Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: construction

  • Worker’s exposure: Caissons for the Jeju naval base project are unreliably built/ The base layout on the breakwater is critically short of necessary sea wave height design.

    Photo: Headline Jeju/ A worker, Ryu Yoon-Sun exposes on the problems in the caisson production in Hwasoon.

    It was on May 12, 2012 that the Jeju Sori first reported about unidentified informant’s words and visual proofs about unreliable caisson production in Hwasoon. The village made a statement on it on May 22. See the statement and summary of the Jeju sori article, here.

    In the press conference on Oct. 30, 2012, the people including the Gangjeong Village Association raised on the matter of unreliable caisson construction again along with the matter of the breakwater design.

    Remarkably, a former caisson worker testified on the unreliable caisson production in Hwasoon port on the day. On the same day, the superintendent committee of the naval base project soon made a refuting statement saying that “the claim on the unreliable caisson production is false and distorted.” However, the next day of Oct. 31, the village association made a statement again proving that the superintendent committee’s asserts are totally wrong. You can see the village association’s statement in Korean here. The below is the summary translation of Jeju media articles regarding the press conference on Oct. 30.

     

    1. A worker exposes on the unreliable caisson production

     

    On the day’s conference, Mr. Ryu Yoon-Sun(45), a former worker in the caisson production site in the Hwasoon port, Andeok-myon, Jeju, testified on the matters on unreliable production of caissons. The work site, under the supervision of Samsung C & T, is producing 8,800 ton caissons that would be used for the frame of the breakwater in the 1st work area of the Jeju naval base project. The total caissons that would be produced there are 57 and each costs 1.5 billion won.

     

    Mr. Ryu with 30 years work career has been an employee of a construction company, a sub-contacted company of Samsung since last April. During his term of working at the Hwasoon caisson production site, he raised the problems of the caisson production process but was ignored. Since then he has taken photo records to secure the proofs. He left Hawsoon work site at the end of September.

     

    Recently he visiting the Gangjeong village association along with other three workers, accused on the company’s unreliable construction behavior.

     

    The focal point of the workers is that the navy and contracted companies are carrying out unreliable construction to move up construction, shortening the caisson production period into a week, which usually takes 15 days.

     

    According to him, a caisson divided of many rooms that would be filled with concrete is being designed without installation of reinforcing bars in the parts of 50 H-beams of which two H-beams are in each room working as column, which makes caisson weak to the outside shock.

    Photo: Media Jeju, Oct. 30, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong village)/Not only joint part is short but tie is weak. 

     

    Photo: Headline Jeju/ Oct. 30, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong village)

     

    Also, even though it was designed that the gap between the reinforcing bars is to be 20cm, it is 50cm in reality. The space made for the workers’ passage is not filed with reinforcing bars therefore it would be the first site to be cracked in concrete during the typhoons.

     

    Regarding foreign workers, he said, “In case of reinforcing bar construction in caisson production, the workers are divided of two teams, working 12 hours each in shift. Since April 26, foreign workers were put in but they are not managed well because the numbers of Korean artificers are only 12 who are the chiefs of the teams. Most of the foreign workers are not artificers.”

     

    Ryu also explained that another reason of cracks in concrete is because the company, for the purpose of moving up construction, has reduced the putting numbers and amounts of retarding element when it is put into concrete.

     

    “When you pour concrete, you should operate a tremor plate so that the density of concrete is heightened and there should be no bubbles. However, I saw myself that holes occurred like an osteoporosis diseased bone on the concrete plane after the concrete cure because the operations of tremor were not done enough.”

     

    “The 1st caisson was the least destroyed by the typhoon at the end of last August. That was the best made.”

     

    Ryu also stated that “I have never seen a superintendent comes and checks the process inside the construction site for six months. Superintendent daily come once but only glance the process, circling around outside the caisson concrete cube. That’s it. He can never have chance to see the construction on the reinforce bars and concrete construction inside caisson.”

     

    All the seven caissons that Samsung C & T have made were destroyed by the typhoon Bolaven at the end of August therefore new ones are being made again.

     

    The Gangjeong village demanded that the Government punish the related personnel and the National Assembly cut the whole budget on the naval base construction in 2013.

     

    2. The village raised on the matter on the navy’s reduction of sea wave height in the harbor and bay layout.

     

    The village reminded that the element of wave height in design is an important variable to predict the intensity of breakwater, fixed temperature of port, and mooring safety; that it is custom that setting the standard with the strongest wave height among the wave heights observed for last 20 years is custom, ; and that all the military ports in Korea have been designed to be equipped with the ability of prevention against inner side and cross-over sea waves, by setting up one design sea wave as standard.

     

    According to the village association, it is only in the Jeju naval base project that the design sea wave has been set up by sections with lower size than 13.7m, the highest sea wave at the time of typhoon Bolvan.

     

    The design sea wave of A section in the west breakwater is 8m, while A and B sections in the east breakwater is merely 6.5 m and 5.4 m each.

     

    The village stated that [the navy and navy-contracted companies] have designed reducing the design sea wave, concerning the over-excessive occurrence of construction cost.”

     

    According to the ‘outer facility plan’ in the report on the basic plan of the Jeju naval base, written in January 2010, it reads that ‘the south breakwater has to be secured of construction and safety element at the time of sectional plan regarding the plane arrangement plan, and as it is expected that [the south breakwater] occupies 60~65 % of harbor and bay construction fee, construction, safety and economic element should be considered above all.’

     

    Otherwise, Jang Hana, Jeju-born member of the National Assembly, Democratic United Party, also making public the inside accusation material on the unreliable naval base construction, criticized that ‘it is not accidental that 7 caissons were destroyed by the typhoon Bolaven. And it turned out that it was an inevitable result that the Samsung C & T that has connived and backed unreliable construction brought on itself. “

     

    Jang scolded that “Now in Gangjeong village, 24 hour restless construction is being processed so that the navy could advantageously get the approval on the budget by the National Assembly by raising construction rate. And the villagers and peacekeepers are taking sleep on the ground in front of the construction site. What is the difference between this unreliable construction and four river project by which many workers have died?”

     

    Jang stated that she would carry the inspection on the caissons with the media reporters being present and would drive to take all the legal measures such as cancellation of business of the Samsung C & T and construction-supervising committee according to the law on technical management, if it turns out that there has been done unreliable construction.

     

     3. Issues on foreign workers and wages.

     

    Otherwise regarding the matter on employing foreign workers, it is interesting to read the statement by the naval base project superintendent committee. According to it, “Among the 180 Vietnamese workers working in Hwasoon, about 10 Vietnamese who are very well in Korean and 8 Vietnamese whose communication in Korean is possible are arranged in work site. There is no problem in the communication between the domestic and foreign workers since a team chief takes a role as a translator.”

    The superintendent committee also mentioned on the unpaid wages that Mr. Ryu Eun-Sun complained. The committee said that “there were no cases that the wages have been delayed even though there were loopholes during the tuning process between the section chief and workers.” It also said about the wage system that wages were negotiated with workers for change and there was no unilateral change when the  wage system was changed from the monthly to daily.” The committee said that they would strongly take legal measure against Ryu.

    However, the village stated on Oct. 31 that “When Mr. Ryu visited and talked with us, we witnessed in person that the company continuously called him and paid him three days’ delayed wages among more days’ through his bank account. Ryu also testified that not only him but most workers who quit the job experienced same. The three workers who came with Ryu also acknowledged it.”

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    Reference

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=36185

    해군기지 케이슨 파손 “부실시공 때문”

    현장 근로자 등 폭로…항만 설계파고 축소도

    2012.10.30  13:27:07

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121894

    “제주 해군기지 케이슨 파손 우연 아니” 폭로

    2012.10.30  11:31:40

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163663

    “해군기지 공사 총체적 부실…시공사 엄벌하라”

    강정마을회, 해군기지 케이슨 부실시공 의혹, “설계대로 안돼”
    “철근 헐겁고 콘크리트도 대충…케이슨 부실 심각”

    2012.10.30  12:40:13

    http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=136085

    “50년 태풍에도 견딘다는 방파제가 파손된 진짜 이유는?”

    케이슨 작업장 근로자 “제주해군기지 방파제 설계오류·케이슨 부실시공” 폭로

     2012.10.30  12:22:40

    http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=162469

    강정마을회, “해군기지 감리단은 말에 책임 지고 공개 검증하라”

    2012.10.31  11:30:28

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163709

    해군기지 감리단 “케이슨 부실시공은 명백한 허위사실”

    2012.10.30  18:24:19

     

     

  • Sleepless Night in Gangjeong: 5th day of 24 hour construction, 24 hour police watch and 24 hour protest

    The night in Gangjeong is sleepless. Only on the day of Oct. 29, three people were carried to hospital during their protest, following another 3 people on the 1st night of Oct. 25. The police violence against people are more dangerous in the night. Concern and information spreading is urgently needed!

    The navy has planned to use 78 billion won as of September but it could actually use 50 billion won by then. The remaining 28 billion that the navy could not use up was thanks to the peacekeepers’ daily dedicated protests in the field. The peacekeepers’ hard efforts to delay construction (destruction) even 1min. has never been in vain. It is in fact a pain to risk themselves to be ‘limp doll’ (according to  an expression  by a peacekeeper Sanho) during the police roughing out them since the policemen and policewomen would mercilessly carry away them forcefully folding down their arms and legs and even pinching and hitting them to their bruise and scratches.

    ‘There is an urgent need for more people to go to Jeju to help offer support to the villagers.  There is urgent need for people to call the South Korean embassy in your country and tell them to stop the Navy base construction.  There is urgent need to help spread the word about this fight.’ (Source: here)

    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.

     

    Around 10:30am, Oct 29th Mon. Police come! Two peacekeepers that stayed overnight play a Ggeunggari (percussion instrument) and dance!
    Around 10:30am, Oct 29 Mon. Police came! Peacekeeper Deulkkot plays an ukulele, a music instrument
    Around 10:30 am Oct 29. A reverend protested to a policeman who allowed other policemen’s taking photos of protesters. The reverend demanded him to identify his name but the policeman refused saying it is not in the law. Which law? The policeman could not answer. Otherwise, a woman peacekeeper protests to the policewomen, “why do you pinch and are severe to us while you can do gently to us? 3 cement mixer trucks and 1 automobile came in while 10 cement mixer trucks 4 material-loaded trucks and 2 automobiles came out.
    The police should put their nametags in their cloths but it is ignored by the policemen who come to the village to rough out people to back navy enforcing construction (destruction). A sign made by one of peacekeepers.
    Around 11 am Oct. 29. A Catholic mass … Fr. Kim Sung Han is alone… an empty place of Fr. Lee young Chan, who was imprisoned since Oct 24.
    Oct 29 Mon. a doll of Fr. Lee Young-Chan made by a peacekeeper Deulkkot keeps the protest site instead Fr lee who has been imprisoned since Oct 24.
    Around 12:05 pm Oct 29. police roughing out again 3 cement trucks, 2 material-loaded trucks, and 2 automobiles came out while 4 cement mixer trucks 2 material loaded trucks , 1 oil truck, and 2 automobile came in. the word Hyundae is clear in a truck Hyundae , the company is where president Lee Myung-Bak came.
    Emergency around 3:20pm, Oct 29, Mon. After 3:10 police roughing out, Jang Sungsim, a woman climbed up to the top of gate (about 2 m hight) and made a prayer with Catholic Rosary. When the company thug inside the gate ridiculed her, she ran down from the gate top to the concrete floor in fury. The thugs abandoned her despite people’s protest outside to open the door, even ignoring police request. The police are also responsible since they had left her alone even though they saw she was on the top of gate. Around 4 pm, she was carried to a hospital in Seogwipo city and was taken with x ray. She has problem with the backsides of hills and doctor said she needed close medical investigation and being hospitalized.
    Sungsim right before falling down inside the gate
    Around 7 pm, Oct. 29, 2012. Photo by Kim Sung-Hee. Candle vigil.
    Around 7pm, Oct. 29, 2012. Photo by Rev. Choi Hun-Kook. Oct. 29 Dinner with instant noodles.
    Around 9:10pm, Oct. 29. A male peacekeeper (30s) was carried to a hospital by ambulance due to violent police roughing out even without warning broadcasting in the night, following another male peacekeeper (40s) at 7:20pm. Both appealed pain in their right shoulders after the police roughing out of them. Only on Oct. 29, it is already three people who were carried out to the hospitals: a woman at 3:10 pm and two male peacekeepers.
    Around 9:30 pm, Oct 29. The same woman who got medical cure because of injury when she ran down from the top of construction gate returned back to the village, rejecting doctor’s recommendation to be hospitalized. She wanted to get close medical inspection later. Back in the village, she occupied the roadway to the naval base project committee building complex to block the trucks. While she is a patient and has bandage in her foot and leg, the police only wanted to arrest her, to the people’s fury. She is a Jeju native who cannot stand war base to enter the Jeju, the Peace Island.
    Around 9:40pm. Oct. 29. The woman sat on the chair and Catholic sisters are consoling her. However, the police would be more ignorant and uncouth. Many people are being stunned and infuriated for the police violation on human rights.
    Around 11:10 pm, Oct 29. Another police roughing out. the police are roughing out elders including a catholic father one by one from a fire stove. Many people have been keeping the site. Two people from Mir yang, Gyungssangnam-do province made a solidarity visit and brought a box of chocolate cookies. Miryang is a community where small population, mostly composed of elders are fighting against nuclear power plant fueled transmission tower that would destroy their village. The Great March for Life and Peace team has visited Miryang on Oct. 12. See photos by Lee Wooki here and here.
    Around 11:10 pm, Oct 29. Many young peacekeepers lied in front gate of the naval base project business building complex to stop trucks. the police took them apart one by one. it is infuriating to see the police carelessly throw them down into the police detention circle. many young peacekeepers appeal pain after police roughing out them…
    Around 11:20pm, Oct 29. People gather in front of a stove again roasting tangerines after release from police detention circle.
    Around 01:09 m Oct. 30/ Photo by Cho Sung-Bong. For more photos on the night, see here.
    Around 3am, Oct. 30/ After the 3am roughing out, villager uncle Jonghwan and his son Joongdeok are to sleep together. They will even stick together even though the police will take them apart/ Photo and caption by Park Young-In (translated)
    Oct. 30/ ‘Sleepless Night in Gangjeong’/ Photo and caption by Cho Sung-Bong/ A graffiti written by Sanho, a peacekeeper. In front of the construction gate. With the turning on light in the police search light, a group of police come across the Gangjeong bridge. After they finish their duty to pass the cement mixer trucks and return back again, the light turns off again. It took 11 min. 6 sec.
    Around 4am, Oct. 30, 2012/ Photo and caption by Rev. Choi Hun-Kuk/ ‘I fell asleep during street sleep. The police tossed me sleeping inside the sleeping bag away to the side to pass construction trucks. The Gnagjeong peacekeepers cry sleepless and try to get a sleep on the cold ground.”
    Around 05:05am, Oct. 30/ Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Sanho could not sleep for 3 days. Is she a plant? Animal or human being? “Sorry, Joongdeok, I am so powerless.” Uncle Jonghwan muttered to his dog.
    Around 4;12 am, Oct. 30/ Photo by Young Jae Kim/
    In the Gangjeong Sea, Not only a caisson dock is being moored in front of the caisson production area, but also dredge barge stealthy working during the darkness without light.
    The caisson, a concrete lump made of the merciless violence, arrogance and lies of government, navy, Samsung, Daelim and US would be put into the Gangjeong Sea..

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    Video: For the serious police human rights violation against people, watch the video on Oct. 28: Click here and mouse down.

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    Solidarity photo  from Okinawa 

    via twitter Henokohama Tsushin
    Okinawa Christian are now singing Gospels at the gate of MCAS Futenma, showing their strong will against US violence.
    普天間野嵩ゲート前ゴスペルによる抗議
    辺野古浜通信twitterより (Post by Masami Mel Kawamura)

     

  • Heavy rain and wind: 3rd day of 24 hour construction, 24 hour police watch and 24 hour protest

    On Oct. 27, Sat., it heavily rained during the daytime in Gangjeong, following the daytime rain on Oct. 26.  Sometimes even the lightening. Still the construction (destruction) did not stop. So the suffering of protesters went on, too.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ protestors tightened themselves together to block the construction trucks. See more on his photos, click here.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Mr. Oh Chul-Geun who has done three steps one bow for months during last winter recently started it again from the gate to the port. Mr. Oh Chul-Geun continues the practice even in the heavy rain.

    Though the rain stopped in the evening, overnight construction went on so 24 hour protest in shift went on, too. It was 2ndtime that people’s daily peaceful bow at 7am was interrupted by the police on Oct. 28, following Oct. 26. See the below.

    The below is the brief record from 9:20 pm, Oct. 27 to 7:15 pm, Oct 28.

    Around9pm, Oct. 27, Sat.

    Around 9:20 pm, Oct 27: About 500 policemen just to block tens of protesters. Whenever the police appear in the night, it is like a lightened stage. The 500 policemen ate told to come from Seoul and Busan ( policewomen). To the waste of our tax, the navy mobilized 500 policemen for the exit of only two trucks, entry of two trucks and an automobile.
    Around 9:20 pm, Oct 27: Mayor Kang protests to the police

    Around 11pm, Oct. 27, Sat.

    Around 11 pm, Oct 27: Police are mobilized again
    Around 11 pm, Oct 27: Police, we are ready to welcome you.
    Around 11 pm, Oct 27: Police you may do your best to take apart each of us.
    Around 11;50pm, Oct. 27: Mr. Kim Jong Hwan, a  villager and cook thankfully brought  brief food of instant noodle and Kimchee.  Everyone’s joyful time.
    Around 1 am, Oct. 28, Sun.
    Around 1 am, Oct. 28, Sun. Another police roughing out. But everyone is in great positive and determined spirit-yes team spirit.
    Around 1 am, Oct 28: People were infuriated during the police roughing out since some policemen were especially provoking. Those kinds of policemen love to hit and even pinch isolated protester. They also pretend to mistake woman as man. You should shout them that you are a woman then! (In Korea, men is supposed to be dealt by the male policemen while women, by the policewoman)
    Around 3:10 am, Oct. 28, Sun
    Around 3:10 am, Oct. 28: To a policeman who said he belongs to the Jeju provincial police agency, Mr. Kim Jong Hwan, a villager, shouts, “Bastards, recover the Gureombi rock!”
    Around 3:10 am, Oct. 28: When a male peacekeeper who had been with female peace keepers when the police came, he had to shout to them, ‘ I am a man.’ (In Korea, it is supposed that males are dealt by the policemen while female are by the policewomen). But as soon as he said it, the police grabbed his neck from the behind and twisted his arm. Otherwise, people protested to the police on the lights that the police intentionally shined to people inside the detention circle.
    Around 5am, Oct. 28, Sun
    Around 5 am, Oct. 28: Cement mixer trucks come out again. Peacekeepers that had a short sleep on the tents and cars etc. appeared again with tiredness. Violent police roughing out began again. A young male peacekeeper appealed later. When the police carried out him, they happened to drop his head so he had to elect his upper body himself. When he appealed his pain to the policemen, the police dragged one of his leg.. And after he was detained inside a police circle, isolated, the police grabbing the front and backside of his jumper in the neck made him breathless. Further, even though it might be just accidental, he felt as if some policemen are hitting him with their fists. The thin and small young male peacekeeper could not understand why the policemen inhumanly dealt with him as such as he wasn’t doing little resistance to them. There were only three trucks coming in and two trucks coming out. What a mad construction! What a waste of people’s money to mobilize 500 policemen and to commit human right violation.
    Around 5:30am, Oct. 28: People are still keeping the gate amidst cold and strong wind.
    Around 6am, Oct. 28: It was seen that workers enter the gate from 6: 30 am amidst cold wind and darkness. Can you imagine 24 hour/ 7 days construction (destruction)? It means people here can seldom rest.

    Around 7:15am, Oct. 28, Sun.

    Around 7:15am, Oct. 28: The police even interrupted 100 peace bows that is held daily. The police have interrupted bows for the 1st time on Oct 26, with the start of 24hour construction
    Around 7:15 am, Oct. 28: When even the peace bows were interrupted, two female peacekeepers who stayed overnight for struggle tried to block the two cement mixer trucks with their bodies in the gate.
    Around 7:15 am, Oct. 28: Still the peace bows go on: The graffiti on the gate reads, “Peace to Gangjeong, Love you, Gureombi,”
    Around 7:15 am, Oct. 28: After the police disturbance, the 100 peace bows were continued in front of the naval base project committee building complex. Recently the Jeju local court made a decision on ‘no-guilt,’ on a young peacekeeper who was accused to bite the shoulder of a policemen during his resistance against illegal police roughing out of people. The judge said that the police performance at the time cannot be considered as the fair carrying of government affairs so the charge against him cannot be established. See here. The people made copies of the court decision document and put them on the fence.

     

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    Otherwise Rebecca Kim posted on her and her friends’ protest in Seoul at 11 am, Oct. 27. See the note on the protest at the bottom of here.

    ‘8 people got together today in Gwanghwamun Square to protest the 24-hour sheer madness happening in Gangjeong. (Tom Smith, Fielding Hong, Adit Satrya, Alfian Tahir, Akihiro Togashi, Jonghwa Rhee, Jung Jo, and me.)’

     

    Video link: Facebook 

    “No naval base!” in four different languages.
    (English, Korean, Bahasa, Japanese.)
    No naval base in Jeju!
    No naval base in Korea!
    No naval base in East Asia!
    No naval base in the world!
    Stop the illegal construction of the Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong!
    Stop the 24-hour a day sheer madness!

    Video link: Facebook

    “Down down Samsung!”
    “Up up Peace!”

     Video link: Facebook
     …………………………………………………….

     Please write letters to the political prisoners against the Jeju naval base

    As of Oct. 28

    Mr. Kim Bok Chul (No. 598) 138th day in jail

    Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (No. 187) 52nd day in jail

    Mr. Park Suk-Jin (No. 188) 52nd day in jail

    Mr. Park Seung-Ho (No. 290) 43rd day in jail.

    Fr. Lee Young-Chan 5th day in jail

     

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

     

    Release all the peace activists!

    Stop the illegal and absurd naval base construction!

    ( Source  by Cho Sung-Bong)

  • Release, imprisonment, and 24 hours’ protest: 2nd day of 24 hour construction

     

    Oct. 26: The day of the mix of intense happiness and sadness: 2nd day of 24 hour construction(destruction)

    Around 3am, Oct. 27, 2012. Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun and others lying their bodies on the ground in protest to 24 hour construction (destruction) in front of the naval base construction gate, Gnagjeong village, Jeju Island. See the below.

     

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    Kim Dong-Won was released!

    Photo by Paco Booyah

    On Oct. 26, we had happy news that Mr. Kim Dong-Won who has been jailed since June 30 was released. Paco Booya wrote:

    ‘Kim Dong-Won will be released! At 2 p.m. (30 minutes ago) Bail was set for Kim Dong-Won, who was arrested on June 30 when he climbed and occupied a dredging crane on a barge doing illegal dredging next to one of Gangjeong’s endangered soft coral forests. As of today he has been in prison for 118 days. The lawyer has gone to see what we must prepare for the bail and he will be released as soon as we prepare it which means today! Hoooooraaaay!!!!’

     

    Photo by Paco Booyah/ Dongwon finally met his missed friends after his release.

     

    However, Fr. Lee Young-Chan, a Catholic Priest is to be imprisoned.

    However, we also got the sad news around 10:13 pm from the lawyers who had worked very hard for the release of Bokhee and Fr, Lee Young-Chan who have been arrested on Oct. 24. The Court made decision to release Bokee while accepting the prosecutor’s file on arrest warrant against Fr. Lee in its review on the practicality of arrest warrants on the two. The prosecutors’ accumulated charges against Fr. Lee are obstruction of business, obstruction of government affairs, and violence etc. He is very well known as Fr. Remicon (meaning Cement mixer truck) for his many times’ protests to climb on the trucks to stop the illegal Jeju naval base project. On Oct. 24, he was to save Bokhee who was being arrested by the policewomen. When he could not move because of the police’s tight grabbing of him, he bit an arm of a police in self-defense, which was accidental when he was very tired for daily struggle. It is known that he is suffering in his teeth because a policeman hit his chin very probably intentionally with his arm. It is told that Fr. Lee is having difficulty in taking foods and it will take for a while. Still, according to the visitors of him, he smiled them and encouraged them to continue struggles.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Fr. Lee Young-Chan who has daily kept the struggle site eats meal during one of the days. The protesters used to hardly leave the site to save the village from the war base construction.

     

    Mr. Park Suk-Jin ended prison hunger strike and got his own room in jail.

    Photo by Lee Joon-Ha, Omynews, 2011/ Park Suk-Jin, a former member of a police special oppression unit has made a conscientious statement and rejected military draft in 1991 upon the death of a student, Kang Gyung-Dae, who was killed by the police during the students’ protest against the military dictatorship. Since then he became a peace activist. He has worked as a member of Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea. and has been joining the struggle to stop the base project in Gangjeong since last year.

    Otherwise, we also heard that Mr. Park Suk-Jin who was in hunger strike in a punishment room of about 5.9 m2 in the Jeju Prison was moved to a solitary room as he has requested and ended his fast in the morning of Oct. 27 as his family members protested to the Jeju Prison for unreasonable oppression measures against prisoners. See here.

     

    2nd night of 24 hour construction, 24 hour police watch and 24 hour protest

    Bokhee with guitar , Oct. 26, 2012 in the left side of the photo

     

    Otherwise, the first place Bokhee who was released from the police station, Jeju, around 11pm, Oct 26, visited was the protest site of the naval base project gate. She was again in protest to the base project, singing, laughing, struggling with friends together, by the next day of Oct. 27.

    On Oct. 26, there was a rain during all the day, to the suffering of peacekeepers. Some of them have kept the protest site of the gates of the base construction site even from the morning of Oct. 25, the 1st day of 24 hour construction and police watch. See here.

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong, around 6pm, Oct. 26, 2012. “We strongly oppose the US imperialism navy base against China!!”  “No Jeju US navy base of US Nuclear Aircraft carrier!”

    The rain became to be little from the evening. But the police were again in the gate under the artificial lights that the navy- contracted companies and police have installed for 24 hours’ construction.

    There were five times police roughing out of people from 9pm to 5am, the next morning. The police would rough out people every 1 hour 50 minutes to allow a cement mixer truck each roughing time to pass the gates from the people’s protest to stop those.

    It was greatly encouraging that about 20 members of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea joined on the day to support the Gangjeong villagers and peace keepers’ 24 hour protest.

    The police in front gates 9: 26 pm
    Around 3am, the police took apart the protesters who tied one another with their arms to stop the trucks.  It was one of the police roughing time that were carried out five times from 9pm, Oct. 26 to 5am, Oct. 27. Because of many lights the companies and police have installed for 24 hour construction and measure against protests in the night, many photos are full of artificial lights.

    Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun and others lied their bodies on the ground in protest to 24 hour construction (destruction) in front of the naval base construction gate. He dropped by Gangjeong for short days during the Great march for Life and Peace (Oct. 4 to Nov. 3. He celebrated his birthday (in lunar calendar) with the people in front of the navy gates.

    Around 5am, the police roughed out people again.

     

    The Gangjeong is also many people’s ‘peace school’ as Emily Wang wrote.

    Joonhoo who has been arrested to enter the Gureombi rock is painting on the road in front of the construction gate. As Emily Wang has mentioned, he has made a painting again and again whenever the navy erased his paintings. See here.

    Around 4:30. Joonhoo’s painting resisting against militarism.
    Around 7:10 am, Oct. 27. As soon as the people’s daily peaceful 100 bows started in front gates, the police blocked them again to pass 10 cement mixer trucks through other gate. People’s war starts again under the cloud sky that dropped rains from the morning.

     

    Call for protests

     Otherwise, Rebecca Kim wrote:

    ‘Tomorrow, [Oct. 27], at 11 AM, dozens of people will gather in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, for a small rally to protest against what’s happening in Gangjeong and to express our solidarity for those struggling in great suffering in the village. Will post tomorrow the story with the pictures.

    Courage, people!

    Emergency: Gangjeong Village’s struggle against the Jeju Naval Base is hitting its most urgent and desperate peak. The Navy has finished constructing a 200 person-capacity building for their exploitable Vietnamese workers, and the police of more than 2,000 now violently crack down on the demonstrators in front of the Naval Base Construction Business Committee more than 15 times a day, shifting 3-times, 24-hour a day, which even in the severest military dictatorship hasn’t happened. 4~5 peace activists are wounded or get hospitalized, get arrested and taken to the police station on a daily basis.

    I’m planning a small rally in Gwanghwamun area tomorrow at 11 AM with my friends to protest against what this horrible, holocaustic government is doing to Gangjeong Village, against the human rights violations committed by the police, the navy, and the Samsung’s ‘hired thugs(security)’ on the villagers and peace activists.
    Pls join us! Pls reply to this posting if you’re available to come to Gwanghwamun Square tomorrow at the Admiral Lee’s statue at 11 AM.

     …………………………………………………………….

    Video of the 2nd night, Oct. 26

     

    Dalme’s recording in real time (Post by Lim Ho-Young)
    http://player.afreeca.com/sfxi77

  • 1st night of 24 hour construction: Unjust destruction needs 24 hour police mobilization, along with human rights violation

    Photo by Paco Booyah, ‘No sleep tonight in Gangjeong. An activist has climbed up a cement truck. Activists and villagers are very angry at the police and navys absurd plan for 24hour oppression.’


    The below is the translation of the villagers statement right after the 1st night of 24 hours’ naval base construction and police mobilization in front of the naval base construction gates on Oct. 25. Concern on human rights violation and injuries became clearly realistic on the 1st night. Please see the original Korean script here.

    …………………………………………………………………………..

     Press Release

    -Without police force, construction cannot be processed. It paradoxically means the Jeju naval base construction is a project of no justice.-   

    Caisson production has started with the completion of the caisson production site in the naval base construction area of the Gangjeong village. And started as well is the police roughing out of villagers and peacekeepers for the entries of cement mixer trucks to be consumed for caisson production, regularly every hour for the whole 24 hours [on Oct. 25, 2012].

    Since the police enforced roughing out people during the night when a range of vision is not perfect, the injured appeared one after one another. Only for last night, total three people were carried by emergency ambulances.

    In case of Mr. Kim Hak-Koo, probably because of police’s unaccustomed night sight around at 7:30pm, Oct. 25, the police threw down another victim on his body to the shock of all his body and trampled him down when they passed through to the pain of his waist that made inevitable of people calling an ambulance.

    Mr. Kim Hak-Ku is a peace keeper who joined the non-violent human chain protest in front of the explosive company in Donggwang to stop the blast of the Gureombi Rock on March 19. At the time, he got the injury of bone-fracture above the wrist during the process that the police broke the human chain with hammer, which was supervised by Koo Seul-Hwan, Security director of the Seogwipo Police station. He had to endure cure of more than three months’ period, during which wick was planted in his bone.

    Also around 11:20pm, Oct. 25, the policewomen carrying Ms. Kim Eun-Hye, a peace keeper, during the process of roughing out people, happened to leave her head so she hit her head to the ground. Even though Kim was losing her consciousness for concussion and her limbs were cramping, the policewomen focused only to rough out her without considering to check her status and to protect her life.

    She was eventually discovered by another peacekeeper and carried to an emergency ambulance. Fortunately it was confirmed that her concussion was a light one not harming to her life.

    In case of Mr. Park Incheon (peacekeeper) who was carried by an ambulance around 2:30 am, Oct. 26, had been pushed and got the pain in his waist during the process when he protested to the double police roughing out in the already roughed out situation.

     Beside the above, there are some people who have been intentionally pushed and fall down by the police even after police rouging out of them. Even though theirs were not developed into injuries, it was the protest site where the police do not keep even the minimum principals when they perform their job with physical force.

    Article 3 (Basic principle) The Police, the civil service, should perform duties according to the following basic principles.

    1.    The mission of Police

    The police, the civil service, have their missions that they fully perform loyalty and service for the state and nation, that they protect the citizens’ life, body, and property, and that they maintain public welfare and order.

    2.    The spirit of the Police

    The police as a mandatory of the citizens make a root of their mission with the spirit of fatherland-defense, service, and justice that respect the citizens’ freedom and right in its routine job performance.

     

    In violation of the police mission and spirit stipulated in the police public service regulation, the police are bringing the result of respecting the rights and interests of the contracted companies above the citizens’ freedom, right, life and body.

    Without police force, construction (destruction) cannot be processed. It paradoxically means the Jeju naval base construction (destruction) is a project of no justice.

    During the National Assembly inspection on the government offices, this time, proofs on the illegal approval disposals [on the naval base project] and serious flaws in the base design have been exposed again. Further the base design has been done for the entries of the US nuclear aircraft carrier and submarines by the demand of the Commander, US Navy Forces of Korea. And numerous questions have been raised on the necessity of the project. Still Lim Suk-Kyu, the Jeju support policy director of the Prime Minister Office stated on Oct. 25 that the Government would only enforce construction after the dissipated Government joint presentation on the local development plan in relation to the Jeju naval base project.

    There is no nation that makes a long life by oppressing citizens. We strictly warn again to the Government of Lee Myung Bak who is at the end of his term of the Presidential Office, to revoke the Jeju naval base project. Only in that way, it would no more commit crimes in the history.

    Oct. 26, 2012

    The Gangjeong Village Association

    Image: Gangjeong village/ Mr. Kim Hak-Koo is being carried by an ambulance
    Image: Gangjeong village/ Ms. Kim Eun-Hye who fell down for concussion
    Image: Gangjeong village/ Ms. Kim Eun-Hye being carried by an ambulance
    Image : Gangjeong village/ A peacekeeper who is in protest on the top of a cement mixer truck.
    Image/ Gangjeong village: The mobilized police force
    Image: Gangjeong village/ It is the situation when Mr. Park Incheon fell down and ambulance was called.
    Image: Gangjeong village/ The peacekeepers that were carried and roughed out during the 100 life and peace bows are still bowing even after the police roughing out of them.

     

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    [Oct. 25 video] The 1st night 24 hour construction, 24 hour police watch and 24 hour protest: Video by Kim Gami
    http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipViewByVid.do?vid=v2110uFlfgGlGlOGlGVfunF

    (Source: http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GeUn/367)

     

    The video-maker says, ‘the whole video is only 10 min. but it was 24 hours for us.’

    Summary of the video:

    There were 11th police roughing out people at 5:35pm then 12th around 6:32pm on Oct. 25. It was unusual that the police did not leave but still securitizing the construction gates. Oct. 25 was the date that the police started 24 hour construction.

    There started police roughing out of people along with entry of cement mixer trucks every hour for a whole night: 13th roughing out at 7:35pm and 14th roughing out at 8:37pm. It was ridiculous that the police mobilized hundreds of themselves in the night to make entry of a cement mixer truck and trailer per hour.

    As we have concerned about very possible night incident, the 1st wounded occur. Two of the policemen fell down above Mr. Kim Hak-Koo. The 2nd (Ms. Kim Eun-Hye) and 3rd (Mr. Park Inchon) who would be carried to a hospital by ambulance were to occur by the late night. See details in the above.

    During the candle vigil that is routinely done around 8pm in front of the naval base project gate, the police roughed out people even in the candle vigil, too, to the fury of village elders and people.

    During the process of police roughing out people, the police say, “carefully,’ and ‘slowly,‘ but their real behavior against people is opposite. Even though a girl cries from pain, the policewomen consider only carrying out their duties.

    The policewomen rather than grabbing the bodies of protesters, grab the protesters’ cloths which make the protesters’ clothes taken off.

    When the video maker followed two policemen who were carrying the extinguisher, she heard that the policemen were using slanders against protestors, while the two were not being aware that she was following them. How dare they say they are there to protect the people!

    In the 2nd hospitalized case of Ms. Kim, there is a village female elders’ testimony on how the policewomen were careless to drop Kim then ignored her sickness.

    To make pass one cement mixer truck, they mobilize hundreds policemen. They are the zombies, the video-maker says.

    The police roughing out was done even during the peaceful 100 bows time in the morning of 6:50 am, Oct. 26. It was for the first time that the people in bows were carried by the police during the 100 bows. The people continued the bows even inside the circles that the police detained them temporarily to allow the cement mixer trucks to pass through the gates, without people’s obstruction of them.

    The video maker herself was injured in one of her toes, too when the policemen accidently trampled on her foot as well. There are always bruises and injuries of people during the field protests, even though they might be small.

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    #  Video by Novie Na/ Caisson production area on the Gureombi Rock coast around 5:30 pm, Oct. 25,.2012. ( Click here)

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    According to the Jeju Sori, the 24 hour construction is for the Daelim Co. to produce 80 numbers of 3,000 ton caissons that would be produced in the giant steel mold recently built on the blasted part of the Gureombi Rock coast (west of the coast). The caissons will be used to construct the east breakwater and mooring docks in the 1st work area.


    The Daelim-made caissons are different from the Samsung C & T that produces 9,000 ton of them in the Hwasoon port (abou 40 minutes car distance from Gangjeong) then moves them into the Gangjeong coast.
    Jeju Sori says: ‘Originally the Daelim planned to start to produce caisson from June this year, but it has been delayed as various problems have occurred.” You can say people’s protest have been a big part of it.


    To see the construction map, see here.

  • [Koh Young-Dae] Why the Jeju navy base is the US base?

    Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman has stated on Sept. 7 that “The Jeju naval base layout has been based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that the South Korean military does not retain and the layout application has been planned with the water depth that satisfies the demand by the CNFK (Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, Korea).” See here.   

    Mr. Koh Yound-Dae, Executive research member of the Research Institute for Peace And Reunification of Korea, has written an article on Oct. 4 that is translated as the below (translator’s arbitrary translation) . He says, ‘it is righteous to consider that the [projected] Jeju naval base is a US base in the sense that its main facilities of the water depth inside the breakwater where US aircraft carrier or cruise would moor, the water depth of mooring dock for submarine, and turning basin are designed and being constructed following the demands by the US military and fit to the vessels that the US military retains.

    His writing is helpful as he explains in detail that the matter is not only for the US nuclear aircraft carrier but for the US submarines, too.  

    On Oct. 10, Jang (Chang) Hana, and her office has exposed a very important proof of the technical committee’s meeting note that the committee members have known that the port design is never for 150,000 ton cruises, which makes clear that the central and Jeju Island government have falsely asserted as if the port is a complex civilian-military harbor primarily for the 150,00 ton cruises. See here.  

     
    Original Korean script: See  http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/5htg/79
    …………………………………………………………………………………

    Why the Jeju navy base is the US base?

     [Opinion] The base layout, including the water depth in the inner side of breakwater, is designed to fit the US warships

     By Koh Young-Dae, Executive research member of the Research Institute for Peace And Reunification of Korea

    The ROK (Republic of Korea) Ministry of National Defense has been consistent to deny people’s claims that the Jeju naval base enforced in the Gangjeong village is, in fact, a US base. However, clear proofs that support the fact that the Jeju naval base is ultimately the US base is being exposed one after another.

    One of the critical strongholds is the fact that the Jeju naval base has been designed according to the standard demanded by the Commander of the US Navy Forces, Korea (CNFK). For example, the water depth of the inner side of its breakwater is designed as 17.40m, which is to follow the standard demanded by the CNFK (15.20m) and to secure the safe mooring of the US nuclear aircraft carrier ( P. 180, 1 Water depth of dock plan, 1-7-3: Plan on mooring facility.  chapter 1 of Part 3: Basic layout, 07 Report on investigation and test, 08-301-1 Facility construction, ROK Navy)

    ▲ The planned water depth of the south break water: The standard of the south breakwater is designed on the premise of coming alongside/ exiting of the pier by nuclear aircraft carrier. According to the layout of the facility construction 08-301-1, published by the navy headquarter in 2010, the planned water depth of the south breakwater is read as ‘a plan of DL(-) 17.40 m that satisfies the demand by the CNFK (Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea)

    Another strongholds that the Jeju naval base is a US base is that the ROK navy has conducted simulation on the coming & exiting alongside the pier and entry & exit of port, in which the  USS Enterprise (CVN–65 level), a US nuclear aircraft carrier, was an object ship. It also directs that mooring barge is to be equipped so that the coming & exiting alongside the pier is easy for aircraft carrier of which flight deck is projected. It even directs a blueprint on it in details.(P. 52, 2. Method for aircraft carrier to come alongside the pier, 5-1-2 mooring barge, Chapter 5. Accessory facilities, 09 Summary report on the execution design, Facility construction, 08-301-1, ROK navy)

    ▲ Another proof that the port design is centered on aircraft carrier: Mooring barge
    According to the chapter 5 on Accessory Facility, Specifications on the Facility Construction 08-301-1, published by the navy headquarter, it is stipulated that “The aircraft carrier needs mooring barge to safely coming alongside/ exiting out of the pier because its flight deck is very largely projected out. The aircraft carrier does a flat coming alongside the pier using [tugs] and it is general that it comes alongside the pier through mooring barge.”

    The ROK navy currently does not retain any aircraft carrier and it has no plan to do it in the future, as well. Despite that fact, it has secured water depth for the US nuclear aircraft carrier following the demand by the CNFK. It is nothing but a clear proof that the Jeju naval base is for the benefit of the US navy that the navy has conducted even the simulation on coming & exiting alongside the pier following the demand by the CNFK.

    Another stronghold that one cannot but suspect the Jeju naval base as the US navy base is the water depth of the mooring dock for submarine.

    Unusually, in the Jeju naval base project, while the water depth of the dock for large ship is 11.5m, the water depth of small/middle ship and submarine dock is 12m, deeper than former. In case of draft for submarine that the ROK navy retains, it is 5.5 m for the 209 class (1,200 ton) and 6m for the 214 class(1,800 ton). Even with the introduction of 3,000 ton class mid-size submarine, the draft is 7m therefore it can be safely moored in the water depth of 9m when the minimum spare water depth (1.2m) and spare safety water depth are put together, according to the ‘layout standard for defense facility.’ Despite that, the ROK navy is to secure the water depth of as much as 12m, which is considered for the large US nuclear aircraft carrier (of which the draft is more or less 9.5 m) to safely moor. In the sense that the ‘Report on the basic plan’ (2009. 1) of the Jeju naval base reads that securing of 12m water depth is by the demand of ordering subject (navy)’, it is inferred that the water depth of the mooring dock for submarine has been directed to design company by the ROK navy, following the demand by the CNFK, as well as in case of aircraft carrier.

    ▲ Turning basin layout: The size of the turning basin of the Jeju naval base project is fit to the size of aircraft carrier (CVA) turning basin. (‘Standard of defense/ military facility’)

     

    Otherwise, the size (diameter) of the turning basin (turning water area for the ships in the inner port) of the Jeju naval base project has been designed with 1.5 times of the length of the US CVN-65 class (342.3m), which is 520m, in case tugging boat is forced to be used due to topographical limitation (‘Standard for the defense/ military facility, Ministry of National Defense and P. 41, layout directive on the harbor & bay facility). The Dokdo, the largest vessel the ROK navy retains is of 200 meter length, for which the turning basin diameter is 300 m when 1.5 times of length is applied as in case of aircraft carrier and merely 400 meter even when twice of its length is applied (turning head by tugging boat).

     

    Otherwise, for the 150,000 ton cruise ( about 345 m length)  to safely enter in and exit out, following the demand by the self-governing institute of the Jeju Island, the size of turning basin should satisfy 1,035 m(three times of ship length, when it is turned by its own exertion) or 690 m (twice of ship length, in case of using tug boat or thrust). ( ‘Standard for harbor & bay layout’ Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs, P. 696 in part 6 on ‘Water area facility and dredging/ reclamation)

    The current size of turning basin in the Jeju naval base project does not fit for the 150,000 cruise to safely passing by inside the port and coming alongside/ exiting the pier. Even though the navy asserts that it has applied 1.5 times even to the 150,000 ton cruise, the regulation of 1.5 times is not stipulated in the ‘Standard on the Layout for port & bay/ Fishing port,’ different from the ‘Standard for the defense/ military facility.’

    Likewise, it is righteous to consider that the [projected] Jeju naval base is a US base in the sense that its main facilities of the water depth inside the breakwater where US aircraft carrier or cruise would moor, the water depth of mooring dock for submarine, and turning basin is designed and being constructed following the demands by the US military and fitting to the vessels that the US military retains.

    Currently, territorial conflicts are daily being intensified among China, Japan, Philippine and Vietnam in the East South Sea surface. Riding on it, the United States is stepping forward to strengthen her maritime domination in the East Asia. To secure additional bases for it, the United States is returning to the naval bases such as in Subic Bay, Philippine, Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, and U-Tapao, Thailand where she has stationed in the past. For the US navy to station in those bases again, it should pay rental fee for them in applicable nations.

    The Jeju naval base that could be the best outpost against China is being constructed wholly by our budget (including additional costs that are being increased as the base is constructed as the US base) and shall be provided free to the US military. Whereas the only price for us is that the Jeju Island and Republic of Korea would be the target for the mid/long range missile attacks by China.

    …………………………………………

    Above article is also in http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/I51g/651

    ………………………………………..

    See the related article at http://savejejunow.org/navy-report-us-nuk-submarine/

    Navy report: Jeju Naval Base to Accommodate US Nuclear Submarine

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

    In this month’s issue:
    The navy pushes to steal more land, water issues, London Samsung Boycott, Construction Mocks Environmental Standards, Prison Letter from Dr. Song Kang-Ho and more!

    Download PDF

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

    In this month’s issue:
    6000 bows for peace in front of the Governor’s building, special international solidarity feature, harassement of village elderly, Father Mun wins the 5.18 Human Rights Prize, a letter from Guam and more!

    Download PDF

  • Caisson production is illegally and unreliably being done: Gangjeong villagers’ statement on the navy’s illegal destruction of environment

    Below is the translation of the Gangjeong Village Association’s statement on May 22, 2012. (Sorry for any mistakes for hurried translation in advance). You can see the original Korean script here.

    …………………………………………………..

    Title: The Jeju Island government should take stern legal action on illegal and unreliable construction (destruction) of the Jeju naval base project!

    The caissons that would be thrown down in the construction area of the Jeju naval base project are of giant structure of 38m length, 25m width and 20m height for each. Considering such giant structure of 8,800 ton for each, it should be natural that the [steel] frames of those should be strictly made as in the layout. However, there has been a controversy that the frames of the caissons [..] have been made unreliably.

    (# The Jeju Sori May 12 article reports on the raised suspicion on unreliable caisson production by Samsung, see the bottom)

    [The government] has seriously ignored democratic procedure without holding any hearings for the villagers during its process to get villagers’ agreement but allowing only the people who were bribed before; has annulled absolute preservation areas [in the village] in snatched way; and has been lack of persuasive explanation on the urgent reasons for security matter. NOT ONLY THAT, even though prior environmental review following the law on protection of natural environment had to be done before selecting location, it was done AFTER A YEAR of location selection while the government having APPROVED the project WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT. The whole process of naval base construction (destruction) was of the extreme of irrationality throughout all its process.

    As if it is not enough to get the permission on the altered condition, holding down the law on protection of cultural treasure by the force of the Ministry of National Defense, it PROCESSED construction(destruction) EVEN DURING the excavation period on buried cultural treasures, using shortcut method of so-called ‘partial construction.’ The purported ‘Beautiful Tourism Port for Mixed Civilian-Military Use,’ of which the name was put to deceive the Island people, while the government clearly promoting a military-only port, has been proved out to be DUAL FROM THE BEGINNING.

    While port operation rate has been suspected with the exposal of flawed layout, the Jeju naval base project that is now being in conflict with the position of the Jeju Island government for the matter on the two cruises’ simultaneous port entry & exit is now bringing reputes as the [central government] attempts to establish A MILITARY FACILITY PROTECTION ZONE in the current stage, which can be done ONLY AFTER permission for building completion according to the Port Act (law on harbor and bay). It is really suspicious whether it is truly a national policy further with the matter on unreliable construction (destruction).

    In a word, it is ‘an example of business wasted of national tax’!

    Furthermore, blast has been enforced even though the Gangjeong village association has warned many times that precise investigation is needed on the underground water vein, concerning about the water source of the Gangjeong stream. And now the blast has been enforced, the front sea and the port area of the village are now being increased with damage for daily dirty water, despite no rain. The Jeju Island government that has not taken any measure is committing DERILICTION of DUTY even though it was confirmed that the silt protection layer has never been restored by the result of underwater investigation and the village has submitted the Island government its opinion statement on the date of May 15, demanding construction stop at least until the completion of reduction measure following the law on the Environmental Impact Assessment and Public Waters Act.

    Further unbearable is that the Island governor has not made public any of its position even though he himself was humiliated when a low-level personnel of the Prime Minister Office scolded the Island government for its boycott on the simulation [on May 16] and declared on enforcement of construction (destruction) […] on the very day.

    (The Jeju Island government boycotted the simulation as the Prime Minister office refused to accept its demand on the simulation on three among five cases.)
    The Gangjeong village association strongly demand the below to the navy and Jeju Island government.

    The navy should not hide any more on the unreliable caisson production. It should remove away related caissons not to mention two caissons that it has already provisionally installed in front Sea of Gangjeong [..]

    The Gangjeong village association clearly says that it would constantly take measure of accusation on the chief of the naval base business committee and joint chief of naval operation, by the proofs on the fields of dirty water flow because of enforced destruction despite damage on the silt protection layers.

    The Jeju Island government should take precise investigation on the underground water regarding the Gureombi Rock and should be clearly responsible for its dereliction of duty in post management and supervision of environmental impact assessment based on related laws. If it finally abandons its responsibility, the village association would constantly raise dereliction charge against it with criminal cases. And the village association warns it that the village would stage the movement on the resignation of [governor, Woo Keun-Min] if he is not be with the village despite the fact that it is becoming clear that it is only a naval base ( # not a civilian-military dual port).

    Finally it is nothing but impudicity that the navy that has been allocated only 4.9 billion won for the item of layout compensation because the National Assembly has cut 96% budget on the Jeju naval base project [due to exposed frauds in process and layout of the project] plans to hold an environmental impact assessment fair following [the plan] of building of military official residence, in the Kimjung Culture Hall on May 29. How does the navy dare to hold such fair when its budget for purchase of land for that business that will be taken in the vicinity of the village, has been ALL CUT? If it attempts to place an order on that business by diverting budget previously approved, we would definitely ask it for that charge.

    To save Gangjeong, the Life and Peace village, to realize the Jeju, the Peace Island, and to build peace without threat of war in Korea, Northeast Asia and world, the Gangjeong village association and villagers will fight to the end, along with people in the world who support the Island people and Gangjeong village.

    May 22, 2012

    Gangjeong Village Association

    ……………………………………………..
    Image source: Jeju Sori, May 12, 2012. See more photos here.

    Photo: Jeju Sori, May 12, 2012

     

    Photo: Jeju Sori, May 12, 2012

    Photos presented by an informant to the Jeju Sori. The informant claimed that the caisson-producing subcontract company of Samsung in Hwasoon port has been doing unreliable caisson-production works by reducing the amount of steel frames of caissons, in violation of layout.

    In the photo on the combination of steel frame, lower part is connected with the reinforcing rods of 800mm while upper part is connected with far shorter 200 mm.

    According to that informant, the strength of structure is weaker when the joint of the reinforcing rods is shorter.

    He also said, “If caissons are unreliably constructed, the possibility of damage by shocks due to sea wave and big military vessels when they come alongside the pier becomes higher. Even verification becomes impossible once those caissons are thrown into the sea.

    It is known that about 220 workers including 180 Vietnamese and 40 Koreans are working on caisson production doing all-night works in Hwasoon port.

    The Samsung C & T is to throw 57 caissons of 10 stories height caissons into the 1st work area of the Gangjeong Sea for coming 19 months.

    (# If the construction is completed, it is expected that about 89 caissons will be put into the sea as a whole.)

     

  • Jeju Council members and Jeju-based National Assembly men oppose the blast plan

    Re-blogged from the Organizing Notes, March 4, 2012, ‘From This to This’


     jejufrom2

     

    jejufrom

     

    Which view do you like? Which vision of the future do you support?

    Below Sung-Hee Choi brings us the latest twists from Jeju Island. Things are moving swiftly. You see the internal debate raging in South Korea. Please know that what we each do in our own community to support the villagers on Jeju Island will have some impact.

    Sung-Hee Choi writes:

    On the matter on the blast of the Gureombi, the Island provincial council would have an emergency general informal gathering at 11am on March 5. Three National Assembly men based on Jeju Island warned the Lee government. The Jeju regional branch of the Democratic Unity Party warned the possibility of the 2nd Yongsan tragedy, as well.

    Upon the navy’s plan on the enforcement on the blast of the Gureombi, the Island council members and Jeju-based National Assembly men are all together denouncing the central government.

     

    1. Oh Choong-Jin, chairman of the Jeju Island Council said in his interview with the Headline Jeju that “In the government measure this time, the opinion of the Jeju was harshly cut. The central government declaration on the enforcement of construction (destruction) is very disdaining of the Island people. In our meeting, we would seek for our own measures and would strongly urge the government to stop construction as the Island governor has rights to stop it.”

    If the members of Saenuri Party (Former Grand National Party, the ruling party) are passive or express their opposition on such move, confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties are expected. Currently in the Jeju Island Council, the numbers of the ruling party members are smaller.)

     

    2. Kang Chang-Il, Kim Woo-Nam, and Kim Jae-Yoon, three members of the Jeju-based National Assembly (All are members of the Democratic Unity Party) warned the central government in their joint statement, saying that, “If the Gureombi Rock is blasted , bigger disaster will come. The Seogwipo Police Station should not approve the navy’s blast on the Gureombi Rock.”

    “The navy has re-applied for the blast of the Gureombi Rock to the Seogwipo Police Station, riding on the Lee government’s drastic measure. It is told that the matter has already been decided in the ‘secret meeting’ by the related offices of the Prime Minister Office, excluded of the Jeju Island. The Lee Myung-Bak government is showing an attitude of through ignorance on communication, full of arrogance and self-righteousness in its drive for the Jeju naval base.’

    “How much more pain the Lee government is to inscribe into the Island people, by its enforcing of the construction masking the naval base as a ‘civilian-military combined port of call,’ ignoring the opinion of the National Assembly and villagers? How many people in the Gangjeong village should be arrested, taken away and imprisoned under the charge of obstruction of business for the government to pay attention to the voice of the Island people?”

    “The Jeju Island and all the Island people have constantly demanded the central government to stop the enforcement on the naval base project and to form the objective and neutral verification committee on the layout. The police should never approve the navy’s blast of the Gureombi Rock.”

     

    3. The Jeju branch of the Democratic Unity Party demanded the navy and its contracted companies to immediately stop their attempt to blast the Gureombi in their emergent statement on March 3.

    The Democratic Unity party members said,

    “In case of the blast on the Gureombi rock, the Gangjeong matter could bring an unexpected results and further concern on the possibility of the 2nd Yongsan tragedy has been raised. (The Samsung and Daelim companies who are leading the base construction, both were involved in the 2nd Yongsan tragedy in January, 2009. At the time five men resisting against forceful eviction were killed by the SWAT teams. These corporations were bulldozing entire neighbhorhoods and building high rise building that they would control.)

    “The fact that the National Assembly has cut most of this year’s [base construction] budget with the agreement by the ruling and opposition parties is because the National Assembly has publicly acknowledged the problems of the currently driven Jeju naval base business. If the Lee Myung-Bak government is to drive the business despite that, it is a behavior thoroughly ignoring the National Assembly, the representative institute of the People.”

    “In the condition when the ‘continuous business,’ is not guaranteed even though the construction including the blast of the Gureombi is enforced, it may remain disgrace of the totally unreliable national business that remains only a serious wound.”

    “ The Jeju Island having publicly announced that the justification on the business has been in fact damaged though it is a national policy, has to make all the efforts to stop the blast of the Gureombi as a manager on the public water and its adjacent surface.”