militarized, the only jobs for workers would be building of military bases. The vision and concrete practice for peace industry is needed than any other time in Jeju.

    …………………………………………………..

    Reference

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=123131
    ‘공사강행’ 제주해군기지, 이번엔 항해사 사망
    2012.11.28 16:12:17

    http://www.pressian.com/article/article.asp?article_num=10121128173120
    새누리당 ‘날치기’ 한 날, 제주해군기지서 인명 사고
    해군기지 공사 관련 세번째 사고
    2012-11-28 오후 05:39:37

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=123305
    제주해군기지 앞바다 예인선 침수사고 선장 입건
    2012.12.03 13:48:26

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=166337
    해군기지 공사현장 침수 예인선 선장 형사입건

    해경, 업무상 과실 등 혐의 적용

    2012.12.03 15:09:05

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=123312
    파손된 제주해군기지 케이슨 1년 동안 묵히나?
    2012.12.03 15:21:23

    Presidential election poster put on the walls of the village, since the start of the Presidential election period, Nov. 27.
    Around 5:40 pm, Dec 3, if construction vehicles come, company thugs remove the lumbers people have filed up in front of gate. Then the police remove people. Despite this windy and rainy weather, construction still goes on after weekend break. 24 hour entry/ exit of construction (destruction) vehicles started again on Monday, Dec. 3.

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

    Photo and caption by Paco Booyah/ In Seoul at the Gwanghwamun Methodist headquarters, the 2nd Methodist prayer gathering for the release of Jeju peace prisoner Methodist pastor Jeong Yeon-Gil and other Gangjeong prisoners of conscience, Dec. 3
    Photo and caption by Paco Booyah/ Jo Hae-Won, wife of imprisoned Methodist pastor Jeong Yeon-Gil, gives a short moving talk at the Seoul 2nd Methodist prayer meeting for the release of the pastor and other prisoners. Pastor Jeong Yeon-Gil has been imprisoned for 89 days since climbing and occupying a caisson dock in September.

     

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

    See also Yonhap News

    Tension lingers on Jeju Island over naval base construction

    By Kim Eun-jung

    Dec. 4, 2012

    (Post by Christian Karl)

    ‘Hi, interesting article. It may be the Yonhap bias, but I noted a few things I took exception to. 1. they take as fact that “2 cruiseships” will be there along with 20 warships – i.e. the tourist-military thing; 2. people have staged protests “or as long as 2 years” (I know much longer); 3. villagers, etc, “occasionally clash with police” when we know that every time the trucks come the police clear people away from gates, 4. the “opposition lawmakers boycotted” the budget hearing – is that true? never heard it. We heard Saenuri party rammed it through without the opposition being there. What say?’ (Comment by Koh Ae-Rin)

     

    Today (Tuesday’s) Korea Times, in 3rd page article on Moon Jae In’s idea of building a athletic venue in DMZ for 2018, also says “Moon and his party have called for a halt on construction of a naval base in Jeju Island, claiming that the military seaport will destroy the environment in the country’s resort island.” I think Yi Whan Woo, the reporter, is mistaken about Moon’s intentions, but we can hope that is what Moon is committed to – peace for Gangjeong  (Post by  Catherine Christie )

  • Samsung Tugboat Hits Broken Caisson

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Nov. 26, 2012/ A tug boat in the red circle submerged. See more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, click HERE

     

    1.  A tug boat belonging to Samsung C & T hit a broken caisson and submerged during the night construction, spreading gasoline oil on the sea

     

    In the early morning of Monday, Nov. 26, the news on the illegal night time naval base construction on the sea rang the media.

    A 45 ton tug boat belonging to the Samsung C & T submerged beginning with its bow  around 12:10 am on Nov. 26 in the Gangjeong Sea where the navy-contracted companies are working for building the naval base. The sea wave and wind were strong during that night. And the accident site was about 100 meter distant from the coast of construction area.

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Nov. 26, 2012

    It was later confirmed that the tug boat hit a 8,800 ton caisson (a concrete structure of 20.4m height and about 8 stories apartment building size) in the sea, which has been one of seven caissons that have been broken and damaged  by the typhoon Bolaven at the end of this August and abandoned in the sea since then . The tug boat was to return back to Hwasoon port ( *40 minutes car distance from the village) after the caisson floating dock’s makeshift stationing of another 8,800 ton caisson

    It is weird that the company contacted the Seogwipo Coast guard after seven hours of incident.

    In the tug boat, there were 7 crews including captain. All those were rescued thanks to a dredging barge nearby. But the coast guard could not rescue the boat as of 9am.Nov. 27.

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Nov. 26, 2012

     

    The Seogwipo Guard mobilized security and express ship on the sea. It was known that about 10,000 liter of gasoline had been loaded on the boat. Despite prevention work for any oil leak, oli was leaked to the worry of environmental contamination.

    A peace activist, Jo Yak Gol writes:

    The navy and Samsung  were in emergent to brought kitchen cleaning material of 800 liter (about 60 bottles of 13 liter) to remove oil leaked in the Joongdeok Sea, Gangjeong village. It means they would pour  such chemical material into the Gangjeong Sea. [..]

    Seven caissons of which total production costs are 35 billion won and which have been abandoned in the sea four months ago by the typhoons greatly threaten maritime safety, being like reefs in the sea. Still the navy does not take any measure on those.

    The Gangjeong fishermen are angry, saying it is too dangerous for them to navigate fishing ship during the night since the navy has not equipped any proper safety facilities in the naval base construction. The fishermen says they were also at the risk of accidents many times. They say the navy keeps silent even though they protest to the navy on it. The navy-contracted workers themselves know it is too dangerous for them to navigate ships here so they cannot even retort back to Gangjeong fishers’ protest.

    The navy and Samsung’s reckless enforcement of construction has eventually bought another accident[..]

    The Gangjeong Sea located in the corner of  typhoon is improper for naval base because of powerful current of water and wind even in the routine time. Further the Government made a base design for US nuclear aircraft carrier, [nuclear submarines], and Aegis Destroyer. The Office of Prime Minister has even lied and manipulated a mere reference (*made by the Ministry of National defense) [as if it is the technical verification committee’s official report ] for cruise  to forcibly fit into the base design even though it never fits to it.

    According to the testimonies by the workers, the caisson have been unreliably built short of standard and cannot properly function. Won’t the caissons be trashed when they are buried as those unreliable are roughly stationed in the strong sea wave and wind, according to false layout?

    Reckless construction (destruction) even during dangerous nights has brought such incident. Is it weird that we have heard some crews were sick the other day but they were secretly cared for by visiting doctor and nurses to the barge? And how about the maritime environmental destruction? The rushing construction(destruction) is bringing such human and nature disasters. Cut all the budgets for the Jeju naval base project!

    Please remind:

    The Samsung C & T has been accused to the Prosecutor Office for its illegal operation on floating dock without inspection in the beginning of this year

    The Samsung C & T floating dock has hit three fishing ships of which two ships became to submerge and one ship sunk down on March 11, 2012 when it was to moor in the outer port of the Hwasoon port.

     

    Reference :

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122988
    [속보] 삼성물산 예인선 제주해군기지서 침수
    2012.11.26 08:45:54

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=123008

    삼성물산 예인선, 8천톤급 케이슨과 ‘충돌’ 침수

    2012.11.26 11:50:17

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165737
    제주해군기지 공사현장 예인선 침수…선원 7명 구조
    해경, 경비함정 7대 투입 배수작업 전개
    012.11.26 09:10:52

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articlePhotoView.html?idxno=165780

    제주해군기지 공사현장 예인선 침수원인 “케이슨과 충돌”

    바지선에 연결해 침몰 막아…기름유출 우려

     

    http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=137051

    해군기지 예인선 침수 원인은 케이슨과 충돌

    2012.11.26 12:56:14

     

    2. Meanwhile, the villagers made a statement on the Samsung C & T’s demand on the amount of loss for the delay of construction. Here is a statement(translated)

     

    Regrading the Samsung C & T’s demand on the amount of loss for the delay of construction

    It has been known through media that the Samsung C & T demanded 23 billion won for the loss and additional cost by the construction delay of the Jeju naval base (so called Civilian-Military Complex Harbor for Tour Beauty), while Daelim, another main-contract company of the naval base project is told to plan to demand on the loss, too. And it is informed that the Samsung C & T reported that the delay of construction occurred because of activities by opposition groups.

    To say in a word, it is like ‘the thief turns on the master with a club.’ The Samsung C & T got the order on the maritime construction of the outer facilities such as breakwater, becoming in charge for the 1st construction work area. If there was any  people’s activity of obstruction on construction, it was to point out on the uninstalled silt protectors, the measure on the reduction of floating materials, following the Environmental Impact Assessment. People were just stopping illegal construction since [the Samsung C & T] has enforced construction (destruction) even without proper installation of  immobile silt protectors among the double-layered silt protectors.

    If the Samsung C & T had proceeded construction with proper installation of silt protectors from the beginning and still there were activities of obstruction of construction, the Samsung C & T is right to assert its claim. However, its construction delay happened because it has been disclosed of its illegal constructions (destruction) so has gotten correction orders many times from the Jeju Island. The construction delay was more caused from the maritime condition that has not been ready due to strong wind such as typhoon.

    If it is a construction delay happened due to natural condition, it is righteous that a service order agency that has miscalculated the days of impossible construction for natural condition takes responsibility for it. If construction delay occurred because illegal construction was driven and disclosed, it is righteous that applicable company is punished, rather than the company says so and so on the compensation on the amount of loss. Therefore if the Navy Headquarter or Ministry of National Defense demands a right to indemnity against local residents, the world will laugh on it.

    Even though the construction might have been delayed because local residents repulsed back against construction, the state should naturally compensate for the construction delay. It is because the state has the responsibility for smooth construction with its [responsibility] of persuading local residents in its driving for a national policy. Further it is a [so called] security project in the words of the Government. The Government should be responsible for all the loss and legal disadvantage that have occurred, being awakened that the project has become rather destroying security, not only destroying a local community but even dividing citizens’ opinions on it.

    Gangjeong Village Association

    Nov. 26, 2012

     

    ……………………………….

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165795

    “해군기지 공사지연 손실금 구상권?…천하가 웃을 일”

    강정마을회, 공사지연 손실금 청구 입장표명

    2012.11.26 15:21:03

     

    3. Otherwise there was an event called, Consolidate Solidarity for No Jeju Naval Base Campaign and Asia-Pacific Peace Movement

    Source: PSPD. Click HERE

     

    PSPD, Cafe Tongin (1F)/ PM08:00 Nov. 26 (Mon), 2012

    Sponsored by the People’s Solidarity for participatory Democracy

    The Story tellers who were invited were: Dr. Song Kang-Ho, Fr. Mun Jun-Hyun, Kang Dong Kyun, (Gagjoeng village mayor), Joseph Gerson (US), Liu Yintuo (China), Corazon Fabros (Philippines), and Kawasaki Akira (Japan)

    For more on it, click HERE

    (Post by Fielding Hong)

     

    4. 24 hour construction and 24 hour protest are continued 

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Barricades to block the cement trucks. For more photos on 24 hour protest by Jang Hyun-Woo, click, here and here (Post by Regina Pyon)
    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ 100 bows in the morning. For more photos on 24 hour protest by Jang Hyun-Woo, click, here and here (Post by Regina Pyon)

     

    Video by Jo Yak Gol (Source: Click here)

     

    Video by Ki Gami/ 11pm, Nov. 27 (Source: Click here/ post by Regina Pyon)

  • Samsung C & T demands additional construction cost of 23 billion won, reasoning of delay, for people’s protest

     

    Photos by Lee Woo Ki/ During the 24 hour construction that started since Oct. 25, people slept in front of construction gates to stop the construction vehicles. For more photos by Woo Ki Lee, See here(Night) and here (day)

     

    It was confirmed on Nov. 23 that Samsung C & T that is in charge of the 1st work area of the Jeju naval base project has demanded the Ministry of National Defense (MND) additional construction costs of about 23 billion won, reasoning that its work in the naval base project is being delayed because of opposition groups’ obstruction of construction. According to Sisa Jeju, the personnel in the Samsung C & T have started to discuss on it with the MND about a month ago.

    Hearing that, the Gangjeong Vllage Association and opposition groups strongly refuted on it, saying it is illogical that people’s taxes are to be wasted by giving additional costs on illegal construction.

    The Samsung C & T reasons people’s protest for the delay of construction

    According to the Jeju Sori, the Samsung C & T said to it on Nov. 23 that it “is consulting with the MND regarding the payment on construction fees etc since the naval base construction has been delayed more than a year.”

    The Samsung C & T that is building the outer breakwater of the naval base has gotten from the MND project right on the 1st work area of the Jeju naval base project, which is about 300.7 billion (300.751,000,000) won sum of money for construction, as of Jan. 2010 standard.

    The 1st work area is of a large size project on constructing west breakwater of420 meter and south breakwater of 1,076 meter. Currently the Samsung C & T is preparing for the construction of breakwaters, building 8,800 ton caisson for each in the Hwasoon port, Andeok myon, Seogwipo City. See the map below.

    Source: See here/  Naval Base construction layout

    The matter raised by the Samsung C & T is about the delay of construction. It asserts that construction is being delayed since the Gangjoeng village Association and opposition groups against the naval base have obstructed the entry/exit of construction vehicles and invaded into the inner side of the construction site.

    In fact, the Samsung C & T started construction from February 2011 which was a delay from its original plan. Its current work rate reaches only about 20% (39.1 billion won), far behind its purpose of 80 % (248.7billion won) for November, this year. According to the Jeju naval base project committee, the total work rate as of November currently reaches only to 24.4 % (239.5 billion won) by the standard of executed budget, among the total construction cost of 980.5 billion Korean won. The work rate by the Daelim in the 2nd work area is known to be only 21.4%.

    It has been known that the Samsung C & T, analyzing that it could not carry out construction for more than 15 months because of obstruction on construction by the opposition groups against the naval base project, earmarked 23 billion won in the name of labor and construction material costs.

    It is known that the loss price has become bigger following the construction postponement as the rent fee for the expensive maritime dock facility that the Samsung C & T has taken for the west breakwater construction amounts 200,000,000 to 300,000,000 won a day.

    Navy personnel resonates to Samsung C & T, “the construction has been delayed about 14 ~15 months as the opposition groups occupied the Gureombi Rock area by the early period of September last year and obstructed construction by blocking construction vehicles and interrupting  barge movement since then, too. We will decide the matter of preservation on loss price by contacting each construction company through legal examination.” The completion year of the Jeju naval base project has been postponed from 2014 to 2015.

    Regarding the Daelim industry that is in charge of 2nd work area of mooring dock, east breakwater and formation on land area, the Sisa Jeju reports that the Daelim industry is demanding  the MND to preserve 1.5billion won of loss following construction delay, while the Jeju Sori reports that it has not demanded additional construction cost.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ 14th caisson that was made by Samsung C & T in the Hwasoon port is entering the Gangjeong Sea at the cost of environmental destruction on Nov. 15.  The vicinity of the Beom Island in the background of the photo is the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve  with the UNESCO-designated soft coral habitats.  The Island itself is the  UNESCO-designated Geology Park. Stationing caissons without verified simulation  is  a total ignorance of even the Island governor’s demand. For more, see here.

     

    People, even the National Assembly members, refute against corporate greed

    Upon such behavior of navy-contracted companies, not only the Gangjeong villagers but even the Jeju-based/origin National assembly members are infuriated using the phrase of ‘the thief turns on the master with a club.’ in their remarks.

    Kang Dong-Kyun, the mayor of the Gangjeong village said, “The Naval base is illegal construction. It was without proper procedure. And environment is being destroyed. “Billions of caisson that have become scrap irons ( due to unreliable construction) tell that.” (# One caisson is told to take production cost of 5 billion won)

    “The naval base construction project itself  has been filled with serous problems from the beginning process of location selection to the performance during and after environmental impact assessment. It is righteous to stop illegal destruction. “

    “You should not appropriate billions of construction costs with people’s tax again because illegal construction fee has been delayed. The 23 billion won that the Samsung C & T has demanded is absurd.” ”

    Go Gwon-Il, chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base also pointed out. “Is the Samsung C & T really qualified to demand additional costs? The Samsung C & T has enforced construction without the installation of silt protectors on the sea last year. If the Samsung C & T had driven construction observing the law, it had not arrived into this situation. Wrong national policy cannot but be repulsed back by citizens’ resistance on it. The injustice of naval base construction should be first examined.

    Jang Hana who has constantly raised problesm on naval base emphasized that ‘The villagers and activists have stopped naval base construction since it is illegal. The demand by the Samsung C & T is like to “Save a stranger from the sea, and he´ll turn your enemy.”

    Kim Jae-Yoon, National Assembly man said, “Whole matters occurred because the MND has not properly carried out the subsidiary opinion of the National assembly. The Ministry of National Defense is constructing naval base under the cover name of civilian military complex port for tour beauty.”

    He also said that “The social costs of villagers’ suffering are much bigger than the large sum of money of construction that the Samsung C & T asserts. The MND should compensate the villagers not Samsung.”

    In case the Ministry of National Defense pays for additional construction fee to Samsung C & T, there could be raised of a claim for damage against the opposition groups such as the Gangjoeng Village Association. If then, it could be expanded to lawsuit war.

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Catholic priest Moo Kyu-Hyun protests against illegal construction. See more photos on people’s protest, see here.
    Photo source: PSPD (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy)  Hankyoreh newspaper, Nov. 22 Advertisement: People’s campaign to stop construction(destruction) and to cut whole 2013 budget on the Jeju naval base project. See the related site here
    4,582 citizens joined to fund the newspaper advertizement campaign.

    ……………………………………………………………………….

    Reference

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122917

    삼성 공사방해 수백억 요구, 강정 “적반하장”

    2012.11.23  10:04:19

     

    http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=165085

    제주해군기지 시공사, 공사지연 손실보전 230억 요구

    “해군기지 반대측 방해로 공사 늦어져”…국방부, 손실액 보전 법률검토

    2012.11.23  11:17:10

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165519

    삼성, 국방부에 ‘해군기지 공사지연’ 손실 230억 요구

    “230억 물어내라”…강정마을에 구상권 청구목적?

    2012.11.23  09:46:49

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=36535

    삼성, 해군기지 공사비 230억 추가 요구

    반대단체 방해 이유…강정마을회 등 강력 반발

    2012.11.23  12:48:56

  • Island governor sides with the navy on budget despite suspicious breakwater construction before simulation


    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The 14th caisson. Despite the Island governor’s demand to the navy on Oct. 30 to stop the input of caisson on the sea until the finish of simulation on 150,000 ton cruise, the navy thoroughly ignores that. The navy-contracted company, Samsung C & T moved the 14th 8,800 ton caisson from the Hwasoon port to Gangjeong sea on Nov. 15. See more photos by Cho, here.

     

    During both days of Nov. 16 and 17, issues regarding the budget on the Jeju navy base project were hot, especially with the Island governor’s request to the visiting Democratic United Party members to pass the budget on subsidiary condition. The villagers criticized on it with statement (see its translation on No.3). This article is a summary of four subjects during both days.

    The four subjects are:

    1. Even no discussion: National Assembly discussion on budget was postponed again because of gap between the parties.
    2. Controversy on the matter of fair simulation
    3. Island governor, Woo Keun-Min, sides with the navy. Villagers criticize his will to pass the budget
    4. Suspicion on the navy’s enforcement of breakwater construction before simulation is raised.
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    1. Even no discussion: National Assembly discussion on budget was postponed again because of gap between the parties.

     The Jeju media report:

    The National Defense committee of the ROK National Assembly had the plan to hold the 3rd Budget and Balance sub-committee meeting in the morning of Nov. 16. It was to talk on the direction on the disposal on the 200.966 billion won budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2013. However the committee could not even discuss on it.

    The Budget and Balance sub-committee has had the meetings on Nov. 7 to 8 and Nov. 12 but those have been with no result as the parties could only confirm different positions between them.

    The National Defense Committee plans to have its general meeting on Nov. 19, Monday, and will try to reach to an agreement. If it is without result again, it will consider on opening the Budget and Balance sub-committee again.

    In the Nov. 19 meeting, talks on the Jeju naval base and inspection on K2 tank will be talked.

    The biggest reason that the disposal on the Jeju naval base budget has met difficulty is because of big gap between the ruling and opposition parties.

    The ruling Saenuri Party (New Frontier party) is insisting its position to pass the budget as the original proposal by the Defense Acquision Program Administration (DAPA). However the Democratic United Party (DP, afterward), the main opposition party has different opinions of whole cut, part cut and conditional pass within the party.

    The National Assembly has cut 96% (127.8 billion won) of 132.7 billion budget last year. However, unused budget of about 107 billion won in 2011 was transferred to 2012 with law-evasive way.

    How you can help? Please pressure as seen in No. 2 of here. The pressure works.

     

    2. Controversy on the matter of fair simulation

    Otherwise, regarding the decision by the Office of Prime Minister on Nov. 15 that it would ‘show’ (not ‘verification) on the simulation of 150,000 ton cruises, accepting the request by the Jeju island government, anti-base groups criticized on it on Nov. 16, saying, “The [Office’s] acceptance on simulation means that the Office acknowledges itself that there was problem on the trust matter in the 2nd simulation.”

    The groups including the Gangjeong Village Association, Pan-Island and National Organizing Committees  to stop the Jeju naval base, criticized that the Prime Minister Office’s acceptance of simulation is merely to pass the budget on the naval base project.

    The groups also said:

    “However, the limitations in the conditions of simulation that the Jeju Island government and Office of Prime Minister agree with each other are too clear to clarify on the citizens’ suspicions on the safety of the navigation by 150,000 ton cruises . The Jeju Island government has asked simulations on five types but the Office reduced them into two because the Office hard pressured the Island government to concede it.

    The groups also pointed out:

    “Among the three researchers in the ‘show’ team, two are recommended by the Government. Further one of them, Lee Yoon-Suk, professor of Maritime University has already brought serious controversy on objectivity and fairness matters in his order of service in the second simulation [of which the report came out on Feb. 23, 2012].”

     

    Reference:

    On July 18, 2012, the Jeju-based or origin four National Assembly members of Kang Chang-Il, Kim U-Nam, and Jan Hana (All DP) have raised an issue that the 2nd simulation on the control of ships, which should be based on observing regulations, has not been properly carried out. The four members pointed out that there are serious flaws in the 2nd simulation and demanded the Government and navy temporary stop of construction and observance on the National Assembly subsidiary opinion in 2011.

    In October, 2011, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project that belonged to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly recommended to the Government to “verify on the matter of free entry/exit of port for two 150,000 cruises through the specialized 3rd institute in need. However, the Ministry of National Defense unilaterally carried out simulation and made public the 2nd report in February 23, 2012.

    Otherwise, the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs submitted its opinion statement to the four members around July that it is desirable to carry on simulation again because there is a great risk of danger by occurrence of accident, with the low variables given in the 2nd simulation scenario.

    (See the Korean language Hankyoreh article on July 18, 2012)

     

    3. Island governor Woo Keun-Min sides with the navy. Villagers criticize his will to pass the  budget

    Four members of the Democratic United Party, belong to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly visited Woo Keun-Min, Island governor in the afternoon of Nov. 16. The four members are Park Min-Soo, Yang Seung-Jo, Choi Min-Hee and Choi Jae-Sung.

    The total number of the members in the Budget and Balance Committee is 51. Among them, 21 belong to the DP.

    To people’s indignation, the Island governor Woo asked the DP members to pass the budget on the condition that they stipulate the ‘subsidiary opinion’ of the National assembly last year. To be concrete, he suggested to stipulate that ‘[the Government] execute budget on the premise that the recommended items by the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base under the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly last year to be carried out in substance.” (For detail, see the reference in the below)

    Hearing the governor, the four members promised to the governor that they would actively support for the proposed items by the Jeju Island governor in the National Assembly. However, it is still uncertain for the DP as the party has taken construction stop and re-examination of project as the party opinion since April 11 general election, despite its recent being stirred regarding budget.

    Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 16, 2012. Governor Woo (right in the photo) asked four visiting members of DP belong to the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly to pass the budget on naval base on Nov. 16, 2012.

     

    Here is the villagers’ statement refuting on the governor’s such behavior (translated from the original Korean statement):

     

    Why does Island governor, Woo Keun-Min represent the interest of navy?

    Island Governor Woo has finally revealed his hidden intention.

    While he has shown his shifting attitude many times such as in the hearing on the navy in May when he was even seem to consider to make order the navy to stop construction, [on Nov. 16] he requested to [the visiting four DP members] to pass the budget [on the Jeju naval base project] with subsidiary conditions as the budget got brake in the National Assembly.

    It has been clearly turned out that the Jeju naval base is a project that would make the Jeju Island to be militarized with the posturing cover of civilian-military complex. The proof is that it is conditioned that ships’ entry and exit of port is only possible under the permission of jurisdiction unit commander in the revision on the enforcement order on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act. It has also been exposed that the CNFK (Commander of US Navy Forces of Korea) has demanded the layout possible for nuclear aircraft carrier to come alongside the pier and it has been accepted in building of it.

    Through exposed meeting minutes by the technical verification committee under the Minister of Prime Office, we could also confirm the will of the Government who is to drive the project without base design change. The Prime Minister office accepted the joint simulation show to merely pass the naval base budget next year in its hidden intention. It is the calculation of timing that it is to that extent only once the National Assembly passes budget biting the [government acceptance] of simulation verification that could be done only next year.

    Combining all those situations. it is clear that the ROK Government neither concerns with the interest of the Jeju Island nor the public sentiment of the Island people. It is mad only to drive for military base project, hammering away to ignore even the position of the Jeju Island that is stepping toward international tourism site and whose role of bridge in the international civilian diplomacy is being promoted.

    Meanwhile the Jeju naval base project committee has enforced construction (destruction) hourly ignoring the demands by the Island governor. As if deriding his words that there should NOT be breakwater construction before verification, it is enforcing actual breakwater construction by stationing caisson, only without sands filled inside, and processing reclamation in the Metboori (* east tip of the project area) for the construction of breakwater shore protection. (See the below)

    In such situation, governor Woo demanded to the National Assembly to pass the 2013 Jeju naval base budget when the Office of Prime Minister agreed with re-revelation on simulation, which is not re-verification. Even though he says he conditioned that the budget should be executed under proper verification, there is no reason that Island governor demand to pass the budget since the budget that might be passed by then purely comes from the Ministry of National Defense, not from the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs.

    Why does governor Woo demand the budget from the Ministry of National Defense?

    Is he entirely forgetting that he is the governor of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Island?

    Is he naively expecting that the navy would step for proper verification if it is allocated with budget?

    Why is he requesting to pass the budget in prior to a proper simulation while the navy could be re- allocated with special budget after it as it wants?

    Finally it was proved out that the Island governor Woo Keun-Min has no concern with whether the Jeju naval base would be a proper civilian-military complex port for Tour Beauty or not; and whether the Island people would get any damage from it or not. We don’t need Island governor who takes the lead as the representative of the navy and save only the interest of Samsung and Daelim.

    Nov. 17. 2012

    Gangjeong Village Association

    Reference:

    On Nov. 7, 2011, the sub-investigation committee on the Jeju naval base project under the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly stipulated two recommendation items when they adopted its activity report.

    The first was the recommendation to revise the enforcement decree on the Port Act and Enforcement Decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act and to conclude on the protocol on the joint use on the civilian-military harbor and bay, so that there should be no worry that the Jeju naval base would be operated centered on military port.

    The second is a fair simulation on the possibility of entry & exit by 150,000 ton cruises

    The revision on the decree has been carried out on June 29 while the talks on the conclusion on the protocol is still being processed and there remains the matter of simulation verification. The Jeju Island expects the simulation period at the end of December or January, next year.

    Otherwise, beside budget, governor Woo requested supports on other budgets. Among them, one of the noticeable is request for service work on the ‘basic plan to form the global environmental herb,’ which is for smooth drive of following measure after the 2012 WCC (0.7 billion won)

    (Translated: See the Jeju Sori on Nov. 16, here)

     

    4. Suspicion on the navy’s enforcement of breakwater construction before simulation is raised.

     

    On Oct. 18, 2012, Governor Woo has declared to the villagers in the talk meeting with them that he would ‘stop the breakwater construction in the Gangjeong Sea without fail’ even though it is difficult for him to order construction stop before simulation.”

    On May 1, 2012, even Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of military dictatorship and Presidential runner of the ruling conservative Saenuri Paty said that simulation verification has to be prior to construction on break water. See the Korean article on it here.

    However, the village has raised suspicion on Nov. 17 that the construction being done in the Metboori coast(in the east tip of the naval base project area) could be breakwater construction.

    Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 17, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong Village Association)/ Construction in the Metboori coast (east tip of the project area). In the map, the spot is marked with red color,  planned to be the east breakwater shore protection. The current construction on the spot  raises a suspicion that the navy is enforcing construction on breakwater by reclaiming land from the sea before simulation verification.  For more photos by Cho Sung-Bong, see here. The east part is also for docks for submarines and small ships.

     

    Given the photos by movie director Cho Sung-Bong, the sands and stones being put into the sea are in violation of the EIA. Those should be put into the sea after the washing process on the land. There is no washing facility for sands and stones inside the construction area and those coming from the field are directly put into the sea.”

    “The biggest problem is that substantial breakwater construction is being done. Given the photo (above), it is the area spot being reclaimed from the Metboori coast to the sea, along the silt protectors. This area belongs to the east breakwater shore protection ( * in charge of Daelim) and outer facilities on the base layout map.”  See the construction map here.

    “ not only that, the navy is processing the substantial construction on the west and south breakwaters, too, by stationing caissons. By when will the Island government on-look companies’ such law-evasive construction.

    Source: Headline Jeju, Nov. 17, 2012/ Working ships to station caissons to build west breakwater.
    Source: Headline Jeju, Nov. 17, 2012/ Working ships to station caissons to build southbreakwater.

     

    ………………………………………………..

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165031
    국방위, 제주해군기지 예산 진통…또 다시 처리 연기
    예산소위서 결론 못내…19일 전체회의서 이견조율
    2012.11.16 12:25:18

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122626
    제주해군기지 예산 진통, 19일 전체회의서 논의
    2012.11.16 11:54:40

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165052
    강정-범대위 “총리실 시뮬레이션, 공정한 검증 이뤄져야”
    “총리실 수용은 객관성과 공정성 문제 스스로 인정한 것”
    2012.11.16 15:16:55

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122634
    제주해군기지 시뮬레이션, 공정성 논란 고개
    2012.11.16 14:40:00

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122562
    시뮬레이션 준비만 4~6주…올해 불가능할 듯
    2012.11.15 10:34:53

    (http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/area/543194.html
    “해군기지 2 차 시뮬레이션 중대 오류”
    제주 출신 국회의원, 공사 중단 요구
    국토부”선박 출입때 사고 위험 커”
    2012.07.18 19:25

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165050
    국회 예결위 의원들 제주 방문, 예산요청 사안 현장확인
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  • 1st caisson made on the Gureombi Rock costs human rights and nature environment.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ First Caisson built on Gureombi. . . Bigger caissons (8,800 ton)have been built on Hwasoon port. Now the floating dock has located near Gureombi rock to move caissons to Gangjeong sea. For more photos of Cho Sung-bong, see here.

     

    It was Oct. 30 that the first 3,000 ton caisson supervised by Daelim Co. was made on the Gureombi Rock. To build this one, there was 24 hours construction since Oct. 25. No night construction for three days of Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1, as the workers needed time to dry it, move it to the coast near to a floating dock on the sea, and resetting for building new one.

    On the same day of Oct. 30, Jeju Island government submitting to the central government(Prime Minister Office)  its final opinion on the simulation verification on the entry & exit of 150,000 cruise, related to the Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty (Jeju naval base project), stated that it requested to the central government not to execute construction on stationing caisson until there is a simulation of which the Island government opinion is accepted. What the Island government should do is to immediately ORDER the navy construction stop, not delaying its critical decision without delusion on the so called civilian-military port (which is in fact a pure military-only port)and 150,000 ton cruise. (See here)

    What was the cost of the 1st caisson?  The navy-contacted company, Daelim plans to build 82 numbers of 3,000 to 4,000 ton caissons to put into the Gangejong Sea, the UNESCO-protected soft coral zone. Given that it takes 5~6 day to build one, it needs minimum 410 days’ 24 hour construction because of cement character, no choice, the navy says (See here)

    However, villagers’ rights to sleep in the night have been robbed off. It was at the price of human rights violation. There have been at least 6 people who were carried to hospital during 24 hour construction so 24 hour protests from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30. See here and here. Many were injured, too. The waste of tax to mobilize 500 policemen every night is speechless. If it was a righteous and reasonable construction, the government does not need to mobilize such stunning numbers of policemen. It is for the navy to get the budget on the naval base project, 2013 (the Ministry of National Defense has proposed 200 billion won for the Jeju naval base construction in 2013) by rapidly moving up construction (destruction)! The navy has promised the National Assembly last year that it would not get the budget if its work rate does not reach 30 % this year.

    It was also at the price of nature environment destruction. See here.

    In the field, many young peacekeepers’ painful efforts go on.   Some sketches during the day of Nov. 1 here.

    Around 11am, Nov. 1. Bishop Kang U Il held the mass in front of construction gate. Recently a Catholic priest, Fr. Lee Young Chan was imprisoned on Oct. 25. interview with an international reporter.
    Around 2:30pm, Nov. 1. Music and dance are people’s positive way to overcome the police violence that they would go through during the police’s roughing out them.
    Around 3:37pm: Fr. Kim Sung-Han and Catholic sister nicknamed Joan D’arc. Right before police’s roughing out people.
    Around 3:30pm, Nov. 1. Another police’s roughing out people. We saw at least two young female activists had tear in their eyes… Many women peace keepers are upset when they are circled around by male policemen. The policewomen are insensitive to the same sex women peacekeepers. Why they are so slow when women need them? Scratch by policewomen nails have been usual … Male peacekeepers commonly appeal pain in their right shoulder. Two of them have been carried by ambulance for it. The photo is the scene that the police take apart people in front of construction gate.
    Around 4pm, Nov. 1. After police roughing out, eating roasted tangerine is a joy though.
    Around 4:30, Nov. 1. Another police’s roughing out people. For 4~5 detained women, there are only three policewomen shown in the photo. The others are policemen who walled against us with multiple layers. The policewomen were to exit often but we protested to them so that they should be with us.
    Around 8pm. People’s candle vigil. Massage one another.

     

    How you can help us? Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project. For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.

     

    Video by Navi

    Scene of caisson on the Gureombi Rock and a floating dock that is to station caissons in the sea around 2pm, Oct. 31

     

    (Source: Village website )