Today there were many watch dogs by the gates of the naval base.
Unification day. And it has been a hectic day.
But first. Two concepts that are hovering over the base.
Civil Disobedience (Resistance to civil government) Henry David Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences , and that they have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice.
Direct Action occurs when a group of people take an action which is intended to reveal an existing problem, highlight an alternative, or demonstrate a possible solution to a social issue. This can include nonviolent and less often violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action participants. Examples of direct action can include strikes, workplace occupation, political violence, nonviolent resistance, sabotage, property destruction, blockades etc.
My morning started with meeting this friendly Baptist minister from Seoul.
The things got less friendly.
The religious leader from Seoul was removed from the gate and the trucks could pass.
The police came en masse. They never seem far away and they probably aren’t either.
And as the day went on….More people being lifted from in front of the gate and place inside so called detention circles.
Then there was a big manifestation. The mayor spoke. Urging the goverment to listen to the National Assembly’s decision to halt construction for 70 days, starting from January 1st. Two supporting politicians from the democratic party were part of the demo in fron of the gate.
There were plenty of photographs taken.And plenty of people in the manifestation.
The 100 bows for peace were made.
There were many people visiting Gangjeong today. Maybe that is why the police decided to wait until the afternoon to open the gates again.
Things started to heat up. Activists gathered at the gates, the alarm went across the village. Police started lining up(first casually, then in a more tight formation) along the peace camp tents, making it difficult or impossible to leave or get to.
It got more and more hectic as more and more activist were moved into circles where they were surrounded by police.
And when you are inside a cicle many activist choose to just sit quietly.
When you are dragged from making your peace bows, your shoes often end up someplace else.
An outsiders perspective on how things possibly went down this morning.
– Hallo, is this the police? I need your help.
– Yes, again.
– There are three people blocking the entrance to the gate. I know you have been here 7 times a day since 2007. Yes, that is 12 775 times but they are still here.
I have trucks on the inside that need to get out.
And there are trucks on the outside that need to get in.
We need to move all the junk.
All the chairs.
And we need to move the people.
We need to do it now.
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This happens every hour during the day. And every second hour during the night. On an average. Persistance and determination like this is hard to find.
Many of the conscripts look very young. Many look a bit scared or at least confused. They come from the mainland and are circulated every 2-3 weeks. It is doubtful they know what is going on in front of the gates.
Police covering their faces is a thing I have rarely seen. It is not legal either. You, as a representative for the state force should identify yourself.
You are also obliged to identify yourself when you are filming. In the name of security.
Some activists decide to open up a discussion about that.
If you film me and don’t tell me who you are, I will cover my face.
For more than 1825 days these activists have been practicing civil disobedience in the name of peace, determined to stop the building of the base and they are in good company.
Following the Villagers’ monthly Unity Day that started on Nov. 25, 2nd Unity Day was held amid rain on Friday, Dec. 14. On the day, about 50 villagers marched toward the gate of the naval base project committee building complex. It was a day that the villagers made public their statement on the Gangjeong Village Civil Disobedience Movement in front of the gate (You can see the original Korean statement, here).
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 14, see here.
Statement on the Gangjeong Village Civil Disobedience Movement
Our Gangjeong village is a village of more than 450 years during which we have supported all sorts of household matters and busy works one another and shared affection together based on the spirit of Sooneuleum. It is our hometown that has been called as Il-Ganjeong (Meaning Gangjeong, the best village) because of the best water, crops and life in the Jeju Island.
However, we are experiencing an act of barbarity committed [by the government] that decided one day to install so called a national policy project in the village like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, without going through the process of collection on the villagers’ opinions but reasoning that a small part of the villagers hoped the invitation of the naval base construction. We are also experiencing daily suffering because the navy and Government abetting pro-base villagers make them alienate from the anti-base villagers and overissue accusations and charges against the latter, which makes irrecoverable gaps of conflicts between parents, siblings, relatives and friends.
Even during the darkest period of 4.3 when about 80 innocent Gangjeong villagers suddenly met unnatural death by the military of the Republic of Korea, the Gangjeong villagers protected and cared for one another. However, the Gangjeong village today is divided by the hostility to suspect and hate one another.
Therefore, the Gangjeong villagers having declared the Life and Peace village in Nov. 2007, gathered their spirits to build the village where their descendents can be blessed with peace to be recovered again and environment where life can overflow. We have been unbearably fighting with the flag of ‘absolutely no naval base,’ for five years and seven months by now because the Jeju naval base not only would increase the threat of war by fostering tension with the neighborhood countries despite it is a security project restraining outbreak of war, would harm even the basis of security due to the conflict between the civilian and military but also would never fit to the value of life and peace.
However, we are proud of ourselves having our claims within the legal frame that fits to the value of life and peace and having pledged ourselves moderated acts that there should be no group violence to be occurred even when legal protests cannot be established [and we could not but unavoidably take the illegal forms]. However, during the process when the police unlawfully imprisoned the mayor, leader, of the Gangjeong village, there occurred a situation when the villagers besieged the police and confront them. Then the Government using the event as a momentum, declared the political situation of public security, dispatched a large size riot police, and enforced naval base project with physical power. And the situation of so severe infringement on human rights has been continued for more than a year.
It is not only unconvincing disposal for our cry to respect life and aspire peace to be recognized as the threatening existence to the Government but justice is being lost as even the law that is the standard of a society submits to the power of the Government, adding power to it.
Therefore the Gangjeong village residents, following the value of life and peace village and ethical standard, declare that they would manifest their rights as the citizen through the civil disobedience movement until the law is equal to everyone and the state power recovers its neutral position in the [Government]driving process of the Jeju naval base construction project.
While we resist with the principle of non-violence and peace, we will protect the Gangjeong village of the Land of Life, being firm without stepping back. To build the village where our sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters are proud that they are part of Korea and are willing to accept their responsibility to keep their hometown and care for life, we stand here deeply inscribing in our hearts that the civil disobedience movement that aims for the law to be righteously hold up is the most sacred mission for the citizens’ justice to be realized.
We demand the judicature, prosecutors, police, navy and the Government.
We hope that the judicature establishes its position again for its mission to make the authority of law righteously stand and to protect the order of democracy.
We hope the prosecutor and police are born again as those true canes for the people, not to mention their righteous establishment as the para judicature institutes, so that they get out of their mean appearance of standing sided with the haves.
We hope the navy comes into the stage of a reasonable and fair dialogue, stopping the construction itself for the purpose of ending mass production of social conflicts that take down the basis of security itself and even put the basis of the existence of a nation in danger.
We hope the Government would stop the Jeju naval base project on which so many problems have already been disclosed and by which infringement on human right violation have seriously occurred. We also hope that the Government, accepting its mission to unite the citizens, recovers the honors of the Gangjeong villagers and peace keepers who have been under false accusations and disadvantages, and totally re-examine the Jeju naval base project at the same time.
From today as the starting point, we declare that we, the Gangjeong villagers join together with their first sacred step in the spirit of time for the historical progress in which the justice of the judicature righteously stand and we make the world of no discrimination.
Dec. 14, 2012
The villagers and peace keepers of Gangjeong, the Life and Peace Village
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. The banner reads ‘Civil disobedience movement against the Jeju naval base.’ People such as Kim Jin-Suk, a legendary leader of the Hanjin Heavy Industry Workers’ struggle visited the village to encourage the villagers’ struggle. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 14, see here.Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 14, see here.After the event, villagers shared meals in front of the gate, to stop the construction vehicles. During the protest, a disable was arrested but he was released in hours.
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See also
South Korea’s a high court of justice just ruled out that the plan of military installation on GANGJEONG is lawful and valid action to go. This ruling was based on the Supreme Court’s decision that some part of the plan needed to be reviewed by the high court of justice in 2009. One more reviewing by the Supreme Court to go for the final ruling. (10:00 AM KST)
There were three lawsuits regarding the naval base. The first is the action filed by GANGJEONG Townhall claimed the permission of Jeju Provincial government to use the public water surface for naval base construction was illegal. The second is the action filed by GANGJEONG residents claimed the executive order from the provincial government to expire the absolute preservation site is illegal. The last one is the action filed by GANGJEONG townhall that the plan of military installation which is naval base at GANGJEONG is illegal. Each lawsuit had three trial cases, court of first instance, a high court of justice and the Supreme Court of justice and didn’t make it. This court’s ruling is caused by the supreme court of justice says some of details are not enough to make illegal and sent it back to the high court of justice for another hearing and ruling.
Since Prof. Shin Yong-In made public civil disobedience movement on Nov. 11 ‘for the peaceful settlement of the conflict of the Jeju naval base project and for the realization of just law,’ the movement has been extended by the below figures with their open statements.
People have already been practicing it in contents in the struggle but with the name endowed, it is expected that the movement would more grow in coming days.
Kim Seri informs: ‘Recently, young Korean writers gathering their will to save the village, formed a group called ‘Writers’ Action 1219 (* December 19 is a date for the ROK Presidential election).’ It is informed that about 22 young writers will visit Gangjeong in the morning of Nov. 21 and will make an important statement [including on Gangjeong peace library project] and recite writings. And they are told to state on their participation in civil disobedience movement and to join the struggle at the same time . See here and here.’
Otherwise, the below is a collection of open statements (excerpted translation) by four figures who joined the civil disobedience movement from Nov. 13 to 15.
The people who join the civil disobedience movement commonly demand:
The Government should respect the Constitution that reads to respect people’s basic rights
The Jeju naval base project should be revoked!
Cut the 200.9 billion won of the 2013 Jeju naval base project
The Jeju naval base construction(destruction) should be stopped since the legality enforced with lies, betrayal, illegality, law-evasiveness and violence is a clear proof of illegality.
The Government, navy and police should immediately stop violence.
Free all the conscientious prisoners!
The related personnel to the exposed problems on the Jeju naval base construction during the National Assembly inspection on the government offices should be responsible for charges.
Otherwise Carol Reckinger, a photographer, is making wonderful records on the civil disobedience movement in Gangjeong. Please visit her blog.
Jeju naval base Budget Cut Campaign. Renowned entertainer Ms. Kim Mee-hwa (Post by Regina Pyon)
Rev. Choi Hun-Kook, Chairman of the Christian Measure Committee to Revoke the Jeju Naval Base Project
The article 13 of South Korean Constitution stipulates the role of state for the social weak, considering the basic rights to live most important. The article 1 of the Bonn Constitution (Basic Law For The Federal Republic of Germany) talks about the inviolable on the dignity of human beings as well as stipulates to make best effort to protect the human rights of the economical and social weak. Those mean that law should be a standard for every citizen to live human life. In the country where money and power are concentrated, to have a virtue of concession to the weak is established as the basis of law. It is because of it that the function of law which is a regulation to set up the social community order becomes the function of good will for the protection of human rights and the weak.[..] Facing against the state power executed with physical power for the enforcement of the Jeju naval base construction, being reasoned that vicious law -used as the tool of violence- is positive law, I am joining this movement as a form of civil disobedience from the consciousness of religious person, which is a just act based on the justice of God.
(Rev. Choi Hun-Kook, Nov. 13. From his statement titled, ‘The future of life and peace: Entering into the civil disobedience movement in the Gangjeong village, Jeju!’ See the original Korean statement,here.)
Koh Gil-Chun, Jeju artist
Photo: Jeju artist Koh Gil-Chun in front of construction gate on Nov. 14, with the sign that reads, ‘No Jeju US naval base, No US Nuclear Aircraft Carrier’)
Currently, the Gangjeong village is being trampled down of such perfect “life,” by violence and greed. Also after April 3rd [massacre and people’s uprising from 1947 to 1954], “human rights” is being trampled down by state power in the Jeju Island. Even though it is clear that it would be used as the US base, the [state power] unilaterally enforces sacrifices of [the Island people] for fake security and puts against justly raised different opinions with the bridles of labels such as ‘Pro-North Korea,’ and even ‘Reds’. The state is inciting greed of the Island people with the bite of so-called economic development. Any economic development will only profit the pockets of the rich again. The Jeju Island would be destined to take only the debt of destruction [..] I am to stand sided with the law of consciousness in the site of such treason, not to regret my life as one of the Jeju Island citizen and artist.[..] I urgently appeal to many citizens, Jeju Island people, and artists to join this civil disobedience movement. Starting on Nov. 14, I will stand in front of construction gate with peacekeepers, with the aspiration of every conflict to be peacefully settled, every 2pm to midnight, Wednesday.
(Koh Gil-Chun, Jeju artist, Nov. 14, 2012. From his statement titled ‘Opposing the enforcement on the Jeju naval base construction, I join the civil disobedience movement from the heart that wants peaceful settlement.’ See the original Korean statement here.)
I will join the civil disobedience movement from the start of 100 bows for life and peace in the morning to the last time of construction vehicles’ passage on the day of Nov. 16, Friday. Civil disobedience movement is another name of direct action named ‘Manshijitan (that means ‘10,000 citizens scold’) that started last spring. Now facing, beside the Manshijitan incident, prosecution and judgment of the 1st trial, under the charges of obstruction of business by the incident called Churchmen Entering the Gureombi Rock on April 3rd, 2012 and by stopping construction vehicles, I declare participation in the civil disobedience movement that is to save democratic procedures in non-violent way and to recover my consciousness as a devotee. It is because I believe in that the civil disobedience movement will stop the enforcement of the Jeju naval base construction and will be the kindling to save the Gangjeong village. [..] We are not the people to be tamed by violent state power, fine or prison punishment. There is no fear for the people who make effort to save peace. There is no happier thing for the devotees to suffer from their practice of Jesus’ gospels with their whole bodies.
(Lim Borah, Vice-Minister of the Hyangrin Church, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Nov. 15, 2012. From her statement titled, ‘I join the civil disobedience movement to revoke the Jeju naval base project and to recover faith consciousness. See the original Korean statement, here.)
Oh Cheul Geun, a democratic citizen
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong / Mr. Oh Cheul Geun in the rain.
I am Oh Cheul Geun(66). I have practiced three steps one bow in Gangjeong from Nov. 14, 2011 to April 10, 2012. I am doing it again til I arrive the main construction gate of the Gangjeong village everyday since Oct. 24. I always wear a [traditional] funeral cloth when I do three steps one bow. There are four reasons. First, it means, death of sovereignty, second, death of human rights, third, death of democracy and last, death of the Gureombi Rock. I fully feel them as my responsibility and pray for everything to be returned back to its original place, by practicing three steps one bow everyday. Then I became to join the civil disobedience movement. As I feel that prayer cannot solely solve the matters and as I see peacekeepers and villagers who are bruised and injured and feel difficulty everyday, I became to keep pace with direct resistance, too, by joining civil disobedience movement.[..] Even though the legal system of the Republic of Korea is based on the spirit of Constitution espoused of Democracy principle, positive law has become creeping, even distorting the Constitution. To change the reality when enforcement decree and regulations made by the administrative reign over the Constitution, I became to stand countering against the police violence blow because I desperately hope many more citizens to join this civil disobedience movement.
(Oh Cheul-Geun, a democratic citizen on Nov. 15, 2012. From his statement titled, “Joining the Gureombi civil disobedience movement to stop the illegal Jeju naval base construction. See his Korean statementhere. )
Prof. Shin Yong-In on Nov. 12, 2012. The sign reads “The civil disobedience movement is a motion to make just law stand.” Image: Jang Hyun-Woo
Starting a civil disobedience movement for the peaceful settlement of the conflict of the Jeju naval base project and for the realization of just law.
By Prof. Shin Yong-In (Translated by Save Jeju Now)
Nov. 11, 2012
The Jeju naval base project has numerous problems such as doubtful selection of location, resolution on invitation by conciliation and betrayal, ignorance of Gangjeong villagers’ opinion, unreliability of the Environmental Impact Assessment by and large, cancellation of absolute preservation areas without notice, suspicion on the flaws in the base layout, unreliable and illegal construction, falsehood in the so called Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty.
Still, the government and navy are not only enforcing naval base construction with the police force at the head but are recently enforcing 24 hours construction to secure the 2013 budget, indiscriminately confining and arresting Gangjeong villagers, peace activists and even clergymen who make efforts to stop construction.
In the state power’s oppression such as the above, the responsibility of court is also big. The court forgetting its constitutional mission of being the last fortress to keep the basic rights of people, has given indulgence to the wrong executions of the power by taking unjust trial to unilaterally raise the hands of government and navy. As a result, Gangjeong became the site of a lawless world where democracy is damaged and human rights are trampled down as illegality and law-evasiveness take power to themselves.
In the situation when every legal effort to stop unjustly dominating power became meaningless, there is nothing that I, a law school professor and lawyer can do to stop the forceful naval base construction.
Even now, there are Gangjeong villagers and peace activists in front of the Gangjeong construction site, who struggle risking the danger of punishment, by delaying naval base construction (destruction) even for 5 minutes. They are the people who follow the law of consciousness in the situation when the laws of the positive and of the conscious clash each other. They are in fact already doing the civil disobedience movement. Their courageous resistance make me feel shame, who have been confined inside the fence of the positive law, and make me ask what the true law is.
Henry Thoreau, a harbinger of the civil disobedience movement has said:
Now, aspiring for the peaceful settlement of the conflicts in the Jeju naval base project and for the realization of just law, I will start the civil disobedience movement until the government and navy stop the enforcement of naval base construction. I will stop, with my body, entry and exit of construction vehicles in front of the main gate of naval base construction site more than once a week. For the beginning, I will stand in front of the construction gate from 10 am to 6pm on Monday, Nov. 12.
I respect law. But when the law is not just, the law is merely violence. Therefore it is the natural right and responsibility of democratic citizens to disobey to the illegal law. It is nothing but to stop to be human being to give up that. Therefore the civil disobedience movement that I am to do is never the movement to ignore law. It is the movement to make the true law stand. It is an effort to save the Constitution being invaded by unjust power.
Before the start of the civil disobedience movement, I declare the below principles based on the spirit ofSatyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi.
Firstly, I reject every violent way. I will act whatever happens with non-violent and peaceful way. Violence kills life while non-violence respects lives and make them live.
Secondly, there is a saying that ‘You shall hate crime but not the criminals.” Even though I am infuriated from the unjust execution of power by the personnel of the government, navy and police, I never hate them. Hatred kills life. I also believe that the government, navy and police personnel are dignified beings like sky, with reason and consciousness as human beings.
Thirdly, I will be willing to suffer from any disadvantages following civil disobedience. If the police rough out and confine me, I will be willingly taken. If they want to arrest me, I will be willing to be arrested. If they imprison me, I will be willing to be imprisoned. The government can confine my body but not my spirit. If the government attempts to detain my body more and more, my spirit will freely fly up.
Through the civil disobedience movement, I hope the government, navy, court, police can change like the below.
I hope the government no more betrays and disdains citizens but recognize them as the SKY, being afraid of them and serve them.
I hope the court no more wait-and–sees the government but takes trial faithful to the Constitutional mission of control of powers and protection of basic rights.
I hope the navy is born again as the navy for citizens to whom it serves, not as the navy for their own, who fights against the citizens.
I hope the police outgrowing from the role of maid to power, to be the true cane for the people from whom they get love and respect.
I also appeal to all Jeju Island people and citizens to have courage and join the civil-disobedience movement. I urgently ask them to join us until the conflicts in the Jeju naval base project is peacefully settled and just law stands.
Shin Yong-In, Professor of Law School, Jeju University
Around 3:30 pm, Nov. 12/ Prof. Shin is carried away by the police from the protest siteHeadline Jeju, Nov. 12, 2012 Prof. Shin was detained in police circles more than 7 times on the day.Photo by Song Chang-Wook. Prof. Shin ends his first day with the 100 bows early in the next morning, 7am, Nov. 13.
Today there were many watch dogs by the gates of the naval base.
The things got less friendly.
The religious leader from Seoul was removed from the gate and the trucks could pass.
More people being lifted from in front of the gate and place inside so called detention circles.
And plenty of people in the manifestation.
The 100 bows for peace were made.
There were many people visiting Gangjeong today. Maybe that is why the police decided to wait until the afternoon to open the gates again.
When you are dragged from making your peace bows, your shoes often end up someplace else.
