Today there were many watch dogs by the gates of the naval base.
Unification day. And it has been a hectic day.
But first. Two concepts that are hovering over the base.
Civil Disobedience (Resistance to civil government) Henry David Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences , and that they have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice.
Direct Action occurs when a group of people take an action which is intended to reveal an existing problem, highlight an alternative, or demonstrate a possible solution to a social issue. This can include nonviolent and less often violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action participants. Examples of direct action can include strikes, workplace occupation, political violence, nonviolent resistance, sabotage, property destruction, blockades etc.
My morning started with meeting this friendly Baptist minister from Seoul.
The things got less friendly.
The religious leader from Seoul was removed from the gate and the trucks could pass.
The police came en masse. They never seem far away and they probably aren’t either.
And as the day went on….More people being lifted from in front of the gate and place inside so called detention circles.
Then there was a big manifestation. The mayor spoke. Urging the goverment to listen to the National Assembly’s decision to halt construction for 70 days, starting from January 1st. Two supporting politicians from the democratic party were part of the demo in fron of the gate.
There were plenty of photographs taken.And plenty of people in the manifestation.
The 100 bows for peace were made.
There were many people visiting Gangjeong today. Maybe that is why the police decided to wait until the afternoon to open the gates again.
Things started to heat up. Activists gathered at the gates, the alarm went across the village. Police started lining up(first casually, then in a more tight formation) along the peace camp tents, making it difficult or impossible to leave or get to.
It got more and more hectic as more and more activist were moved into circles where they were surrounded by police.
And when you are inside a cicle many activist choose to just sit quietly.
When you are dragged from making your peace bows, your shoes often end up someplace else.
On Jan. 8, members of the Seongdong Center for Independant Living visited Gangjeong, joining the peoples’ struggle to stop the illegal construction. They stayed all night in front of construction gates to block the construction vehicles.
A witness who watched the struggle of the disabled visitors, most of whom are women, testified that the police were embarrassed by their courageous and active protests. He also stated that the police were violent and violated their human rights. The police forcefully lifting their wheelchairs, encircled an each person, and detained them. During the process, many of the disabled women’s cries of pain and distress could be heard.
We are so grateful to these brave people who showed their warm and inspiring solidarity with Gangjeong. We also thank the Seongdong Center for Independant Living, especially Mr. Choi Ho-Sung and Mr. Kim Sou-Oh.
An outsiders perspective on how things possibly went down this morning.
– Hallo, is this the police? I need your help.
– Yes, again.
– There are three people blocking the entrance to the gate. I know you have been here 7 times a day since 2007. Yes, that is 12 775 times but they are still here.
I have trucks on the inside that need to get out.
And there are trucks on the outside that need to get in.
We need to move all the junk.
All the chairs.
And we need to move the people.
We need to do it now.
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This happens every hour during the day. And every second hour during the night. On an average. Persistance and determination like this is hard to find.
Many of the conscripts look very young. Many look a bit scared or at least confused. They come from the mainland and are circulated every 2-3 weeks. It is doubtful they know what is going on in front of the gates.
Police covering their faces is a thing I have rarely seen. It is not legal either. You, as a representative for the state force should identify yourself.
You are also obliged to identify yourself when you are filming. In the name of security.
Some activists decide to open up a discussion about that.
If you film me and don’t tell me who you are, I will cover my face.
For more than 1825 days these activists have been practicing civil disobedience in the name of peace, determined to stop the building of the base and they are in good company.
On Jan. 5, the criminal case department of the West district of Seoul Prosecutors’ Office made a decision of non-prosecution on Kim Ji-Yoon (29), a proportional representative of young people of the United Progressive Party. Kim has been charged of damage on the honor of the navy with her expression of the ‘pirate base,’ regarding the Jeju naval base project.
The person in the Prosecutors’ office said her expression is merely a subjective evaluation so cannot be acknowledged as crime. For the charge of the crime of damage on honor to be established, concrete facts should be stipulated. The prosecutor said.
The prosecutor also said that the charge of the insult on the navy cannot be acknowledged as an insult to the whole group of the navy. He also said that another reason of non-prosecution is the cancellation of charge last December by the navy-reserving groups who originally charged Kim.
Kim has posted in her tweeter last March that reads, “I oppose the Jeju pirate base. Let’s save the Gangjeong village and Gurembi Rock)
Following the release of Fr. Lee Young-Chan on Dec. 26, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul was released on Jan. 3. Both were released on bail.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Fr. Lee Young-chan was released on bail on December 26. Activists and Jesuit priests including the head of Jesuits Korea prefecture Fr. John Shin Won-shik (right) are receiving him at Jeju prison. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, See here (Post by Regina Pyon)Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Fr. Lee Young Chan in mass, next day of his release.For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.
A Video on Fr. Lee Young-Chan, made by Dungree after Fr. Lee’s arrest on Oct. 26, 2012, remembering Fr. Lee’s struggles against the naval base project.
Kim Bok-chol was released on bail on January 3. He is in the center with blue jacket. Photo by Jang Hyon-woo. (Post by Regina Pyon)Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Mr. Kim Bok-Chul who was arrested on June 14, 2012, is finally free out of jail on Jan. 3, 2013.
For Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Jan. 3, 2013 was his 206th day in prison. He is the longest prisoner against the Jeju naval base at one term. Dr. Song Kang-Ho was jailed for two weeks in 2011 and 181 days in 2012. Mr. Kim Dong-Won was jailed twice, for about 94 days in 2011 and 118 days in 2012.
On Jan 2, the prosecutor made an opinion of two year prison on him. The court decision will be on Jan. 23.
Video by Dungree: Interview with Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, after his release (Source: click here)
When he was in jail, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, a laid-off railroad worker and reporter of the ‘Voice of Seoul,’ fought against the bad human rights conditions in the prison. Now being released from the jail, he wants to make an appeal against unjust arrest of him on June 14, 2012 when he was protesting on the police’s violent dealing of an activist
With the release of Fr. Lee Young-Chan and Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Mr. Park Seung-Ho is currently the only remaining prisoner. He hit his 112 day in jail on Jan. 4, 2013.
Mr. Park Seung-Ho was born in 1966(?). After his arrest in the 3 way intersection in the village on Sept. 14, 2012, for the reason that he had not responded to the police call. It was during the period of the WCC (World Conservation Congress) Jeju (Sept. 6 to 15, 2012) when most people were busy for the protests against the naval base project.
Video still frame by Dungree/ Mr. Park Seung-Ho’s arrest on Sept. 14, 2012
Mr. Park Seung-Ho (No. 290)
Please send him letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:
Jeju Prison 161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City, Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
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Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28, 2012 (181 days in jail). See here.
Mr. Yoon Choong was released on Oct. 24, 2012 (44 days in jail). See here.
Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26, 2012 (118 days in jail). See here.
Rev, Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. park Suk-Jin on Dec. 12, 2012 (98 days each). See here.
Fr. Lee Young Chan was released on Dec. 26, 2012 (63 days in jail)
Mr. Kim Bok-Chul was released on Jan. 3, 2013 (206 days in jail)
See the Gangjeong villagers’ statement on budget on Jan. 2 and related National Assembly subsidiary conditions under the below photos.
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The sirens rang about three times even before 7 am on Jan. 2, 2013. The siren rang around 9 am again. The daily war of Gangjeong started again. Despite the National Assembly stipulation on 70 days, the navy enforced construction even on the New Year holiday.Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun protested to the police for their permission on the entry of construction trucks, showing them the National Assembly condition. For the National Assembly conditions, see the below.Photo by Kang U-Jin/ Around 4 pm. Jan. 2/ Some people including Prof. Shin Yong-In staged a civil disobedience movement, demanding the navy’s observance on the National Assembly conditions.Photo by Paco Booyah/ 5 p.m. Jan. 3. 100 bows in front of the destruction site. The sign reads, “Stop the illegal construction without a through verification on simulation.’[Around 9pm, Jan. 3]/ A cold night. A young man in his 30s stops a construction truck alone. The police threaten him that they would arrest him under the charge of ‘obstruction on business.’ The young man protests in state asking why the police ignore 70 days’ verification and construction stop period, while the police siding with the navy that enforces construction, despite the National Assembly subsidiary opinion. The young man had to fight himself enduring a cold night alone in front of the gate. Behind a sheet of paper by the National assembly, Gangjeong is bleeding again… The sign reads, ‘Construction stop for 70 days! Carry the [National Assembly] agreement by the ruling and opposition parties!’Photo by Cho Sung-Bong/ The Pan-Island committee press conference on Jan. 3/ The banner reads ‘The enforcement of construction is illegal. The government and navy should immediately stop illegal construction!’ For more photos, see hereCaisson built by Daelim Co. is being put into Gangjeong sea in the morning of January 4. . . More photos by Hallabong, click here. (Post by Regina Pyon)
The Gangjeong village statement on Jan. 2, 2013
Position of the Gangjeong villagers on the subsidiary conditions on the 2013 Jeju naval base budget
In the examination on the 2013 budget on the Jeju naval base project, the National Assembly passed the budget with the subsidiary condition (* See the bottom). The Gangjeong Village Association cannot but ask whether the National Assembly neglected its role as the monitoring institute on the government by itself to pass the whole budget(* 200 billion won) proposed by the Ministry of National Defense despite the fact that it is the project of which a thorough verification, the subsidiary condition agreed by the Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly in 2011 has not been carried on.
However, we judge that the subsidiary conditions of 2013 budget is in fact a declaration on construction stop. We should consider the contents that [the Government] should not carry on the execution of budget until it satisfies the three conditions as the [demand] to the navy to stop the expense plan on the naval base budget first. However, the navy, enforcing 24 hour construction from the beginning of the Jan. 1, New Year, is staging conflicts with villagers and peace keepers. Even the Ministry of National Defense espoused a thorough performance on the subsidiary conditions through its press release. Therefore the navy’s obstinate enforcement of construction is an arrogation and insubordination.
The reasons that we should consider the subsidiary conditions as the construction stop in fact are as the below.
Firstly, it is because of the very first item of [the conditions] that reads that [the Government] should wipe out concerns that the base would be operated mainly for the military port.
According to the enforcement of decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act revised in 2012, all the area of the Jeju naval base project is designated as the military protection (restriction) zone and the port-entry/ exit of the cruise ships should be permitted from the Unit commander.
Not only that, according to the decree revised, the whole crews and passengers are defined as the subjects to be controlled. How can there be a guarantee that the port will not be operated mainly for a military port when the law is defined as such?
To wipe out the concerns that the port would be mainly for a military port, at least the zone designated as a trade port should be excluded from the Military protection area.
The [next] government of Park Geun-Hye [whose being fairly elected is matter of suspicions] should examine the issue in a forward-looking manner and should revise again the revised enforcement of decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.
Secondly, it is for the [second] item that demands a through verification on the possibility of entry/exit of 150,000 ton cruise. To be sorry, the item is not stipulated with the phrase of ‘possibility on the 150,000 ton cruises’ smooth entry and exit of port.’ While ‘smooth entry and exit of port’ can mean that it is possible for the cruise to enter and exit the port by its own exertion, the definition of simply ‘a possibility of entry and exit of port’ brings about a serious matter. The cruse can enter the port with the support by more than 4 tug boats that would be mobilized, unless there is a warning on the high wind and sea wave.
However, it takes tremendous costs to manage a port that operates four tug boats of each is more than 3,000 HP. It is told that more than 150,000,000 won is needed only for an yearly wage for a captain of a tug boat. It is expected to take 4~5 billion won to operate a pilot for the arrangement of four tug boats.
If we are realistic to expect entries of 150,000 ton level cruise twice a year and the economic income would be about 0.6 billion won for one-time entry, it means the [Island Government] should operate a pilot with 4~5 billion won only for 1.2 billion economic income that would come from the entries of cruises twice a year. Further the costs of operation on waiting room for cruse and maintenance/ repair of harbor and bay will be additionally burdened. Moreover, the loss amount cannot but be more increased since the sources of direct earnings for the Jeju Island government will be merely of the ship cost for coming alongside the pier and entry ticket for the watching facility of the public institutes.
Even though we suppose smooth entry & exit of port by cruise (which means the possibility for the cruise to enter and exit by its own exertion), it is tremendous costs for the waiting room and harbor & bay-maintenance/repair that would be expended only for the 150,000 ton level cruise coming no more than twice a year. Plus with the expectation on the restoration costs following the damages by typhoons, the effect on the chronically deficient Jeju economy cannot but be aggravated far from positive effects on it. The Jeju naval base being constructed under the excuse of invitation of 150,000 ton cruises that are only 4~5 throughout the world will bring about the result that would push the economy of the Jeju more falling into its bottomless pit.
Even if we might suppose that the 2nd item of the subsidiary conditions of the National Assembly means the verification on the smooth entry/ exit of port for 150,000 ton cruises, the time-limited condition of 70 days makes no sense for a thorough verification.
It is because it is a simulation that should be processed premised on the altered 30° navigation route, which passes through the vicinity of the Beom Seom (Tiger Island) [the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve]. If then there should be a three-dimensional modeling on harbor and bay, backed by observation on area-detailed water depth and analysis on the current, regarding the water area near the 30° altered navigation route. According to experts, it is a work of which the process only takes three months at minimum to six months at maximum.
We have warned many times that the 30° navigation route and vicinity water area themselves would be the obstacles on the port-entry for 150,000 ton cruise since those places are of many reefs with low water depth. Moreover, the water area of train rock water area is a zone of tremendously strong current. Will there be anybody who can trust the verification if the verification on the opening of a navigation route in such area of natural environment is processed without basic investigation process and three dimensional modeling due to time limitation of 70 days?
Thirdly, it is on the matter on the conclusion on the protocol on the joint use on the rights to official regulations on the harbor and bay and on the costs for maintenance and repair on the harbor and bay facility.
Above all, it is illogical to say so and so on the rights to official regulations when the military legally holds the control rights on the port-entry and exit.
Regrading the costs on the maintenance and repair on the harbor and bay facility, it is also prospected that even the operation cost on the cruise waiting room could be hard to be met given the realistic numbers of the entry by 150,000 ton cruises even though cruse makes entry and exit by its own exertion. Plus with the costs on the maintenance and repair on the harbor and bay facility, the Jeju Island cannot but have the blame shifted to itself. The Jeju naval base built under the show of so called civilian-military complex port for tour beauty will be only a worry that destroys the economy of the Jeju, far from making the Jeju as the 2nd Hawai’i or the tourism herb of the Northeast Asia.
Even with the use of tug boats, the governor cannot but risk loss. If the governor still passes such project that deceives the Jeju Island people saying so and so on joint allotments, without an objective, scientific and thorough verification, he would pose himself as destroying the Jeju economy and threatening the people’s lives. He should keep in mind that he would be the public enemy for the Jeju Island people, then.
Park Geun-Hye, the President-elect, claiming the great unity of people, made a pledge that she would drive for the project to be a civilian-military complex port for tour beauty, following the will of the Island people. She also emphasized that she is a politician being responsible for her words. Then she should stop the construction on the Jeju naval base and carry on thorough verification and investigation on truth, following the subsidiary conditions that the Saenuri Party (* the ruling conservative party) agreed with. She should revoke the base construction project itself if it turns out that the Jeju naval base does not fit to the South Korea’s international relationship or to the position of the Jeju Island; and if it becomes clear that it is against the will of the Island people or harms the Jeju economy.
Therefore the Gangjeong Village Association demands as the below.
1, The National Assembly should switch over itself from the subjects of solution from the subjects of resolution. As the ruling and opposition parties made an agreement on the subsidiary conditions, they should take responsibility for management and supervision on the performance on the subsidiary conditions by forming a special committee. Park Geun-Hye, President-elect and the Saenuri Party should take an active cooperation with them as they made an agreement to the subsidiary conditions also.
2. As the Ministry of National Defense declared on the thorough performance on the subsidiary conditions of the National Assembly, the navy should immediately stop the construction and should enter for a thorough verification on scientific and reasonable verification with transparent and objective measures.
3. Woo Keun-Min, the Jeju Island governor should not compromise on the Jeju naval base issue which is the biggest matter and core of conflict in the Jeju Island. He should fulfill a thorough verification to the end.
Finally, greeting the beginning of 2013, the Gangjeong village Association, the representative institute of the Gangjeong village, states again that it will firmly maintain its position to revoke the naval base project, that has experienced conflicts for the Jeju naval base issue for six years; and will make all the efforts for construction stop and re-examination of the project, while fulfilling its role as the subject of dissolution on conflict and restoration on community.
[Final Updates] Republic of Korea’s national assembly passed the bugdet bill for 2013 fiscal year and confirmed the naval base constuction budget scale and it’s collateral conditions.
A meeting was achieved between the leaders of both parties just before a general session of national assembly and made final agreement between the leadership of both party. They made an agreement and concluded they attached some collateral conditions to the 2013 naval base construction budget bill. The collateral conditions are shown on this photo. This is an agreement between the leadership of the rulling party and the opposite party and signed by the representatives from both parties.
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Jeju Naval Base(Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty) Additional Agreements
1. The Ministry of National Defense should try dispel worries about the controversies this Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port might be used as 100% military installation.
2. The Ministry of National Defense, The National Assembly, The Central Government and Jeju Special Self-governing Province Authority should take a deep verification and an investigation process about the capacity of Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port for the entry and departure procedures of 150 thousand tons Cruise Ship.
3. The Ministry of National Defense should make an written agreement about the control of Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port, the responsibilities of maintenance with the Jeju Special Self-governing Province Authority.
The above three collateral conditions should be satisfied and executed within 70 days [from the date of signing] and should be reported to the National Assembly within 70 days. If the agreement of the hearing schedule from the National Assembly weren’t made, a written report can be submitted to the National Assembly.
Additionally, the National Assembly can have an authority to split the naval base construction budget into two part, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s Budget and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs’ one so there can be better collaborations and cooperation for the full functionality and capacity as a Civilian-Military Complex Port.
The floor leader of the ruling SAENURY Party
LEE, HAN GOO
The floor leader of the opposition DUP(Democratic United Party)
PARK, KI CHUN
Scroll down to the bottom to add your name to the petition.
As international students studying in South Korea we raise our collective voice to call upon the Government of South Korea to stop all work on the Jeju naval base construction project immediately. We are deeply concerned after learning that the Jeju naval base construction project has been pushed forward by the government without proper democratic consultation despite a sizable body of evidence showing that the project is deeply flawed and that the public has been repeatedly misled.
A wide range of human rights abuses against peaceful protesters are taking place in Gangjeong Village on a daily basis in order to ensure that the construction goes ahead despite strong local opposition. These have already been well documented by a number of human rights organizations both in South Korea and around the world including Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, Forum-Asia and three United Nations Special Rapporteurs.
This project is destroying not only the natural environment but also jeopardizing the wellbeing and health of villagers. Millions of dollars have been spent on maintaining a total of almost 130,000 police in the area since 2011. The once peaceful and prosperous seaside community of Gangjeong is now falling to pieces as the very foundations of its livelihood, the water and the land, are being destroyed.
We believe that the Jeju naval base project will not only contribute to the further militarization of the Asia Pacific region, but will also increase tensions and add to regional insecurity. The southern sea of Jeju is a critical geopolitical points linked into the Southeast Asian Sea which has recently been the focus of sharply rising tensions among the surrounding countries due to the hegemonic tug of war between the US and China. As students learning about the importance of the values of peace, human rights, social justice and cultural diversity, we cannot conceal our disappointment and indignation towards those responsible for the further militarization of the region and the continuation of the Jeju Naval Base construction project.
We hereby strongly urge the South Korean government and legislature to: Stop all construction on the Jeju Naval Base project immediately; Guarantee the human rights of Gangjeong villagers and peace activists including the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, a clean environment, and peace; Adopt all recommendations made by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island, and the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island concerning the forced construction of Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong Village; Adopt all recommendations made by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee to Stop the Military Base and for the Realization of Peace Island, and the National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island concerning the forced construction of Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong Village; Adopt the recommendations made by the international organizations including UN Special Rapporteurs, Asian Human Rights Commission, Forum-Asia, etc. to adhere to international human right standards and protect the livelihood of the inhabitants of Gangjeong Village; Cut all funding allocated for next year’s budget for the Jeju naval base construction project, and finally start looking for proper measures to restore the ecological and human communities in and around Gangjeong Village.
Dec. 11, 2012
International students & academics demanding an end to the Jeju Naval Base Construction Project
A peace keeper, Park Yong-Sung, who stayed in the sit-in tent across the construction gate overnight wrote in the morning of Dec. 17.
Photo by Park Yong-Sung
‘The tree of peace was made near the Gangjeong stream thanks to uncles and peace keepers in Gangjeong who cut and brought trees. The religious elders also helped to make the tree.
However, from the morning, there were construction workers’ physical and mental violence onto us. And the police responded late to such violence, while continuing circling of people with verbal violence.
As the Jejus Christ who was persecuted has become the symbol of peace and love, I hope Gangjeong would be overflowed with peace and love…’
Another peace keepers, Jang Hyun-Woo wrote on the details of violence in the morning of Dec. 17.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 17, see here.
By Jang Hyun-woo (translated/ for the original site, click here)
Around 6:30am, this morning, cement mixer and general work trucks began to gather one by one in front of the Poonglim resort building (* near the Gangjeong stream and construction gates)
Around 7am, the bows for life and peace began then around 7:35 am, workers came out in front of the naval base construction gate, 5 minutes after their gathering inside the construction site.
They began to remove the lumbers (that the peace keepers had put as barricade) in front of the naval base project committee building complex, while the construction vehicles began to slowly move.. The peace keepers stopped the trucks to come inside the gate of the naval base project building complex. When the trucks were to turn their way to the main gate of construction site, they blocked them in the crossing road.
Among five large and general vehicles, two vehicles entered into the main construction gate while the other three could not make entry but had to return back to the front of the Poonglim resort, waiting for another chance.
It occurred that we were circled by the construction workers, fell down and were injured in four or five places during the process of stopping the vehicles to the main construction gate. It even happened that a male construction worker strangled a neck and pushed the chest of a female peace keeper.
Even though there was no peace keeper who was greatly injured, the Samsung and Daelim construction workers, confirming that the peace keepers had no camera, dared to kick them.
The workers should be inquired for the charges.
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[Dec. 16]Companies install caissons before simulation, which a thorough ignoring of even Island governor’s demand
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ See more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo on Dec. 16, here
Following the Samsung’s input of 8800 ton caisson last night, the Daelim stationed its 3~4,000 ton caisson into the sea this morning.
Despite the Island governor’s demand to the navy on Oct. 30 to stop the input of caisson on the sea until the finish of simulation on 150,000 ton cruise, the navy thoroughly ignores that.
On Oct. 18, 2012, Governor Woo has declared to the villagers in the talk meeting with them that he would ‘stop the breakwater construction in the Gangjeong Sea without fail’ even though it is difficult for him to order construction stop before simulation.”
On May 1, 2012, even Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of military dictatorship and Presidential runner of the ruling conservative Saenuri Paty said that simulation verification has to be prior to construction on break water.
Photo by Rev. Cho Hun-Kook/ Release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin from the Jeju Prison, on bail, on Dec. 12. Two have been imprisoned since Sept. 6, the opening day of WCC.
‘The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island submitted individual complaints to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on human rights situation in Gangjeong. Human rights defenders including peace activists, religious leaders, villagers, and environmental defenders are continuously harassed by the government of the Republic of Korea, the navy and construction companies during their peaceful protest against construction of Jeju naval base.
Press statement was made in Korean but attachments are in English, so feel free to download the letter and case fact sheets from below link for your information 🙂
Scenes of release of Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)
Welcome back of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasun port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. For more photos by Jang Hyun-woo 장현우 http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/729, http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/496a/731
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ People celebrate the release of two in front of the jeju prison on Dec. 12Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Released Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil (Saltcandy Yohan) is again surrounded by the police on the same day at the gate.Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Celebration in the struggle field on Dec. 12
Welcome back to Gangjeong of two prisoners, Park Seok-jin 박석진 and Saltcandy Yohan 정연길. These two climbed up the caisson dock at Hwasoon port with the other peace activists on September 6, opening day of World Conservation Congress in Jeju. They were released on bail on December 12. Video by Dunguree 박성수
Update on the conscientious prisoners against the Jeju naval base project
As of Dec. 16, 2012
Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, 188th day (No. 598)
Mr. Park Seung-Ho, 93rd day (No. 290)
Fr. Lee Young-Chan, 53rd day (No. 407) Please send each letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:
Jeju Prison
161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
Image: Kim Bok-Chul, a former laid-off railroad worker and one of the leaders of the field struggle, with a humorous sign, ‘Break down the fence.’ For the photo source, click here.
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Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28 (after 181 days). See here.
Villager Mr. Yoon Chung was released on Oct. 24(after 44days). See here.
Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26 (after 118 days). See here.
Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. Park Suk-Jin were released on Dec. 12 (after 98days). See here.
Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.
It was found on Dec. 8 that an older brother of a wife of a dead worker on Nov. 28 posted a writing in the Gangjeong village website (Click here). On Nov. 28, the very day that the ruling Saenuri Party unilaterally railroaded 2013 budget bill on the Jeju naval base project in the National Defense committee of the National Assembly, a chief mate, Mr. Kim (43, living in the Jeju City) of a tug boat named Jungseungho died in the morning. The crews in the tug boat have been put to work on the Jeju naval base project. To see more on the background of the incident behind his death,click here. The writing was forwarded by Mr. Lim Ho-Young, village website (in Korean language) manager and peacekeeper.
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A father of a family, who has worked on the naval base construction, left this world
By Kim Sung-Ki
I can hardly restrain my very complicated heart while I write this.
On Nov. 28(Wed), I heard the news in Seoul that my sister’s husband died by accident.
Upon my sister’s cry, “Brother, please come here quickly,’ I stopped all my works and boarded myself on the airplane to Jeju
As a result of confirming the situation, I found my brother-in-law died while he worked on the Jeju naval base construction. My brother-in-law was the chief mate of the company called Jungseung haewoon (maritime transportation) and the company has made sub-contract to the Taehwa Construction who also made a sub-contract to the Samsung C &T.
According to the day’s accident story heard, my brother-in-law had been put to work of the Taewha Construction, which had not been planned. It was a work on a tug boat that drags a barge. He was returning from the Gangjoeng village to Hwasoon port after some work. The accident happened during the mooring process in the Hwasoon port. According to a Jeju Sori article, it was a human life accident caused by a rope that links between tug boat and barge( in the words of captain, it is ‘wire’). It is told that the thickness of the wire is about 18 cm. To my inference, he seems to have immediately died due to the stroke by wire. At the time, there was an excursion ship and many tourists witnessed the site. That is what I was told on the accident at the time.
Personally experiencing this incident, I became to recognize how ironic situation I am placed in. My hometown is Jeju and I am a peacenik who opposes the Jeju naval base construction in the Gangjeong village. Of course, I don’t actively participate in the struggle in the village. I only sympathize it, in my heart. Still I and my sister became to lose a member of our family during the naval base construction.
My brother in law was the head of a family, having two children. He is a dad of a daughter attending middle school and a son attending an elementary school. Do I have to think them praiseworthy as they accept the fact that their dad is not here any more in this world, with calm attitude? Or do they think it is a matter of no importance as they could not see their dad often? My feeling is complicated.
I became to think that the incident of my brother in law is an example that shows the problems of Korea society.
My brother in law is an ordinary citizen who happened to have been victimized during the process of state drive for anti-peace policies. The Jeju where the Peace museum and military base co-exist cannot be our ‘Jeju’.
My brother in law has been a worker belonging to a sub-contract company dependent upon a big corporation. As you know, a sub-contract company cannot but subordinate to the demands by its master enterprise. Probably a tremendously unfair contract was done. I cast doubts to think that, if my brother-in-law who had carried out unplanned task had worked in a proper work environment, he would not have been victimized.
A head of a family, who was responsible for the livelihood of four members of family became to meet a very sorry death due to the contradiction of this society. Taking this incident, I feel a much sense of shame that there are little thing that I can help my sister as an older brother and my nephews as an uncle. Should a petit bourgeois victimized by state policy merely cure for one’s pain inside the wall of law and system?
I feel shame as I feel like that I appeal ‘personal’ pain to the people who try to save the village from the ‘social’ scope. The incident shows the values of ‘peace’ and ‘human rights’ coexist. I hope there is no 2nd victim.
While I am writing this, two children are sleeping and their mom cannot sleep for the wound of losing her husband, only absently looking at ceiling.
I hope my hometown, Jeju is where human beings are respected, wounds of human beings are cured and peace co-exist. Various selfishness and greed stay in Jeju. That is why there are the “Saving the Gureombi Rock,” “Gangjeong village,’ and “Jeju of Olle.”
The Jeju we want is the Jeju of ‘human being,’ ‘peace,’ ‘human rights,’ and ‘happiness.’ I hope there happens no same thing that happened to my sister. How we can save the Jeju as true Jeju? I pray for the happiness of my sister’s family.
Today there were many watch dogs by the gates of the naval base.
The things got less friendly.
The religious leader from Seoul was removed from the gate and the trucks could pass.
More people being lifted from in front of the gate and place inside so called detention circles.
And plenty of people in the manifestation.
The 100 bows for peace were made.
There were many people visiting Gangjeong today. Maybe that is why the police decided to wait until the afternoon to open the gates again.
When you are dragged from making your peace bows, your shoes often end up someplace else.
