Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: human rights

  • 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

     

  • 1st caisson made on the Gureombi Rock costs human rights and nature environment.

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

     

    Video by Navi

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

     

    (Source: Village website )

     

  • Let’s Cut the 2013 Budget of Jeju Naval Base Project

    Let’s Cut the 2013 Budget of Jeju Naval Base project, 200,900,000,000 Won (200.9 billion Won): Campaign for complete budget cut by SPARK

    No budget on the Jeju naval base project, 2013! (made by the SPARK)

     

    Otherwise, Rebecca Kim reports:

    I started a one-person protest in front of the National Assembly today. With a simple slogan: “Absolutely Oppose the (Jeju) Naval Base”. I’m planning to go on with this protest everyday from 12 noon to 1 PM until the presidential election day. Some of my friends already promised to join when they’re available, and we’ll try to create an anti-naval base voice loud and effective enough to make the lawmakers think again before passing the next year’s budget for the construction. 

    Another news: About 10 non-Koreans (mostly young, in activism, in 1-year master’s course called ‘MAINS’ at Sungkonghoe Univ.) including one Amnesty Intl. Korea’s staff member are trying to draft a kind of petition based on the existing human rights recommendations made on the Jeju naval base by OHCHR or Amnesly Intl., Friends of the Earth or WCC, etc., to present to the public while they join the Grand March through 2nd and 3rd Nov. We have a ‘strategy meeting’ tonight. Will get back to you with the result on 2nd Nov. Courage to you all, great people! 

    Photo by Rebecca Kim, Oct. 31. Starting one-man protest

     

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    How you can help to cut budget on the naval base project? 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.

  • The pain and wound of Jeju in a body.. report on the arrest and release of a woman

    Photo by Kim Sung-Hee/ Sungshim laid down her body on the roadway then the police soon arrested her, around 3:30 pm, Oct. 30, 2012.

     

    Sungshim, a Jeju native and Catholic follower (Lucia), was arrested around at 3:30pm, Oct 30, 2012 then released on the same day. It is a brief report based on the collected phone talks with her, chairwoman of the Gangjeong Catholic house, Taena’s mom, and Joan. Some of us dropped by her in the Seogwipo medical center around 10 pm on Oct. 30 but could not see her since she was deeply sleeping. Thanks, many people who helped our research on this.

    For reference, let us briefly remind you on the situation on Oct. 29. It was around 3:30 pm, Oct. 29 that Sungshim who having climbed up onto the top of construction gate right after a police roughing out and releasing of people, ran down her body in fury from the top to the concrete ground when the navy-contracted company thug ridiculed her rosary prayer. Despite the protest of shocked people who were watching her outside and demanding the company thugs to open the door, the thugs did not open the gate for a while, ignoring people’s appeal and protest for her. The police are also responsible for that accident since they left her alone even though they saw her climbing up to the gate. Sungshim was eventually carried to the Seogwipo Medical center by ambulance after about 30 minutes and as a result of twice x-ray, got the diagnosis of a doctor who said that she has a crack in the hill bone of her right foot and needed more precise medical inspection in the both feet. She was also recommended to be hospitalized. However, Sungshim wanted to return back to the village and stay there while she had bandage in her both feet and crutches. She could not stand that naval base entering into her Island, Jeju, the Peace Island. Around 9:30 pm, she laid herself down on the road in front of the naval base building complex. The police wanted to arrest her but people prevented them to do it and she got consolation from the Catholic sisters later, sitting on a chair, for people’s recommendation. She is told to have slept in front of construction gate at that night.

    The next day of Oct. 30, she was doing a prayer in front of construction gate around 3:30pm. The rosary prayer is composed of total five chapters and she was processing chapter 3. She was infuriated that her prayer was interrupted when she was roughed out by the police with her injured feet.

    When the police released their roughing out of people for the entry of cement mixer trucks, she crawled and laid her down in the middle of the roadway in protest. Then less than 5 minutes, Ku Seul-Hwan, an infamous Security director of the Seogwipo Police station said to her that the police arrest her under the charge of violation on the law on road traffic. She was stunned that the police who did not take any measure leaving her alone when they saw her crawling toward the center line of the road then arrested her when she laid down her body on it. Later she was also infuriated that she got investigation in an office section in charge of crimes of violence while she was arrested for the charge of violation on road traffic.

    When she maintained her right not to speak including her identity during the police investigation, her female investigator told her that, ‘Since you can hear, I suppose you have heard everything,’ and that she would submit file against her to the upper police department. Sungshim made a back talk to her saying, ‘Since you can see, you know I have bandage on and crutch next to my legs.’ The female police investigator could not say anything.

    It was around 5:30 pm that the chairwoman of the Gangjeong Catholic House and Taena’s mom visited the Seogwipo Police station to request the police to meet Sungshim. The policewomen rejected them to meet with her without explaining reason but saying, ‘No, without condition.’ When the two waiting women happened to see Sungshim behind an accidentally opened office door, they tried to meet her but the chief of the section in charge of crimes of violence chased away the aged chairwoman. So Taena’s mom protested to the policemen. The two delivered Sungshim and the police words of Fr. Mun who said she should be hospitalized since she is sick. However the police obstinately insisted transference of her to the Dongbu Police Station in the Jeju City.

    When Taena’s mom called the hearing inspection office of the Seogwipo Police Station later, delivering situation and appealing to its personnel that Sungshim is sick and need to be hospitalized, the inspection office personnel wanted to talk with a police staff in the investigation room.  When Taena’s mom asked the chief of the section in charge of violent crimes, the chief bluntly replied to her, “Why I have to get call?” So his subsection chief received the phone. And amidst that situation, the police were to forcefully transfer Sungshim to the Dongbu police station so Taena’ mom and Chairwoman of the Catholic house earnestly held them back. Suddenly, the police changed their words that they would ‘release her.’  When Taena’s mom phoned with the hearing auditor again, the auditor said, “You have misunderstood. The police were saying that they would release her but you were mistaken to hear that they would transfer her to the Dongbu police station.’ Taena’ mon was stunned and infuriated by the attitude of the police who distort the facts.

    Eventually Sungshim was hospitalized in the Seowgwipo medical center with the agreement of the chief of the investigation support section. The police checked Sungshim’s identification asking a nurse there. What the Seogwipo medical center! The same doctor who has recommended Sungshim to be immediately hospitalized on Oct. 29 said to her that he would hospitalize her ‘since the police allow it.’ Is he saying that she is qualified to be hospitalized since the police corresponded her. Gosh.

    Sungshim was eventually being moved to a treatment room around 7pm (No. 219, Seogwipo Medical Center)

    The spiritual and physical wound of Sungshim who cannot stand her Island to be a war base! Don’t you feel that the pain and aspiration of the Jeju are condensed there? Don’t you see the anti-historic and anti-human nature of the Island police that oppressed Island people, sided with the US military regime during the 4.3 massacre and uprising on the trace of the Japanese imperialism, in the attitude of the Seogwipo police who trample down the aspiration of the Island people, look down on them, distorting facts and overissueing punishments on them?

    Jeong Dawoori and director Cho Sung-Bong thankfully took photographs on her on Oct. 29. Click here for many poignant photos of her on the day. Her desperation to save her Island is remarkable. She has a disease in the thyroid gland. Still she says, “I am OK to die today, only if my Island is saved.”

     

    Photo by Jung Dawoori/ Sungshim on Oct. 29/ For more photos of Oct. 29 and 30 by Jung Dawoori and Cho Sung-Bong, click here

     

  • 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)

     

  • Dance, injury, stove and no rest: 4th night of 24 hour construction

    Even on Sunday, there was no rest for the people. The 24/7 construction (destruction) continued. Here is some collection of records.

     

    Police Roughing out of people

    Photos and captions by Cho Sung-Bong(translated)

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 9:39pm, Oct. 28, Sun., Even the policemen look tired. Their face expression says.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 11:13pm, Oct. 28, Sun., Dance then police roughing out. The police look to make shift. The peacekeepers need shift, too.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 1:19am, Oct. 29, Mon.
    ‎Two cement mixer trucks come out. Three cement mixer trucks enter in.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 3:13am, Oct. 29, Mon. The police roughing out is exactly every two hours. The wind that has been strong has now stopped. The villagers installed two fire stoves fueled by woods on the street. After every struggle, they become the people’s gathering place.
    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Around 5:09am, Oct. 29, Sun.

     

    Injuries

    Witness 1 : Around 9pm, Oct. 28, Sun/ By Park Yong-In and Navi (translated)

    Photo source: Village website/ Around 9pm, Oct. 28/ When a policeman used impolite words, a male peacekeeper protested to him by grabbing the hand of him who was pulling the peacekeepers’ cloth. Then many policemen came to the peacekeeper and bent down his fingers remaining him an injury that needs two week’s medical cure. The ligaments of the both side of his finger were broken. (By Park Yong-In, Navi, 9pm, Oct. 28)

     

    Witness 2: Around 11:54pm, Oct. 28, Sun. / Park Young-In (translated)

    ‘When a woman peacekeeper protested to a policeman since he did not put his identification tag in his police cloth during the police roughing out of people, the policemen replied to her, “Why I have to say that? I will never say it,” in contemptuous and impolite words.  When she continued to protest to him following him, another policeman pushed her from the front and she fell down, hitting her back head on the roadway. There was neither apology nor safety check. The police (policewomen) have already made a woman activist carried to hospital for concussion [in the night of Oct. 26]. I hate that I become to hate human beings.” (Park Yong-In, 11:54pm, Oct. 28)

    …………………………………………………………………

    [Oct. 28 video] The police’s forceful rough out of people in the night is more and more serious

     

    Video by Kim Gami  http://youtu.be/JSWzv8JXNNY

    (Source: http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/GeUn/371 )

     

    Summary of video : On Oct. 28, the 3rd night of 24 hour construction,

     

    0:00 to 0:52

    The police rough out a young man who was just standing still. Further the police make a warning broadcasting that he should not hit the police while he was only powerlessly being dragged by a group of police. People protest to such police lie. “Speak the right things!.” The police dare to grab his throat when he protests in words.

     

    0:52 to 1:17

    The police rough out and wield physical power to even a citizen who was only taking a video record.

     

    1:18 to 3:26

    The police violently rough out a man whose one hand was injured and bandaged with splint. The police even seem to intentionally grab the very hand to his pain.  He was the one was carried to hospital by ambulance on the 1st night. See here.  For the policemen, the word, ‘arrest!‘ without Miranda notice to isolated and non-violent protester is like a game. The police even push back protesting women. Even fallen women are on the ground, they are ignoring them and only focusing to carry out their duties, to the risk of women’s lives.

     

    Many protesters’ not only human rights but lives are in danger during the night protests in Gangjeong. Please spread words. You may also contact the ROK National Police Agency for protest.

    National Police Agency (http://www.police.go.kr/eng/index.jsp ) : cnpa100@police.go.kr

  • 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.

     

    …………………………………………………….

    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.

     

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

    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.

  • Three people were arrested and one person in hunger strike in Jail

    Park Suk-Jin: Photo by Song Dong-Hyo, Source article, here.

     

    On Oct. 24, three people, Bokhee, a woman peacekeeper (27), Fr. Lee Young-Chan (61) and Jang Joonhu, a young artist in his 20s were arrested.

    Bokhee and Fr. Lee Young-Chan were arrested under the police-arbitrary charges of obstruction on government affairs and violence when they were resisting to the police roughing out of people when people made attempt to block the cement mixer trucks in front of construction gates.

    The two were carried to the Dongbu police station, Jeju City,  last night. Bokee is told to be very sick and Fr. Lee Young-Chan is suffering for the pain in teeth when the police hit his chin.

    We have also a painful news that one of the prisoners and our friends, Park Suk-Jin(prisoner No. 188) , who was jailed along with Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (prisoner No. 188), for their caisson protest on Sept. 6 has been in hunger strike since Tuesday, Oct. 23. According to his older sister, he has demanded the meeting with the chief of the Jeju Prison to improve treatment on the prisoners since last Friday. When it was rejected, he entered fast since this Tuesday. The Jeju Prison detained him in the punishment room. If the punishment is decided, meeting with visitors is not possible. Currently a lawyer is visiting him.

     

    Otherwise, Elily Wang writes on Bokhee and Joonhoo, two artists:

    ‘JoonHu, the third person who got arrested this afternoon, is an artist too. He continues to have the fabulous Art Performance in front of the naval base but lots of his masterpieces were erased by the workers in the naval base under the order of navy.

    It’s sad that the beautiful art become the shame for navy.

    This afternoon, when JoonHu came to the front of the naval base, he realized again that his painting was again unilaterally erased, and he decided to directly protest to the navy. But one of the most difficult thing in Gangjeong is to meet navy directly as they have the protection from the security without legal license, and the police who are wasting Korean’s tax. Thus, JoonHu entered the naval base for the real communication.

    And then still he just directly got arrested by the police.

    Naval base is destroying this village but you can hardly meet any navy here.

    There’s police and there’s illegal security.

    You can see JoonHu’s art work here. Many of his new masterpieces are not yet updated.

    Thanks for his art work here even though he is getting poorer and poorer because of huge amount of fine, but his art work is getting richer and richer.

    Proud of you. (See here)’

    ‘Bokhee who got arrested today is an artist in Gangjeong as well. While joining in the struggle in Gangjeong, she continues to make art here as well. You can see her caricature drawings of people who live in Gangjeong. (See here and here)’

    You may write a letter to the prisoners. As of Oct. 25, 2012:

    Mr. Kim Bok-Chul (activist): No. 598 (Arrested on June 14, 136th day)

    Mr. Kim Dong-Won (activist): No. 264 (Arrested on June 30, 117th day) Re-imprisonment following 94 days’ imprisonment last year. 

    Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (reverend): No. 187 (Arrested on Sept. 6, 50th day )

    Mr. Park Suk-Jin (activist): No. 188 (Arrested on Sept. 6, 50th day )

    Mr. Park Seung-Ho (activist) : No. 290 (Arrested on Sept. 14, 41th day)

     

    Please mail supporting letters to each of those above, to the ‘Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City, Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea,’ with name and prison number.

    Image: Gangjeong village
    The 2nd and 3rd from the right are Mr. Park Suk-Jin and Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil on Sept. 6, in the police custody room.