Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: construction

  • Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | November Issue

    In this month’s issue:
    National Grand March for Life and Peace Comes to a close, outrageous findings in National Assembly inspections, Jesuit priest imprisoned, illegal security company hired to guard the construction site, 24-Hour construction begins and much more!

    Download PDF

  • Urgent: How you can help us to cut the budget overnight. Please take 1 minute/ People’s emergency press conference

    The National Defense Committee of the National Assembly will have its final meeting in the morning of Nov. 16, Friday, in Korean time. Its’ Nov. 12 meeting was dissipated because of wide gap between the ruling and main opposition party. But since then the Democratic United Party (DP), the main opposition party has shown its compromising attitude that it is considering to agree with the ruling Saenury Party (New Frontier Party) to pass all or part of the proposed budget on the Jeju naval base project, to the indignation of people. The people here have mobilized themselves to protest to the members of the DP through email, phone and SNS. There was people’s emergency press conference on Nov. 15. How you can help us overnight in short time? Please see the part 2 of this article.

    Photo by PSPD/ People’s press conference in front of the National Assembly on Nov. 15, 2012

    1. People’s emergency press conference on Nov. 15

    On Nov. 15, there was people’s emergency press conference to demand ruling and opposition parties to cut the whole  201 billion won of 2013 Jeju naval base project budget in front of the National Assembly at 1:30 pm. The Press conference was hosted by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island (26 groups), National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups). Please watch Dungree video Here (Youtube). You can see the original Korean statement here (posted by the PSPD).

    Some points in the press conference statement read:

    Even though the Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly 2011 has recommended the government and navy “to objectively verify on the safety matters of entry & exit of port and coming alongside & out of port by the 150,000 ton cruises through the 3rd institute,” the government and navy have ignored it. Despite that, the members of the ruling and opposition parties in the National Defense committee are to pass 200.9 billion won on the 2013 Jeju naval base project, without asking the matter on the execution on the National assembly recommendation item. The Jeju naval base project currently being enforced is in violation of the 2007 National assembly subsidiary opinion of ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port of Call,’ (* the Lee Myung Bak government has enforced the project under the title of the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty) and also in violation of the 2011 Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly recommendation item, the demand of verification on the possibility of entry & exit by 150,000 ton cruises. It is a case when a strict response by the National Assembly is needed in the sense that those are of ignorance of the authority of the National assembly that monitors the Administrative. Therefore it is reasonable that the National Assembly cut all 2013 budgets on the Jeju naval base, according to the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. […] However, Han Ki-Ho (* a former high-rank  army commander), member of the Saenuri Party, the person concerned in the ruling and opposition party’s agreement [in 2011] as a member of Budget and Balance Committee and now a chairman of the National defense committee  shows shameless appearance to condemn the voice on budget as if it is from that of pro North Korea.

    Photo by Tommy Shin Jung-Hyun/ People’s press conference to cut the Jeju naval base budget in front of National Assembly on Nov. 15, 2012

    There are some useful points to remind in the people’s protest letters to the two big ruling and opposition parties. Here are some excerpted translations.

    Protest letter to the Saenuri Party: Excerpts

    The government stated only today that it would accept the opinion by the Jeju Island government on simulation verification(It is in fact ‘revelation’ not ‘verification by the words of the Office of Prime Minister)‘. However, it has already been proved out that the [projected] port is difficult not only for 150,000 ton cruise’s entry-exit and coming alongside the pier but also for military vessels to properly enter and exit, through the meeting minutes by the ‘technical verification committee on the entry/ exit of cruse’ set up following the navy resource and National Assembly recommendation. Also construction has been unreliably, roughly-and-readily being done. So caissons that are to be used for port & bay construction have been completely destroyed, too. It is judged that the safety of port itself would not be guaranteed either.

    The Saenuri party thinks the Jeju naval base is certainly necessary for national security. However, if the Saenuri Party truly thinks security, it should take the lead to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project. It is because the Jeju naval base currently being constructed in Gangjeong has no validity for project purpose. It cannot even properly be used as a military port.

    The government takes protection of southern sea area and sea transportation lane as the purpose of the Jeju naval base project. However, there is no need to be stubborn to build the naval base in Jeju to protect the southern sea water. The government has already measure of the 3rd fleet in Mokpo that does not need another base in Jeju. Further the task of sea transportation lane is originally the duty of coast guard and it is never appropriate that military vessel steps for that, given the geographical conditions and relationship with nearby countries.

    Furthermore, it has been turned out through navy resource that the main facilities of the Jeju naval base are being designed and built according to the US military demand to fit for the vessels such as the US nuclear aircraft carrier [and submarines] that the US retain

    Protest letter to the Democratic United Party: Excerpts

    The remarks by Park Ji-Won, floor representative of Democratic United Party, who said that ‘[the party] would confirm on the test result on the entry/exit of port and then allocate budget,’ is never realistic, given the time to be taken for verification and schedule on budget review. Further in the situational condition that the Office of Prime Minister and navy enforce construction (destruction), ignoring the resolution by the National Assembly who demanded verification through simulation, there is no other alternative than to cut the whole budget (* so construction is to be stopped) to enforce verification. We worry  to see the words by [Moon Jae-In], Presidential candidate and [Park Ji-Won] floor representative to be over turned in a week.

    It seems that the reason that the Democratic United Party changed its position on the matter of cut on the Jeju naval base budget is because it judged that it would influence not  good effect in the Presidential election due to expected repulsion by the navy and conservative class and political aggression by the Saenuri party. However such position is defensive and passive without clear and reasonable basis.  In last [April 11] election, all the three Democratic United Party members who oppose naval base have been all elected in Jeju. If the candidate and Democratic United Party actively make public to citizens on various problems on the Jeju naval base in the mainland, it can get superior position in public opinion. The Democratic Party should take a lesson of a case that the people have rather punished the Grand National Party(former Saenuri Party) when the DP actively responded to the GP with the ‘war power vs. peace power’ frame,  facing against the GP who intended to win over DP in June 2 local election, abusing the Cheonan ship incident for hunting so called the ‘pro north-Korea’ groups.

    Photo by Hwang Hyun-Jin/ Humorous one man protest in front of National Assembly. ‘With 200.9 billion won, you can feed each of 50 million South Koreans with four strings of Kimbab (rice ball kind)

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Despite the Island governor’s demand to the navy on Oct. 30 to pose the input of caisson until the finish of simulation on 150,000 ton cruise, the navy thoroughly ignored that. The navy-contracted company is moving caisson on Nov. 14.  See more photos by Cho, here.

     

    2. URGENT: Please take 1 min. to help us. Please copy and paste the below and send it to these address below, with your name. You may change contents, of course. Thanks so much in advance.

    moonriver365@gmail.com, intoan429@hanmail.net,  2030minju@hanmail.net, kjy1@assembly.go.kr, jp311@assembly.go.kr, kmageneral@gmail.com , esh337@hanmail.net,  jinsj@assembly.go.kr

    ( Email address source: click here   )

    Title: Cut the whole budget on the Jeju naval base. The world is watching

    Dear Democratic United Party members of National Defense committee of the ROK National Assembly.

    Please cut all the budgets on the Jeju naval base project. I heard that your party is considering to agree with the ruling Saenuri party to pass the budget in all or part in the National Assembly.  It is a shame that your party considers it despite all illegal, undemocratic, environment destructive, human rights- violating matters of the Jeju naval base project that became clear to the eyes of internationals.  I was also shocked to hear that the Jeju naval base is nothing but the US base as the Commander of the US navy forces of Korea has intervened in the base design for US nuclear aircraft carrier and US submarines.

    Do you truly want the South Koreans’ tax paid for the US war base against China? It will greatly disturb peace in the North East Asia and world. Please remember that your deed will affect not only Koreans but voiceless creatures and people in the world.

    It is unbelievable and shame if your party agrees to pass the budget. Please stand on your original position of cutting all the budget of 201 billion won on the naval base project 2013.

    Thanks for listening.

     

    Photo by Carol Rekinga/ The hungerstrike of Sung Sim Jang, for more photos, click here
    Photo by Kang Han, Catholic News Now and Here/ Construction site, Nov. 13, 2012 (post by Regina Pyon)
    Photo by Kang Han, Catholic News Now and Here/ protest mass in front of construction gate, Nov. 12 (Post by Regina Pyon)

     

    3. Peace activists resist tenaciously and cry for stop of violence

    Please watch this 7 min. video taken by Kim Goon, a peacekeeper that daily appears in the protest site of the naval base construction gate. . The peacekeepers in Gangjeong persistently protest to stop the cement mixer trucks .The video was taken at 3:10pm, Nov. 14. They are fighting for the Jeju naval base project budgets not to be executed but cut, despite the police violence and humiliation.

    “All parts of our body are bruised… We have little time to inform about the field news since the start of 24 hour construction… All of us are longing the day when our routine life of being roughed out by the police will end…. We just hope to save the Gureombi, Gangjeong village and ourselves.” (Kim Goon)

    ( Youtube/ Source: Click here )

     

    Update on Nov. 16

    The police from Seoul were more violent on Nov. 16. They are the maneuver units of No. 21(male) and 24(female). The police were also violent on Nov. 15, probably because the Democratic United Party members showed compromising attitude on budget. A young activist was carried to a hospital during the protest on Nov. 15.

    ………………………..………………………

    Reference

     

    http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GeUz/169

    [11월 15일 기자회견] “2011년 국회 여야 합의-검증 없이 예산 없다”- 제주 해군 기지 예산 전액 삭감 촉구 긴급기자 회견

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164947

    제주해군기지 시뮬레이션 검증 ‘합의’…”주야간 검증”

    총리실, 제주해군기지 시뮬레이션 검증 요구 전격 수용

    2개 케이스 시현…주야간 검증…책임연구원 교체키로

    2012.11.15  09:47:42

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122564

    강정마을회 “민주당 전액삭감 입장 끝까지 지켜야”

    “새누리당 이상일 대변인 발언은 정치적 공세···민주당은 예산 전액삭감 입장 유지해야”

    2012.11.15  11:17:35

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122559

    정부, 해군기지 15만톤 크루즈 시뮬레이션 수용

    2012.11.15  09:46:23

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8445

    “강정마을, 예수처럼 쓰러져도 평화의 표지 될 것”

    ‘24시간 공사’ 이어지는 해군기지 앞 끈질기게 지키는 사람들

    2012.11.15  11:14:37

  • Law Professor begins Civil Disobedience Campaign against Unjust Law

    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:

    “We should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right” (Henry David Thoreau, Resistance to Civil Government, 1849)

    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 site
    Headline 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.

    References:

    제주 해군기지 공사차량, 온몸으로 저지하려 합니다
    제주해군기지 갈등의 평화적 해결 위한 시민불복종 운동을 시작하며
    http://www.ohmynews.com/nws_web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001800686
    12.11.11 16:02l최종 업데이트 12.11.11 16:02

     

  • In remembering the spirit of Yang Yong-Chan, people’s emergency rally was held on Nov. 10

     

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo, caption by Regina Pyon/ Jang Sung-shim (Catholic name Lucia) is shaving the head in front of Jeju naval base building site on 15th civic action day on November 10. She was on her fourth day of fast even without water and salts staying day and night at the gate demanding the cancellation of Jeju naval base project. . . For more photos of Jang Hyun-woo, see here.

     

    Amid heavy rain and strong wind, about 150 people had an emergency rally in front of the Jeju naval base project building complex on Nov. 10, Saturday. See the Nov. 10 poster here. The construction trucks stopped to pass the gates in the morning. 2nd caisson on the Gureombi Rock was recently completed so no night time construction trucks on the day (and no construction trucks passing the gates on Sunday, too)

     

    Rally in front of the Jeju naval base building complex, around 4pm. Nov. 10.

     

    Jang Sungshim, a Jeju navtive and a Catholic follower who has been carrying on fast at the construction gate shaved her hair in protest to the enforced naval base project. In her ‘ statement on the fast and hair-shaving to revoke the US Jeju naval base project and to free all prisoners,’ she mentioned.

    “The [National Assembly] has cut 96 % of the 2012 budget [on the Jeju naval base project]. From what source the navy is enforcing construction then? The navy is using the transferred budget from 2011. It is the most ridiculous and clearly illegal. In my knowledge, budget that was not executed on the applicable year should be returned back to the national treasury. Why do the National Assembly members neglect on that part?”

    Kim Jong-Il, former secretary of Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea saying that the navy is enforcing 24 hour construction(destruction) to get the budget on naval base next year, emphasized the importance of current struggle to cut the budget, to form the ground for the revocation of naval base project and to totally re-examine the project.

    He said that the anti-base people will organize 14 teams and struggle to stop construction in twice shift in every 12 hours.

     

    Photo and caption by Emily Wang/ Save Our Sea team’s beautiful sailing kayak in front of naval base in Gangjeong’s day. It’s much more beautiful, peaceful and useful for our lives than the warships. One builds up dreams and the other destroys dreams.

     

    Otherwise, mayor Kang Dong-Kyun said:

    “During our monthly Great March for life and Peace, we found that there are so many painful sites beside ours. We should start the healing of such pains from Gangjeong. Since we have justice of a claim, cause, and purposeful life, we can stop the Jeju naval base project without fail.”

    “Martyr Yang Yong-Chan threw down his body resisting the injustice. Remembering the spirit of Yang Yong-Chan, I hope the Jeju naval base project is to be revoked.”

    Kim Sung-Geun, representative of Committee to Cherish the Memory of Yang Yong-Chan said, “The biggest thing that martyr Yang left to us is the heart of love for Jeju. We should make the world where ecology, peace and Jeju Island people are centered, not the society mastered by neo-liberal developmentalism, capital and money.”

    “To stop the Jeju naval base is to keep the martyr’s love,” ‘To save Gangjeong is to save peace.”

     

    Dance after the rally, Nov. 10, 2012

    The commemorating event on Yang Yong-Chan was held indoor of the village Peace Center from 7 to 9pm because of heavy rain.

     

    Photo & caption by Emily Wang/ Today is the 16th Gangjeong’s day against naval base and also the 21st anniversary of Mr. YANG Yong Chan’s death. He sacrificed himself for the love of his hometown jeju island against the capitalism’s careless “Development Law” applied in the beautiful pristine island. His death couldn’t stop the “development law” but has inspired a lot of jeju islanders to love this land purely and bravely.

    A banner that illustrates Yang Yong-Chan’s immolation in the City of Seogwipo in 1991 and aftermath with the collected photos.

     

    Post by Christian Karl/ ‘No Naval Base on Jeju!’ – Performance during today’s Workers’ Culture Festival in front of Seoul Stn…

     

    ………………………………………………………………

    Reference

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164610

    ‘삭발투쟁‘…전국시민행동 “제주해군기지 중단하라“

    제15차 제주해군기지 백지화 전국시민행동 집회
    해군기지 강력저지 결의…양용찬 열사 21주기 추모제도 열려

    2012.11.10  17:50:58

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122370

    강정으로 간 양용찬 열사 “불의에 저항하라“

    2012.11.10  16:30:34

  • URGENT CAMPAIGN: PEOPLE, RISE UP! Let’s STOP 24 hour construction and CUT the whole budget, TOGETHER! Let’s REVOKE the naval base project!

    URGENT CALL! URGENT ACTION!: Campaign of the Appeal for participation in realizing a newspaper advertisement to stop 24 hour enforcement of construction and to cut all the 2013 budget on the Jeju naval base project/Source: Campaign by the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups) and PSPD
    1. Sit-in tent in the center of Seoul heats people’s war to cut the budget on the naval base project

    The struggle to stop 24 hour construction and cut the whole 2013 budget of 200.9 billion won on the Jeju naval base project is not only held in front of the construction gates in the village but in the center of Seoul as well. Some people who joined the Great March for Life and Peace: Let’s live together! All are the SKY! (Oct 4 to Nov. 3) remained in Seoul and set up a sit-in tent across the City Hall to promote the campaign to cut all the budgets on the naval base project, 2013. The tent is also an expression of solidarity with the laid-off workers of Ssangyong Automobile Co. Mr. Kim Jung-Woo, leader of Ssangyong workers met his 31st  day protest fast as of Nov. 9, 2012. Village mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, committed to widen and deepen the struggle through solidarity to revoke the Jeju naval base project and change the Government through December Presidential election became Mr. Kim’s strongest ally, as well as one of the symbols of people who are oppressed by the current government in the same vein of Capitalism, developmentalism and militarism.

    Photo by Hwang Hyun-Jin, sit-in tent in the center of Seoul
    Photo by Hwang Hyun-Jin, sit-in tent in the center of Seoul

    On Nov. 9, Great news was told to the participants of the great march and people in the Gangjeong village. All the workers of the Hanjin Heavy Industry, Busan, who have struggled for years were all reinstated (Kim Jin-Suk is probably the most known symbol of the struggle). The march participants have visited the workers on Oct. 17, which happened to be the commemorating period (Oct. 17 to 31) on the two martyr workers, Kim Joo-Ik, Gwak Jae-Yol, 9 years ago. Dungree’s video reminds the event of Oct. 17 and emphasizes the importance of the solidarity among the oppressed.

    Video by Dungree: Cut all the budgets on the Jeju naval base project, a fraud project in the name of national policy! http://youtu.be/ihgEsfZkxac  (Source:Click here)

     

    In the video, Mr. Kim Jung-Woo in his sit-in tent celebrates the victory of Hanjin workers and urges them to keep the democratic union and struggle field whatever happens in the future. In the next tent of the Gangjoeng village, Hong Ki-Ryong, executive Chairman of the Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island strongly says, “Whoever is elected as the President in December, if budget is passed in the National Assembly, no government can stop or control it. That is why we should struggle to stop it with all our energy. I want to send my sorriness and thanks to the peacekeepers in Gangjeong who currently put up with violent oppression. We will do our best by pressuring on whether it is the National Assembly and Presidential House.” The finale of the video is the song by the Gangjeong Flower band. “Please stop at the exit No. 2 in the City Hall station.” The title of their song is called, “Stop, stop!’ “If you oppose all the wars in the world, stop the naval base construction! If you want peace, absolutely no naval base construction! If you want peaceful Jeju, let’s stop the naval base!”

     

    2. The law voice from the struggle field: Please come to Gangjeong! Let’s stop 24 hour constriuction and cut the whole budget, TOGETHER!

    Here is a video made by a young female peacekeeper, Mooming, herself who has daily struggled in the field to stop the 24 hour construction vehicles without enough sleep but with unlimited optimism and humor. Her video details the human rights violation by the police, people’s joyful creation of events in spare time and emphasizes the urgency of people’s unity, by coming to Gangjeong.

    “Please come to Gangjeong. For reference, the black and white pictures in the video are by Kon Ca. I take anger, cry and laugh everyday in front of construction gate. 24 hour construction, 24 hour police. I am sorry that I cannot wake up for 24 hours even though I wish to do being all the time there together with people. It is because even though the polices’ roughing out of us feels hard, the daily life there is GOOD as to the degree that I wish to record ALL.”

    Video by Mooming  http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipViewByVid.do?vid=cG59efARhQM$

    (Source: Click here )

    Details of the video

    On Nov. 2, Presidential candidate Ahn Chul-Soo visiting the village remarked regarding the Jeju naval base project that the President Lee Myung Bak should apologize to the villagers in person. However, even less than 30 minutes of his leaving, police were mobilized. (*Young peacekeepers humorously call them as Baechoo (meaning cabbage) because of their light green color jackets, “The Baechhooes are seen with some rotten baechooes among them)

    The police’s consciousness on human rights is near to zero.

    Example: Policemen who obstinately drag a leg of a peacekeeper (00:25)

    (Screams are heard, “Don’t fold down hand!) Example: Hand of Police who takes a man by the throat (01:10)

    Example: For the police, the only concern is to remove the people from the site even though people’s cloths are taken off! (01:24) (Screams are heard, “Please, policewoman, I feel pain!”)

    Example: The police use techniques to pull and lift up leg. They think our legs are big radishes! (01:36)

    Example: The police use a technique of pressuring our body with their knees (02:24)

    Example: The police (especially policewomen) grab our cloths rather than body parts. Then our cloths are taken off! (02:40)

    (# In the early morning of Nov. 10, a female peacekeeper informs that policemen grabbed a woman’s legs widened openduring the process of removing protesters from the protest sites so that the woman cannot but feel insulted and have a feeling of shame.

    However, the peacekeepers know how to spend their spare time building joyful and creative community between the struggles. The youngsters love computer game while some young artists sing together with guitar, draw painting on the fence and make necklaces for funding resource. A movie director prepares a set to record nearby.

    Night time snack is another joy~! No Construction (destruction) but yes, night time snack!

    And finally bonus for the audience: Dance with Gangjeong style. The changed lyric of the Gangjeong style from Gangnam style has become so popular. Even the police enjoy it. They must recite the lyric of Gangjeong style themselves! “Bastards, if you want to arrest us, arrest us! We will fight to the end!”

  • To stop construction is not enough. Whole budget should be cut.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Jang Sung-Shim started fast even without water on Nov. 7 in front of the main construction gate, demanding to revoke the Jeju naval base project and free all the prisoners. “I put all myself to this.” Accidentally, Nov. 7 was the very date that martyr Yang Yong-Chan immolated himself in 1991.

     

    1. Moon Jae-In says, ‘stop construction, re-examine project,’ but no mention on ‘budget cut.’

     

    On Nov. 8, Moon Jae-In, Presidential candidate of the Democratic United Party, visited Jeju. He did not stop by the Gangjeong village, but mentioned on his position on the Jeju naval base project. His mention can be compared to mention by another Presidential candidate, Ahn Chul-Soo, who visited the village but still insisted on the need of the project and Park Geun-Hye, Presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri party, who wants the Jeju, as the 2nd Hawai’i mixed of tourism and militarism.

    Here is the translation of people’s commentary on the remarks by Moon Jae-In on Nov. 8:

     

    We welcome the remarks by candidate Moon Jae-In, that ‘he would re-examine the Jeju naval base project after the stop of its construction.’

     – The Democratic United Party should show its will to cut the 2013 budget on the project

    – The [technical] simulation demanded through the ruling and opposition party agreement has not been satisfied. Candidate Park Geun-Hye and the Saenuri Party (New Frontier Party) should join the budget cut.

     

    1. Candidate Moon Jae-In visiting Jeju promised that he “would first stop construction and re-examine the project contents according to democratic procedures.’ We welcome the words, noticing that he confirmed again the position of construction stop and re-examination, the party opinion of the Democratic United Party.

    2. Candidate Moon Jae-in pointed out that “the Lee Myung-Bak government is unilaterally enforcing construction despite the fact that the 2012 budget was cut by the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties because the Jeju naval base project is being enforced violating the [2007] National Assembly resolution to build it as a ‘civilian-military complex port of call (*which is focused on civilian port with the ability of two 150,000 ton cruises’ simultaneous coming alongside the pier).’ It is a very timely indication.

    3. However, candidate Moon Jae-In did NOT mention on the 2013 Jeju naval base budget. When the National Assembly cut the budget for 2012 last year, the National Assembly decided to verify on the actuality of the Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty(Jeju naval base) by the agreement of ruling and opposition parties. However during the discussion process by the [technical] verification committee under the Office of the Prime Minister last February, flaws in the base design have been confirmed. And it has been turned out that the proposed changed base layout that the Ministry of National Defense has suggested later has, in fact, many problems in many aspects such as in cruise ships’ turning and entry & exit of port. Further, no objective simulation on which the Jeju Island and navy agree with each other, has been carried out by now. Even though it is reasonable that the National Assembly cut the whole 2013 budget based on the ruling and opposition parties’ agreement [in 2007], no party, no candidate has not mentioned on it yet.

    4. Candidate Moon Jae-In and Democratic United Party have to clearly declare their position and carry it into practice for the whole budget cut on the 2013 Jeju naval base project to stop construction (destruction), beyond the reconfirmation on its position of construction stop.

    5.Together with Moon, the ruling Saenuri Party(New Frontier Party) and its candidate, Park Geun-Hye should join Moon to cut the 2013 budget on the Jeju naval base project by the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, as verification work proposed by the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties have not been carried on and numerous problems in the Jeju naval base construction such as base design flaws and unreliablce harbor & bay (caisson) production have been confirmed again. Candidate Ahn Chul-Soo (independent) should make his concrete position on the matters of the stop of the Jeju naval base construction and of the 2013 budget cut.

    Nov. 8, 2012

     

    Gangjeong Village Association

    Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 groups)

    National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups)

     

    ( # In December, 2012, the National Assembly has tremendously cut the budget of 127.8 billion won (96 %) through its review, remaining only 4.9 billion won such as for the land design (3.8 billion won) and compensation fee(1.1 billion won) among the whole proposed budget of 132.7 billion won related to the Jeju naval base project.  It has especially never reflected acuall construction fees therefore in fact, put brakes on the promotion of the project. Instead it detourly demanded the government ‘solution of conflict, first.’  However, the transferred budget of 107.5 billion won from 2011 to 2012 was used this year for the forceful naval base construction.  Even though it is principle that usused budget should be returned back to the national treasury but the navy law-evasively used it asserting that the project is of emergency.  As of September, the navy could use 50 billion won, compared to its original paln of 78 billion won. The people’s protests delayed the execution of 28 billion won. )

     

     

    2. Field struggle is a great basis to cut the budget

     

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ No! Jeju US Naval Base!

     

    Otherwise, Bora Lee, an assistant of the National Assembly woman, Jang Hana (Jeju-based, Democratic United Party) left a beautiful writing to the peacekeepers in the struggle field last night. Here is:

     

    To my friends who would be in front of the construction gates right now.
    All the time of struggles by which you have delayed one construction truck even for a few minutes has filed up one by one neatly.

    That is why there is still 50% budget unused bccause you have stopped the execution on that amount of budget on the Jeju naval base construction.

    And that has become the very basis that even the members of the National Defense committee cannot easily approve the 2013 budget.

    Whenever the committee members are embarrassed because of non-executed budget, I remind each face of you, peacekeepers, being in front of construction site.

    It is all thanks to you, peacekeepers, who have endured merciless construction (destruction) and no-time defined police’s roughing out of you.

    Even though you may suffer from cold weather and grief, I am told of hopeful news little by little. It is thanks to you who have sleeplessly put up with those hardships there.

    Tomorrow is the day that the National Assembly committee makes decision on the naval base budget.

    It is a hard season for everyone. However NOW is the only chance.

    So please stir up ourselves a little more.

    (  Bora Lee, assistant of National Assembly woman, Jang Hana)

     

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ 20 year old “Pyonghwa (meaning ‘peace’)’ rearranges stuffs of signs and woods etc.. after police leaving. People put up various materials including bicycles and motorcycles in front of construction gates to delay the construction (destruction) trucks.

     

     

    3. No conclusion on budget cut in the National Assembly yet. But budget matter is critical now.

     

    Update: On Nov. 9, the National Defense committee of the National Assembly could not reach to the conclusion on the budget of the Jeju naval base project (Related to the DAPA: Defense Acquision Program Administration) despite the meetings by its sub-committee on Budget and Balance on Nov. 7 to 8. The positions between the ruling and opposition party was quite different.

    The latest news read:

     

    ‘The Committee of National Defense, planning to have an overall meeting in the morning of Nov. 9, was to dispose the agendas on the proposals on 2013 budget and extension of dispatch to Arab Emirate, for the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Military Manpower Administration (MMA) and DAPA.  However, the ruling and opposition parities confronted each other regarding the budget of 200.9 billion won for the Jeju naval base project (harbor and bay construction, purchase of land etc.) that was earmarked by the DAPA. Eventually the committee passed budget proposal only for the MND and MMA. It is known that the Democratic United Party is demanding the whole  budget cut, claiming inappropriateness of the Jeju naval base project whicle the ruling Saenuri Party is confronting against it claiming that it cannot accept it.’  (Maeil Broadcasting Network, 2012-11-09 12:35)

    ‘The National Defense committee set the schedules on the overall meetings on coming Nov. 12 (Mon.) and 16 (Fri.). Personnel in the office of Kim Jae-Yoon (Jeju-based, Democratic United Party) said that “We could only confirm the different positions between the ruling and opposition parties in the meeting of sub-committee on budget and balance held yesterday. There is not so enough time, given the schedules by the Budget and Balance Special committee)’ (Jeju Sori, 2012.11.09 10:37:12)

     

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ People’s daily prayer and protest for peace continue in front of construction gates even though they would be soon disrupted by the police. No US Nuclear Aircraft Carrier, No Jeju naval Base against China!’ A peacekeeper Deulkkot has made two dolls of the Catholic priests. Fr. Lee Young-Chan was arrested on Oct. 24 and is in prison: 18th day as of Nov. 10.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ People’s dance after the daily candle vigil at 8pm in front of construction gate, despite more severe police’s  roughing out of people with the 24 hour construction that started on Oct. 25.

    …………………………………………………………………………

     

    Reference:

     

    http://www.spark946.org/renew/prog/bbs/board.php?bo_table=jeju&wr_id=532

    [2012. 11. 8] 공사 중단, 재검토 문재인 후보 제주 발언 논평과 예산삭감 평화행동

     

    http://www.peoplepower21.org/Peace/968531

    [논평] 문재인 ‘제주해군기지 공사중단후 재검토’ 발언, 민주당 2013년 예산삭감으로 의지보여야

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122305

    문재인의 해군기지 해법은? “先공사중단” 명쾌

    8일 제주해군기지 해법 제시…“신공항이 먼저, 해저터널은 그 다음”

    2012.11.08  18:19:01

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164463

    문재인 “해군기지 공사 중단하고 재검토 할 것”

    제주선대위 출범식서 “해군기지 문제, 민주적 절차 따라 재검토”
    신공항 건설-4.3평화공원 조성 주력 약속…”단일화 이뤄내겠다”

    2012.11.08  17:05:12

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122324’

    해군기지 2천억 삭감이냐? 고수냐? ‘정면충돌’

    2012.11.09  10:37:12

  • Emergency Rally in Gangjeong on Nov. 10 with commemoration of Yang Yong-Chan

    The 15th Citizens’ Action to Save Gangjeong will be held in Gangjeong on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

     

    Commemoration event in 2011 for Yang Yong-Chan. Image: Headline Jeju, Nov. 6, 2012

     

    “Since I aspire for Jeju to be a place for our lives and a nest for our livelihood rather than a 2nd Hawaii, a global tour site that exploits our flesh & bones and makes us playthings, I walk this way crying for the end of the Jeju Special Law, abolition of the 2nd overall development plan, and the smashing of the Minjadang [Democratic Freedom Party, ruling conservative right-wing party from 1990 to 1995].“

    – Yang Yong-Chan, a true citizen of Jeju, greatly missed.

     

    The above quote was part of testimony by Yang Yong-Chan (1965 to 1991) who immolated himself in Seogwipo City on Nov. 7, 1991. Today is anniversary of his death. He was only 25 years old.

    According to Prof. Shin Yong-In, legal advisor to the village association, there was a pan-Island resistance against the central government’s development drive in 1990s. The Jeju Special Law has been nothing but legal justification for big corporations’ exploitation of Jeju. The immolation of Yang Yong-Chan who resisted against capitalist development of the Island sparked the Island people to rise up during that period.

    Because of Island peoples’ resistance, the Island government at the time was eventually forced to set up some important systems to preserve the pristine nature of Jeju from the central government’s thoughtless development. One of the most important systems is the Absolute Preservation System that is supposed to ‘absolutely’ protect the natural environment of Jeju, including its coasts. Ironically, it was the very governor Woo Keun-Min who established that very system as governor at the time (1991 to 1993). Woo becoming the Island governor again in 2010, but has not cancelled previous governor Kim Tae-Hwan’s undemocratic 2009 decision to abolish the Absolute Preservation Areas in Gangjeong village (the Joongdeok coast, most of which is called Gureombi Rock, as well as Gangjeong Stream and its vicinity) made in order to force the Jeju naval base project despite the Island Council’s demands at the general meeting vote in March 2011.

    “The cancellation of the Absolute Preservation Areas in Gangjeong in 2009 can be interpreted as the central government unilaterally infringing on indigenous rights to environmental protection, as well as their human rights and other creatures’ rights to live in their habitats,” Prof. Shin says.

    Current Governor Woo is affiliated with big corporations like Samsung, and is neglecting his duties as it is in his authority to order the navy to stop the illegal and forced Jeju naval base construction (destruction). His statements on faux so-called “Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty” and the two 150,000 ton cruise ships are nothing but sugar-coated words to blind the Island people through false promises of local economic development.

    Succeeding the Spirit of Yang Yong-Chan: Citizens’ Urgent Action Day on November 10, 2012

    Yang Yong-Chan’s testimony, excerpted above. Image: Headline Jeju, Nov. 6, 2012

    What is the difference between his period and our period? Jeju, designated the “Peace Island” by the central government on January 27, 2005, is now suffering greatly because of the enforced and unreliable war base construction in Gangjeong village. The right-wing conservatives repeatedly say that they want Jeju to become a 2nd Hawaii, mixing militarism and tourism (so that big corporations like Samsung can wholly exploit Jeju Island). 24-hour construction started on Oct. 25, 2012. The navy has gone insane enforcing construction (destruction) as they try to get the 200.9 billion Won budget for next year (92.5 % of budget will go to big corporations like Samsung and Daelim who are in charge of  the harbor and bay construction). Even police from the mainland have been mobilized 24 hours-a-day to serve these companies will. The people have also responded increasing their protest to 24 hours-a-day, being carried by ambulance to hospital, injured, robbed of their sleep. Even the daily 7 a.m. peaceful 100 bows have been disrupted with police forcefully removing the bowers from the construction gates.  Catholic priests in robes are carried away during mass only for construction trucks to pass through the gates. Women’s clothes are taken off and bodies scratched and pinched by police women nails when the policewomen forcefully remove them from the protest sites. Men are dragged on the ground by one leg. The people are  uncared for especially in the night when the police only care about removing and throwing them aside as fast as possible. A woman was almost at the risk of losing her life when a policewoman neglected her after throwing her down on the 1st night 24 hour construction, October 25.

     

    Catholic priests in robes are surrounded by the police during mass and removed from the protest site at around 5 p.m. on November 5.
    A woman peacekeeper’s dirty clothes after being dragged carelessly across the ground at around 3:30 p.m., November 4.
    Around 10:50 pm. on November 5, Chairwoman of the village Folk Conservation Association played music. Then police attacked. Still people, including village elders played music and held pickets, inside circle of police.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Around 12:10 a.m. on November 6. The police usually come every two hours during the night time, but this time it was only after 1 hour and 40 minutes. People in solidarity right before the police’s attack.
    Around 12:40 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 4:50 a.m. on November 7

     

    Since November 5th, the number of the police has increased even more. The police are wielding more physical power but still the people are resisting with all their energy. The intervals between police attacks have become shorter. During the day, it has shortened from the usual hourly strike, to every 30-40 minutes. During the night, from two hour intervals to every 1 hour and 30 minutes or 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is clear that the navy is getting more and more hurried with the destruction.

    Because of this people nationwide are mobilizing themselves to stop the 24-hour construction (destruction), to stop the navy and big corporations’ greed about the national budget, and to save Jeju, the Peace Island, following after the spirit of Yang Yong Chan, whose poignant words still ring true, that Jeju should be a site for life, not a second Hawaii. The 15th Nationwide Citizens’ Action Day to revoke the Jeju naval base project will be held on November 10.

     

    Let’s block together! 24 hour enforcement of construction (destruction)!

    Let’s save together! Save Gangjeong by staying over the night!

    Let’s cut together! 200.9 billion Won Jeju naval base project budget 2013!

    Let’s remember together! Yang Yong-Chan, a martyr, a true Jeju Island citizen!

     

    Schedule for Saturday November 10, 2012:

    3pm, Citizens’ Action Event in front of the main gate of the Jeju naval base project building complex: ‘Let’s run with peace, again!”

    5pm: Way-opening for the Peace Village, Gangjeong

    7pm: Commemoration for Yang Yong-Chan

    Sponsored by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 groups) and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups)

     

    Finally, Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut the entire budget for the Jeju naval base project next year. Contact english@asssembly.go.kr or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United Party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com

     

    References:

    양용찬 열사 추모 21주기 행사…”강정으로 간다”
    제주해군기지 반대투쟁 연계 ‘추모문화제’
    11일 대동한마당 행사…양용찬 평전 발간 등 추진
    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164274

     

  • National Assembly Defense Committee starts the examination on budget. Cut the budget for the Jeju naval base project!

    [Nov 5] National Assembly Defense Committee starts the examination on budget. Cut the whole budget for the Jeju naval base project!

    Photo source: See here. The Youth group called ‘100,000 Young People for the Peace of the Jeju,’ is actively working to cut all the budgets for the National assembly. They call for the budget for people’s welfare instead war base. The photo is the press Conference on Nov. 6, 2012. The group has submitted the No. 1 petition against the Jeju naval base project to the new 19th National Assembly on June 5 this year with signs by more than 27,000 people.

     

    The National Defense Committee of the National Assembly starts the examination on the government budget included of Jeju naval base project next year on Nov. 5. The committee is composed of 9 members of the ruling Saenuri Party (New Frontier Party), 7 members of Democratic United Party and 1 independent. See here.

    On Nov. 5, the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 groups) and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups), delivering the defense committee 19 page ‘opinion statement for the budget cut on the Jeju naval base project, 2013’ strongly demanded the whole budget cut on the project, 2013. See here.

    Among the 2013 compiled budget for the Ministry of National Defense and Defense Acquision Program Administration (DAPA), The Jeju naval base-related budget for 2013 is about 200.9 billion won. According to Oh Hye-Ran, Secretary of the SPARK, the budget, 200.9 won  is compiled of:

    About 186 billion won (92.5%): Harbor and bay construction

    108.3 billion won: Caisson production & stationing and basic formation of breakwater in the 1st work area ( *Samsung- supervised)

    48.5 billion won: Caisson production & stationing and basic formation of dock in the 2nd work area ( *Daelim-supervised)

    See the related article here.

     

    About 21.9 billion won: Land construction

    Among them, 10.1 billion won (5%): Military residential house (outside barracks).

    (* In detail: The navy plans to use about 9 billion won for the purchase of land and 1 billion won for layout. It is the budget to build 616 households military apartment for the soldiers and their families in about 100,000 square meter size land. However, the navy presentations on the military residential house have been all dissipated because of the villagers’ strong protests on May. 29 and June 15, 2012. About 90% of the villagers who live in the land area that is chosen as the most probable for the military residential house have also submitted their opinion statement that they oppose the navy’s purchase and expropriation of their lands.

     

    See the related article, here

     

    People stated 8 reasons for budget cut:

    1. The validity of the purpose is lack in the Jeju naval base project
    2. The technical matters on the two 150,000 ton cruises’ coming alongside and out of pier and their entry & exit safety have not been verified. ( *The government’s violation of its own MOU with the Jeju Island government on April 27, 2009)
    3. The navy has violated the recommendation items of the Budget and Balance Special Committee of the National Assembly, in 2008.
    4. By the layout, the port will not work even for  military function, [therefore waste of people’s tax]
    5. The suspicion that the Jeju naval base is the US base. [Then why South Koreans’ tax?]
    6. The Jeju Island and Island people demand verification on the current base layout. The Island people and villagers oppose the project and there is possibility that the construction would be stopped.
    7. The suspicion on the unreliable production of caissons that would be used for harbor and bay construction therefore the suspicion on the unreliable harbor and bay construction, as well.
    8. Low budget execution possibility (* The construction has been far delayed, given the navy’s 2011 and 2012 plans)

     

    In the statement delivered to the National Assembly, the groups pointed out, above all, that the navy has thoroughly ignored the recommendation by the sub-investigation committee of the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly that has demanded ‘to objectively verify the matter through the 3rd party institute on the 150,000 ton cruises’ entry & exit of port and safety in their coming along and out of pier.’

    People pointed out the matter of verification on the safety of cruse’s entry/exit of port is critical for the function of civilian-military complex port for tour beauty [that the government and Island government themselves have stipulated as the purpose in their MOU, April 27, 2009]. (*People know that the Government can never verify on it as the base layout has been not for the cruise but for the US nuclear air craft carrier and submarines, as recent exposures clarified it)

    The people demanded to stop whole construction until verification is completed.

    Three Jeju-based National Assembly members, Kang Chang-Il, Kim U-Nam, and Kim Jae-Yoon(all Democratic United Party) and a Jeju-origin National Assembly woman, Jang Hana(Proportional representation of the Youth, Democratic United Party) havel expressed their positions that the budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2013 should be cut.

    Otherwise, for reference, While the government attempts to blind people with the false promise of local economic development with the Jeju naval base project, Park Ki-Hak, Research Institute for Peace and Reunification of Korea has written last year that the Jeju naval base would seldom help local economic development of Jeju. See here.

     

    Photo by the SPARK/ People hold a sign of ‘Cut all the 200.9 billion won budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2012.’

    …………………………………………………………………..

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164118

    “국회는 제주해군기지 예산 전액 삭감하라”

    강정마을회 등, 국회에 해군기지 예산 2010억 전액삭감 의견서 제출

    “예산 삭감해야 할 이유 충분”…국회 국방위 5일 예산심사 착수

    2012.11.05  09:01:23

     

  • No construction trucks entering on Saturday but the coast and sea are full of destruction

    Following the nights of Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 1, Nov. 2 when there were no construction trucks entering into the construction sites so people’s no night time protests, there were no construction trucks entering all day on Nov. 3, Saturday. Village was unusually quiet. All the policemen and police buses that have always parked near the bridge disappeared.

    People’s routine works went on:  7am, 100 bows, 11am, Catholic mass, 3pm, protestant mass, 8pm, candle vigil.  Sitting, watching and keeping gates amidst cold wind from 7am to 9pm.  The peacekeepers who daily make efforts to serve coffee and distribute public material kept the gate from 7am to 6pm, too.  Monitoring went on, too.

    One could see many workers leave the construction site probably for weekend’s rest. One could hear loud voices of some Vietnamese workers. They are already working on construction inside the Gangjeong naval base construction area. About 100 Vietnamese are told to have come. The navy -contracted companies have also employed Some Sweden technicians, too. Their business are international.. hm.

    During the day, you could see destruction is endlessly going on beyond the white navy fence. ‘They are making a dock in the coast to carry the caisson to the floating dock on the sea.” Inside the caisson frame, workers are busily working on. The 24 hour construction will starts on Monday, Nov. 5 again as the workers have already set up the bottom plate to build caisson, people say.

    Nov. 3, 2012
    Nov. 3, 2012

    Sunday break is bliss. But it is a like a quiet night just before the storm again.

    …………………………………………………………………

    Video by Navi, Scenes of caisson production area on the Gureombi Rock and Sea, around 2pm, Nov. 3, 2012

    (Source: Navi)

     

  • A clear violation of the EIA to the concern on soft coral, a Jeju environment group states.

    Amidst 24 hour construction that started on Oct. 25, 2012, the Jeju media reports on Oct. 29, 2012 that the Korean Federation for Environment Movement (KFEM), Jeju, stated on the same day that:

    ” As the navy enforces construction with unreasonably accelerated process, it ignores most of consulted contents in the Environment Impact Assessment [..] The construction site in the coast of the Metboori(east tip of the naval base project) facing the Beomseom (Tiger Island) less than 1 km from it is covered with muddy water and the silt protector layers installed to supposedly block such contaminated materials during construction were damaged and useless.”

    The Beomseom (Tiger Island) itself is the UNESCO Geology Park (Oct. 2010). The vicinity sea area of it is a UNESCO biosphere reserve (2002) and ROK government-designated natural memorial No. 421 (2000) for the soft coral habitats.

    ‘Dr. Katherine Muzik, a member of the current team researching the Navy EIA, says this: “I can state unequivocally, based on my personal observations and a review of pertinent scientific literature, that Jeju’s octocoral assemblages are unique, spectacular, and worthy of special protection. They form the largest and most spectacular temperate Octocoral forests known on Earth.” (See here and here)

    The below is the translation of a Headline Jeju article:

    Given the photos presented by the KFEM, one can see even in one’s naked eye that the muddy waters are occurring to the degree that the color of sea water is changed because of naval base construction.

    Photo: KFEM, Jeju/ Jeju naval base construction site. One can see even in one’s naked eye that the muddy waters are occurring to the degree that the color of sea water is changed because of naval base construction.
    Photo: KFEM, Jeju/ Jeju naval base construction site. One can see the left part of silt protector installed on the sea is empty while muddy water from the construction site is flowing.

     

    The KFEM says, “Even though the sands and stones in the construction field are supposed to be washed on the land, it is not kept. Scattering dusts are seriously blown whenever dump trucks pour down sand and stones. The vicinity coast is being changed into muddy water.” And “Even though there should be daily check on the damage on the silt protectors and related construction should be stopped if damage is confirmed, the navy is enforcing it in violation of the EIA.”

    ‘The sediment site that has been formed beside the east breakwater of the Gangjeong port (west tip of the Jeju naval base project) was reduced without notice and is losing its function. The navy has executed construction to widen the width of bank as the bank has been even collapsed and muddy water was leaked through the vicinity coast. The navy has relocated tetra pods within the construction site. Therefore the size of the sediment size has been reduced more than half compared to March when it was formed.”

     “According to the consulted agreements of the “Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)” it is supposed that sediment /undercurrent site should be 13,000 ton size to prevent leaking of earths and sands. However the size of the sediment site inside the naval base construction area, in fact, cannot satisfy that.”

    “Even though the Jeju Island government mattered it and made the navy pose construction process for a while, it does not even recognize the problem in present.”

    Regarding scattering dusts:

    “Scattering dusts are being blown all over the construction site and filed up earths and sands are covered with dust-protector layers only in part while most of them are left alone. The dusts are blown often toward the vicinity olle trails, residential areas and fruit farms. And the concern about leaking of earths and sands by rain is neglected. Even though earths and sands are filed up like a big hill just above the caisson production site, there is no dust protector cover on them.”

    ‘The navy’s reckless construction enforcement is linked to illegal construction ignored of consulted contents in the EIA. Such things have happened since last year but became more often recently. However the Jeju island government is not even aware that such things are happening.”

    It emphasized that “The Jeju Island government having press conference in the hall of the WCC event last September has shown its position that it is having post environment inspection often and there is no legal problem in the navy’s construction. It must not have said that if it is really thoroughly managing post inspection. The related authorities including the Island government should immediately stop construction and urge legal performance on the related items.”

    Photo: KFEM, Jeju/ Jeju naval base construction site/ The size of the sediment site has greatly been reduced from the past.
    Photo: KFEM, Jeju/ Jeju naval base construction site/ In the photo, earths and sands are exposed without dust protector cover.

     

    …………………………………………….

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163590

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