Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: human rights

  • Samsung, Samsung victims, Workers’ Presidential candidate and snow

    It was one of the coldest weather on Dec. 5. While the people’s sit-ins are ongoing in Gangjeong and Seoul near a month by now, people in both regions had to fight with cold weather that accompanied heavy snow (Seoul) and sleets (Gangjeong) in strong wind. Otherwise the village association entered  judiciary measure against the navy, companies and Island government, regarding environmental destruction. A good news is that  Buddhists made public their large size mobilization for care of Gangjeong.  Otherwise, 333 intellectuals made a statement opposing Park Geun-Hye, the Presidential candidate of the ruling conservative Saenuri party, with concerns on the possibility of returning back of  Yushin dictatorship.  For the details of each, see the below.

     

    Amid coldest weather, Gangjeong joins the protest for the victims of Samsung

    In Seoul, the struggle in such bad weather was highlighted though in solidarity by the people who are opposing against naval base, who joined the emergency press conference by the workers and bereaved families of the victims of the Samsung industrial disease in front of the Samsung headquarter in Gangnam, Seoul. On the day that Samsung chairman’s only son was promoted to vice chairman. See an article, here.

    Heavy and first snow fall in this winter in Seoul area on December 5, there was a protest in front of Samsung, as part of ‘Hope March’ by the ‘Let’s live together’ team. . . . .Fore more photos by Wooki Lee, see  here(Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    The Samsung General Union had called for solidarity upon the Samsung’ security workers’ violence on one-man protesters on Nov. 30, the day of the 25th anniversary event commemorating the inauguration of Lee Gun-Hee, President of  Samsung. For more detail, see here. The venue was in front of Samsung headquarter, Gangnam, Seoul, where even long-time staying tenants are ready always to be evicted by the corporate greed.

    Photo by Samsung General Labor Union, Dec. 5, 2012. The protesters held the images of victims by Samsung on Nov. 30, in the emergency rally, in front of the Samsung headquarter, Gangnam, the richest district of Korea.  For more photos, click here(Samsung General labor Union) or here(Photos by Lee Wooki).

     

    Workers’ Presidential candidate demands to revoke the Jeju naval base project

    Kim So-Yeon, a leader of legendary Kiryung workers’ struggle and now Workers’ Presidential candidate also shined people’s protest. Still the people’s struggle would meet the Samsung’s counter-rally in which the Samsung seemed to have mobilized its workers who are not actually willing to be. The Samsung also mobilizing the police even interrupted Kim’s election campaign.

    Photographer Lee Woo-Ki writes:

    ‘We have fought all day amid snow. Even though Kim So-Yeon has Presidential candidate debate at 11 pm, tonight, she is still with us. . She says she was sorry that there was no night time passage of construction vehicles so no police circling of people [on Sunday, Nov. 18] when she visited Gangjeong with determined mind to be with people. Kim has slept beside Fr. Mun in sleeping bag when there was sit-in in front of National Assembly.”

    Photo by Lee Woo-Ki, Workers’ Presidential candidate, Kim So-Yeon. For more photos, click here.

     

    Following the Dec. 4 TV debate held by three Presidential candidates of the ruling, main opposition, and opposition parties, there was another TV debate for three minority Presidential candidates who belonged to non-party on Dec. 5. Among the three, Kim So Yeon represented Workers. Kim Soon-Ja represented cleaning workers. Park Jong-Sun is a conservative. The other candidate, Kang Ji-Won was absent in refusal of the debate form in which major and minority candidates were differentiated.

    Kim emphasizing the oppressed people, pointed out the hypocricy of two big parties. Regarding the Jeju naval base, Kim said, “While Park Geun-Hye, Moon Jae-In, two candidates emphasize the Northeast Asia peace. They are keeping silent on the issue of the Jeju naval base that stirs tension and brings war threat, regarding the US. To stop the Jeju naval base construction is to cut the US- centered diplomacy and establish the peace agreement.” See the related Korean article here

     

    Snow can be suffering cause for night time protesters in Gangjeong

    ‘December 6. . .very cold, freezing day’ . . .by Saewoo at the naval base gate. For more photos by Saewoo, see here (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

     

    A nigfht time protestor nicknames Saewoo writes:

    “Tonight, streaks of snow fluttered.

    The SNS was all covered with shouts of joy. However, I was not so glad.

    In Gangjeong, snow brings coldness. Our cloths are wet by sleets. Even hot packs are being frozen. Still there are people who sleep on the cold ground to stop the night time construction vehicles…

    My heart is likely to fall down with pains.

    My tears are not dried even though I cry and cry.”

    Around 5:40pm, Dec. 5.  police circling started…It
    is cloudy..The sign reads, ‘All part of body are bruised and wounded. Stop unjustifiable police violence’
    Around 5:50 pm,  Dec 5 right after police circling … new music instrument created by a villager

     

    Villagers’ statement on having entered judicial measure against the navy, companies and Island government

    Following its official letter to the Island government on Nov. 20, the village association entered on judicial measure against the navy-side and Island government on Dec. 5. The Original Korean statement of the below translation can be seen here.

     

    Photo and caption by Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base around 5:30 am, Dec. 5. 2012. ‘The barges gave up the works and are returning to Hwasoon port due to the bad weather condition.’ (Facebook post by Regina Pyon) / The navy’s illegal and law-evasive destruction of the Metboori, in the east tip of the naval base project area has brought suspicion from the people. See here

     

    Title: Is the navy harmful insect that gnaws on the value of the Jeju to enforce the construction even in violation of the agreed items in the Environmental Impact Assessment again following the general unreliability of the Jeju naval base construction?

    The Jeju naval base project committee installed silt protectors on the sea with half a heart because of the protests by the village Association and environmental groups when it started maritime construction without installing stationary silt protectors on the sea in the beginning of last year.

    However, it attempted to enforce construction again in the situations when silt protectors were not still equipped and even when the silt protectors were partly or completely damaged due to heavy sea waves. As a result, the Jeju Island government, lodged with civilian complaints, has ‘demanded’ official construction pose to the Ministry of National Defense(MND) and Environmental Agency (EA) three times by this year ( * ‘demand’ is weaker measure than ‘order’ that can practically stop the construction)

    Even with those facts, it is already enough for the Jeju Island government to take a measure of the business suspension to the applicable enterprises. It is right to say that it is possible for the Jeju Island government to take a measure of business suspension to the applicable enterprises and cancellation on the superintendence committee’s registration, which is more than the measure of negligence fines against them, added of its records of directions to the navy on the installation of silt protectors four times and of repeated directions twice following the none-carried directions.

    The Jeju Island is proud of its heaven-blessed nature. The Seogwipo maritime environment is the only UNESCO-designated maritime Biosphere Reserve in Korea and the Gangjeong Sea is of the habitat of soft coral, ROK Government-designated natural memorial No. 442. It is the start point that made the Jeju Island as the UNESCO triple-crowned and Seven Nature of the World. Is not the navy like harmful insect that gnaws on the value of the Jeju to enforce a large-size construction in such place even in violation of the minimum agreed items on nature protection?

    We have clearly stated that, if the Jeju Island government does not strictly punish on such destroying behaviors, we would take a judicial measure even against- not to mention the navy, navy-contracted construction companies-the Jeju Island government responsible for unreliable execution on the duty of management and supervision [on the navy and its contracted companies].

    On Nov. [20], the Village Association has requested the Jeju Island government to give the navy direction on  execution, submitting it with the proofs on the navy’s illegal construction (destruction). And the Jeju Island government notified us that it has sent its official letter to the MND and EA on the date of Nov. 30. However, in the Gangjeong Sea, illegal construction is still being committed.

    Thereupon, the Village Association states that it entered the judicial measure thanks to the MINBYON (Lawyers for Democratic Society), against the navy, navy-contracted companies, superintendence committee and Jeju Island government, along with sending the Island government an official letter that demands it strong administrative measures such as the imposition on the negligence fines. We warn again the navy that dares various law-evasiveness and unlawfulness, being blinded only for securing 2012 budget. The navy should immediately stop the construction (destruction) that destroys the environment of Jeju while staging a fraud play of ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty,’ which is a nonsense. And it should bear in mind that there would be only a disgrace of judicial judgment along with people’s,  if it does not take steps for re-examination on the project along with apology to people.

    Dec. 5, 2012

    The Gangjeong Village Association

     

    Buddhists plan to cure the village with a religious service for the God of Sea in the port on Dec. 13.

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Dec. 5, 2012/ The Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism and Jeju Buddhist Association, having a press conference in the Island People’s room of the Island Council on Dec. 5, stated that they would hold the ‘Yongwang Daejae at 2pm, on Dec. 13.”

    Peace keeper, Park Yong-Sung writes:

    Facing the Presidential election, the Jogye religious order, Jeju Buddhism orders and Buddhists from the Jeju and nationwide will come to the village to console the pain of Gangjeong. The Yongwangje ( a religious service for the God of Sea), the traditional village event, will be featured with the characters of Buddhism this year, as there are many Buddhists in the village. So the name will be ‘Yongwangdaejae’ combined with Buddhism ritual of ‘Jae.’ The event will be held at the Gnagjeong port, people looking at the Gureombi Rock and Gangjeong Sea at 2 pm, Dec. 13, Thursday.

     It is a big event even the highest leader of the Korean Buddhism and other high-profile Buddist monks join. The monks who has had little concern with Gangjeong and temples of various religious orders will come to Gangjeong. It is to cure the pain of the village and to recover the 400 year history community

    In this event, Do-Beop, leader of the Life and peace Fellowship and Chairman of Hwa-Jaeng Committee, Korean Buddhist Jogye Order will join the event

    Photo by Jeju Sori, Dec. 5, 2012/ Do-Beop, leader of the Life and peace Fellowship and Chairman of Hwa-Jaeng Committee, Korean Buddhist Jogye Order
    Poster on ‘Yongwanddaejae, Dec. 13

     

    Statement of Intellectuals in Asia Who Remember the Yushin Dictatorship

    Photo source: Pressian, Nov. 5, 2012/ 333 intellectuals from 25 Asian countries made a statement, expressing opposition against park Geun-Hye, Presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri party.

    Excerpt:

    A highly important election will be held in December in a country in Asia, known for its exemplary democratization, South Korea. This election, to elect a new President in a presidential polity, is likely to serve as a significant testing ground for the future of democratization not only in South Korea, but in Asia as well.

    One concern is that the prominent presidential candidate of the conservative ruling party is none other than the daughter and heir of the late Park Jung-hee, the notorious dictator who took power by military coup and ruled the country with an iron-fist for 18 years. Park Geun-hye played not only the privileged daughter role of the dictator but acted as de facto first lady after her mother died. She won her way to the presidential candidacy through appealing to the voters with the successes of Park’s regime and calling for restoration of its honor. She thus became the choice of oligarchic political forces who share the nostalgia of the authoritarianism that was Park Jung-hee’s rule.[..]
    We intellectuals in Asia who clearly remember the rule by terror of Park Jung-hee and his Yushin dictatorship, think that what is presently happening with the coming election in South Korea lays a dark cloud over the future of South Korean democracy. Contrary to the beautified stories that Park’s followers make and spread, the days of Park’s dictatorship were a series of political crises and Korean people had to suffer from totalitarian control and state violence that resembled the days of Japanese colonial rule.
    (For the whole statement, see here)

     

    ( Kyunghyang, Dec. 5:  Digging up the Grave of Chang Chun-ha to Identify Cause of Death

    An article that reminds the dark age of Park Chung-Hee, military dictatorship for 18 years (1961-1979). Park Geun-Hye, The Presidential candidate of the ruling Conservative Party is the heir of Park Chung-Hee. If she becomes the President, the future of Korea is dangerous…See also Park Chung-Hee in wiki )

     

    See also Carol Reckinger’ s blog, ‘Camera War,’

     

     

  • December starts with continuous sit-in in the center of Seoul and release of all the arrested on Nov. 28

    On Dec. 1, while two young activists who were arrested on Nov. 28 and indicted by prosecutors since then were finally released by the court review on arrest warrant, the people who have started fast sit-in along with hair-shaving on Nov. 29 ended their sit-in in front of the National Assembly, after confirming many people’s solidarity and pledge by the politicians (See the below translated statement). Instead the sit-in will continue in the outdoor sit-in camp in the center of Seoul. Many people were happy at the good news that happened all together on the day. Today, Dec. 2 is Sunday. The Presidential election day of Dec. 19 is approaching soon. Construction vehicles passing the naval base project gates in Gangjeong stopped from the evening of Friday, Nov. 30 and people could take care life again after the high points of Nov. 28 and 29. However, in front of construction gate, the company thugs are removing people’s lumbers that people have filed up as barricade.  Gangjeong can never rest. Anyway, here are the stories on Dec. 1.

    Photo by Park Yongsung/ Two people who were arrested on Nov. 28 were finally released on Dec. 1. By the Dec. 1, all the three arrested on Nov. 28 were released.

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    1. People’s statement ending the outdoor sit-in in front of the National Assembly on Dec. 1

     

    Statement by the ‘Let’s live together’ Sit-In Camp Village:

    The struggle to cut the budget on the Jeju naval base project and to stop construction will be continued

    Mayor Kang’s overnight sit-in protest on the street without the tent in front of the national assembly in Seoul. . .enduring the coldest night with the vinyl. . .Photo by Park Rae-goon (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    On Nov. 28, the Saenuri Party unilaterally passed the original budget bill on the 2013 Jeju naval base project that the Government has submitted, in the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly. The Jeju naval base is a project  full of flaws from the design to construction process; such as suspicion on the unreliable construction, charges on manipulation and unreasonable construction have been endlessly raised. However, despite such numerous problems, the Saenuri Party committed undemocratic and unjust behavior confirming, without proper verification,  whole amount of 209 billion won that the Government has submitted as the Jeju naval base project budget next year, .

    Thereupon, to stop the 2013 Jeju naval base budget to be passed in the Budget and Balance committee of the National assembly, Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyun, mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, Fr. Mun Kyu-Hyun, Father Jeong Man-Young (Kolbe Chung), Mr. Song Chang-Wook (a Jeju resident), Park Soon-Hee (ex-representative of Nationwide Catholic Committee for the Justice) etc. decided hair-shaving and started fast sit-in, bearing an outdoor sleep amid the cold winter winds along with the friends of ‘Lets’ Live Together’ Sit-In Camp Village in front of the National Assembly.

    When such hair-shaving and fast sit-in started, members of the Democratic United Party, Progressive Justice Party and United Progressive Party visited the camp and pledged the budget cut on the naval base. The Green Party members and Kim So-Yeon, Presidential candidate of the Workers also expressed their same will, having the outdoor sit-in together. Various human rights, civic labor movement, environmental groups supporting the cause of outdoor sit-in, also pledged to join the struggle to stop the Jeju naval base budget next year being passed in the National Assembly.

    Currently it is told that the National Assembly tentatively agreed to postpone the [decision] by the Budget and Balance committee that decides the budget next year, to the afterward of the Presidential election. The politicians who visited the outdoor sit-in camp in front of the National Assembly and who promised that they would stop the passage of the Jeju naval base budget [in the National Assembly] must keep the promise without fail. If not, we would stage a struggle to inquire the responsibility for breaking their words not only to the Saenuri Party(* the ruling conservative) but also to the opposition parties including the Democratic United Party.

    Now trusting their promise, we are to return back to the “Let’s live together Sit-In Camp Village” in front of the Daehanmoon [of the Deoksou Palace, in the center of Seoul]. However we make clear that our struggle does never finish with the ending of our sit-in in front of the National Assembly. Through the sit-in struggle extended in the “Let’s Live Together Sit-In Camp Village,” we will fight to the end for the whole cut on the 2013 Jeju naval base budget, and further, to totally revoke the Jeju naval base project.

    The sit-in in front of the National Assembly is not the sit-in only for the Gangjeong villagers and activists who oppose the Jeju naval base. It is also an outdoor sit-in of the “Let’s Live Together Sit-In Camp Village,” being with the bereaved families of Yongsan, laid-off workers of Ssangyong automobile company and anti-nuclear activists fighting against the nuclear development. We who are evicted and pushed away are fighting in solidarity, feeling one another’s pain together. Our fighting is a joint action in life and solidarity in struggle to stop this cruel system that increases the wealth and power of the haves who take the bitter grievous tear and cry of the poor and powerless as manure.

    We will fight together to the end until the day of total revocation on the Jeju naval base project with our power of solidarity and joint action. Our solidarity and struggle will continue.

    Dec. 1, 2012

    Let’s live together Sit-In Camp Village

    (The original Korean statement(see here) was forwarded by Baek Gayoon, National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island)

     

    Videos on Sit-In in front of National Assembly from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1

    The 2nd night of Sit-in protest in Seoul urging the entire budget cut of Jeju naval base. . .Enduring the coldest night of this winter with the music. . .Lee Tae-ho, secretary general of PSPD, is playing the alto recorder(flute) ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ of ‘The Mission’. . Video by Fr. Youngmin Choi, Jesuit priest (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    Freezing night on the street. . .even the vinyl roof was not allowed for the sit-in in front of the national assembly bldg. . .After the catholic mass at noon on December 1, the overnight sit-in has closed as the budget and balance committee of national assembly was informed to be held after the presidential election on December 19 to decide the funding of Jeju naval base of 2013 finally. Flim by Dunguree Park Seong-su (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

     

     

    Other images in Seoul

    Post by Christian Karl/ No naval base sign projected on the City Hall building, Seoul
    Photo and caption by Emily Wang/ Festival in front of Deoksugung Palace. In front of the Deoksugung palace, a delicious and cheerful festival is going on. It’s a festival to give the solidarity to many social issues in Korea, including the budget issue of naval base. People are making the struggle cheerful in the cold winter in Seoul.

     

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    2. All the activists  were released by the evening of Dec. 1. However, abuse of state power has to be continuously raised as an issue. 

    Among the three arrested on Nov. 28, Mr. Kim Kook-Nam, a Jeju native who climbed up to a car wearing wire net at the risk of imprisonment was released by the evening of Nov. 29. However, Mr. Park Han-Baek and Mr. Park Jong-Hoon, two young men at their 20s and 30s who came from the main land were not released until the evening of Dec. 1. Mr. park Jong-Hoon was underneath a construction vehicle to stop the entry/exit of construction vehicles while 25 year old Park Han-Baek was just sitting in front of car with other people. Both of them were told to be charged with accumulated charges in the past, too, for their protests to stop the base project.

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ The photo is Mr. park Jong-Hoon who was not released until Dec. 1. Mr. Park Jong-Hoon entered underneath a car to block construction vehicles on Nov. 28. See more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, here.

    Otherwise, in case of Mr. park Han-Baek,  “The police carried a 25 year old young man away to a police car by an error judgment in presence of Lee Dong-Min, chief of the Seogwipo Police station(* A man from the main land and who ordered the blast of the Gureombi Rock, which went for two months, starting on March 7, this year). While the police acknowledged wrong order, the police and prosecutors were complicit to request imprisonment of him for investigation, charging him obstruction of business. See the below video.

    On the unjust arrest of a 25 year old young man on Nov. 28

    Video by Gami Kim (Source: Click here)

    Photo and caption by Park Yong-Sung on Nov. 30/”Two men are now in the Dongbu Police station, Jeju City and there would be the court review on the execution on arrest warrant against them in the Jeju local court at 4 pm, Dec. 1.”

     

    Upon the release of the two, peace activist, Park Yongsung wrote:

    ‘It is very clear that there is happening cracks among the police, prosecutors and court. I want to believe that the power of people can change politics. We want to believe that Gangjeong can change the world.

    Two friends told running to us, “I am sorry to make you have worried on me. My conviction for Gangjeong and peace became stronger when I acknowledged that I may be imprisoned. It is thanks to you who made all the efforts for us. “

    The lawyer is told to have succeeded to dishearten the infamous prosecutor, Park Kyun-Joon [who has seldom failed to send people opposing base project to the prison.’

    Another peace activist, Jo Yak Gol mentions that  abuse by state power to indiscriminately issue arrest warrant to people should be stopped.  Here is his video and summary on what really happened on Nov. 28.

    On the day of ruling party’s unilateral pass of budget bill in the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, violent police oppression on the people’s non-violent civil disobedience happened.

    Video and summary by Jo Yak Gol(Source: Click here)

    Summary( translated)

    1. The police are dragging an international peacekeeper to the ground. He was only taking photos. The police even lie that he fell down because he mis-stepped. The police even prevent people’s rights to free speech and report.

    2. A peacekeeper(Mr. Park Han-Baek)  was arrested by the order of the chief of the Seogwipo police station, Lee Dong-Min, with no reason given, during the police roughing out of people. While the police acknowledge that arrest of him was by an error judgement, the chief of the Seogwipo Police station escapes the site amid people’s protest. The young man is now facing the court review on arrest warrant against him.

    3. The police arrest a peacekeeper(Mr. Kim Kook-Nam) who was just quietly sitting on the car with wire net in his upper body. The police threw down him to the police vehicle with no safety equipment around.

    Eventually the man was injured by the wire net during the police’s violent arrest of him. (released on the night of Nov. 29)

    4. A woman cries during the police roughing out of people, while she was pushed down here and there, with her under clothes exposed. The police just continue their job, ignoring the woman.

    5. While a peace keeper(Mr. Park Jong-Hoon) underneath a truck with his hands handcuffed to the truck, Koo Seul-Hwan, the security director of the Seogwipo police station order his policemen to forcefully cut the handcuffs and take him away. Koo Seul-Hwan, the chief of the security director is the very guy who ordered to use hammer on March 19 and electric air saw on April 16 to cut the PVC pipes through which people connected their arms together to stop explosive cars and construction vehicles. Despite Park’s  scream of pain, the police ignores it. The young man, Mr. Park Jong-Hoon  in his early 30s is now facing court review on arrest warrant against him.

    The police overexertion of crackdown in violation of human rights is only for the interest of navy and Samsung!

     

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    3. See also Carol Reckinger’s blog: “Gochak “Detention Circles

     

  • Statements against the ruling party’s snatch of budget bill in the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on Nov. 28

    Photo by Jeong Dawoori/ Fr. Mun Kyoohyun, Mayor Kang and Fr. Mun Jeong-hyun (From the left) directly after shaving the heads in protest of the ruling party’s snatch of the budget bill on the Jeju naval base project on November 29 in Seoul. For more photos by Cho Sung-Bong, see here (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    In the morning of Nov. 28, as the news was told that the Saenuri Party unilaterally railroaded the 2013 Jeju naval base budget without the presence of the Democratic United Party (main opposition party/ ‘DP,’ afterward) members in the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, four Jeju-based or born National Assembly men and women (all DP) made a protest statement.  The Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island also made a joint statement. And those were followed by the villagers’ emergency statement upon the above news and intensified protest with the arrest of three people in the village on the day (All were released as of Dec. 1).  The people including the villagers would declare on hair-shaving and fast protest on No. 29.  The below is the collection of the three statements(translated) on Nov. 28. The statements reflect the degree of people’s fury on the ruling Saenuri’ party’s creeping of the National Assembly and its snatch of the budget bill on the Jeju naval base project.  For  Nov. 29 protest photos and summary, see here

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    1. Four National Assembly members ‘statement:

    The Saenuri Party’s pass of budget on the Jeju naval base in snatched way should be revoked!! It should be totally nullified!!

    Today [on Nov. 28], the Saenuri Party passed the Jeju naval base budget in snatched way in the general meeting of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly.  Even though the ruling and opposition parties had talked to dispose the issue by agreement through enough discussion, the Saenuri party ignoring it, acted with even snatchin an unreserved way.

    It has never been precedent in the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly that a budget bill was passed in a snatched way even with a vote in its budget examination. It is because there is no ruling and opposition regarding security matter.

    We, the present National Assembly members have claimed whole cut of the Jeju naval base project budget for four reasons on Nov. 5, 2011. We especially stated that whole cut of budget is inevitable for construction stop and whole re-examination because the Government has not properly carried out the subsidiary opinion by the Budget and Balance Special Committee of the National Assembly in 2007 that the Government would use the base as the ‘Jeju Civilian-Military Port of Call’; and National Assembly’s five recommendations such as ‘conclusion on the protocol with the Jeju Island,’ presented during the budget examination by the Budget and Balance Special committee of the National Assembly in 2011 (* See the below reference)

    Despite that, the Saenuri Party ignored the dignity of the National assembly by itself, acting snatch of the bill in an unreserved way on today, Nov. 28.  In relation to the Jeju naval base project, the Saenuri Party committed a behavior of violation on the National Assembly that it passed the 2013 Jeju naval base budget in snatched way as the original Government proposal even without subsidiary opinion.

    The Jeju naval base project is dividing the Jeju Island people. Even though the National Assembly has a natural responsibility to settle such conflicts during the examination process on budget, the ruling and Saenuri Party and Park Geun-Hye, Presidential candidate of the Party have shown no will on the settlement of conflicts among the Jeju Island people and no true will on the unity of citizens.

    The present National Assembly members strongly denounce the Saenuri party’s Jeju naval base budget-snatching and declare it is a total nullity.

    Nov. 28, 2012

    Kang Chang-Il. Kim U-Nam. Kim Jae-Yoon and Jang Hana, Democratic United Party, all the present

    The five recommendations by the Budget and Balance Special Committee of the National Assembly in 2011 are:

    △ Revision of enforcement decree on the Port Act and change of basic plan on harbor and bay so that the base can be designated as a trade port [in part]/ Revision of enforcement decree on Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act for the guarantee of entry/exit of cruise / Conclusion on the protocol on the civilian-military joint use on the harbor and bay among the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) and Jeju Island

    △ Consultation on the division of the rights on official regulations on harbor & bay: And conclusion on maintenance/repair of harbor & bay facility.

    (*On June 29, the revisions on the two bills mentioned above were promulgated. But the protocol was not concluded yet because of the Jeju Island’s raising of question on technical verification on the entry/exit of cruise. There is also the Jeju Island’ dissatisfaction on the rights of official regulation. See here.)

    △ Technical examination on the possibility of port entry by 150,000 ton cruise

    (* It turned out that, according to recently disclosed technical verification simulation movie, it is possible for cruise to enter the port only by support of four tug boats. See here.)

    △ Support on the vicinity areas of the Gangjeong village)

    (* On Oct. 25, the villagers dissipated the hearing supervised by the Office of Prime Minister, saying the villagers are not deceived by so called local decelopment with the projecy. See here)

    △ The procedures and ways on the investigation on the surface of the earth for cultural treasures to be processed in lawful way.

    (* The investigation on cultural treasured were full of law-evasiveness and illegality)

    (Source: Jeju Sori, Nov. 29, 2012)

    Photo by Lee Woo-Ki, Nov. 29, 2012/ Jang Hana, a young National Assembly woman who has disclosed many times on the government fraud on the Jeju naval base project, cries right after Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyun shaved his hair with the start of fast in protest of the Saenuri Party’s snatching the budget bill on the Jeju naval base project on Nov. 28, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul in the morning of Nov. 29. For more photos, click here and here.Photographer Lee Wooki says. ‘Jang Hana, a newly elected member of the National Assembly and a Jeju-born. While fighting lonely and laboriously against enormously established political power, her heart is always for Gangjeong…Now she is the only true National Assembly member in South Korea.’

     

    2. Statement by the Pan-Island and nationwide organizing committees to stop the naval base regarding the ruling party members’ snatch of the budget bill in the National Defense committee of the National Assembly

    The below  is a translation. Its original Korean statement can be seen here.

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    Dismantle the Saenuri Party that has disposed the Jeju naval base budget in snatched way!

    -The Democratic United Party should actively stand to cut the budget!

    1. The 2013 Jeju naval base budget that should be fair to be totally cut was disposed in snatched way by the Saenuri Party in the National Defense committee of the National Assembly in the morning of Nov. 28. The members of the Saenuri Party belonging to the National Defense Committee repeated bad habit as the members of ‘the party specialized in snatch’ to pass the budget bill on the Jeju naval base that the Defense Program Administration Agency has proposed. It was a snatch carried out in 10 minutes of the opening ofmeeting in the meeting room of the National Defense committee of the National Assembly.

    2. The Jeju naval base project has been unilaterally enforced ignored of the principles such as local residents’ agreement and lawful procedure. Under the Lee Myung-Bak government of the Saenuri Party, nothing has been done with proper elucidation and verification from the total base layout flaws to the controversy on unreliable caisson production and outside pressure to the verification meeting supervised under the Office of Prime Minister.

     The recommendation items last year which had been through the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties of the Budget and Balance sub-committee of the National Assembly have been seldom kept. In such situation, the snatching budget-pass by the Seanuri Party this time means they merely overturned their decision items by themselves.

    Even though it turned out to be impossible for two 150,000 ton cruises for the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty to come alongside the pier-which the Government has at least promised- as a result of verification and therefore the members of the Saenuri Party know that they need new access to that matter, they thoroughly ignored it.

    3. In the time faced of the Presidential election, the snatched passage of budget this time by the members of the Saenuri Party of the National Assembly is merely a mean-spirited trick, reflected of its intention on security trade with the issue of the Jeju naval base.

    Especially even though candidate Park Geun-Hye has said that she would make the Jeju as the 2nd Hawai’i with the building of the Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty, which is nothing to do with the will of the Jeju Island people, it is only to betray citizens for the party to stand idle on the passage of budget in the situation when even basic verification has not even been completed. If the party is to make great unity while deceiving citizens, the party should be basically dismantled and its candidate has to be declared of having no basic quality [as the President (candidate)]

    4. The Democratic United Party should also actively respond on the matter of the Jeju naval base. In relation to the Jeju naval base, candidate Moon Jae-In has promised to the citizens and Jeju Island people on construction stop and re-examination. Even though it was not without the efforts by a part of the party, it is still a question whether the Democratic United Party has possibly acted to properly keep such promise. Even now, we demand the Democratic United Party actively step to keep the promise by candidate Moon and its party opinion of construction stop and re-examination during the remaining process by Budget and Balance Committee of the National assembly.

    Nov. 28, 2012

    Jeju Pan-Island Committee for the Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island

    National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island

    Photo by Emily Wang, Nov. 29, 2012/ For more photos by Emily Wang, see here and here.
    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo, Nov. 29. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here. / Even during the people’s hair-shaving event in protest of the Saenuri Party’s snatch of budget bill on Nov. 28,  police oppressed them only to make construction vehicles to enter and exit the main gates of the Jeju naval base project area, enforced in the Gangjeong village, Jeju

    ……………………………………………………………………………….

    3. Villagers Emergency statement (Original Korean statement can be seen here)

    Candidate Park Geun-Hye proved out that she is a ghost of the military dictatorship that would lead the Republic of Korea into a dark age.

    -Denouncing the Saenuri Party that passed the 2013 Jeju naval base budget in snatched way

    The Saenuri Party passed the next year budget on the Jeju naval base project as its original proposal without the presence of the members of the Democratic United Party in the general meeting of the Budget and Balance committee of the National Assembly.

    Even though the Jeju naval base has a name of so called the Civilian–Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty, it is strictly a military base and of a security project. A security project is a business that absolutely needs people’s agreemet therefore it is a project that the ruling and opposition parties should make an agreement and allocate budget. Still the Saenuri Party abusing its more than half seats in the National Defense committee passed the budget in snatching way. It is the behavior of infringement on the National Assembly as the Jeju-based National Assembly members of the Democratic United Party claim.

    As a result, it was disclosed that the Lee Myung Bak government turned out to be irresponsible regime, lack of morality as already seen in the affairs of private property in Naegokdong, Seoul, BBK, inspection on the civilian; to ignore public poll and enforce the projects distrusted by citizens as seen in the four river project and nuclear power plant; and to increase the gap between the rich and poor for its economy policy centered around the Chaebol(재벌/ a South Korean form of business conglomerate). Still it was also disclosed that Park Geun-Hye, candidate of the Saenuri Party is not willing to punish the current regime and heads for another immoral regime which is not different from the Lee Myung Bak government, as to look on snatched pass of budget bill even on a security project.

    How the Saenuri Party dares to make limp of the budget bill in snatched way in the National Assembly during the Presidential election perod, if not from the intention to return back to the Yushin period with the election of candidate, Park Geun-Hye, as the President, following Lee Myung-Bak regime that is told to have retrogressed Democracy to decades ago!

    If candidate Park Geun-Hye does not apologize on the incident on the snatched bill and does not cooperate on budget cut, The Gangjeong Village Association will enter the campaign to defeat candidate Park Geun-Hye, together with all the solidaity groups who are with the Gangjeong village and all democratic citizens in this country who resist to self-righteousness and dictatorship.

    And Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyun, mayor Kang Dong-Kyun etc will start undefined fast and hair-shaving for the purpose of whole 2013 budget cut on the Jeju naval base project, from tomorrow of Nov. 29, in protest against candidate Park Geun-Hye and Saenuri Party that forcefully carried out snatching of the budget bill in the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly. We have a strong faith that history has been always for the victory of people that have broken down the violent coercion by dictatorships. Therefore we will win without fail and will fight until we win.

    Finally, we ask Presidential candidate Moon Jae-In and Democratic United Party to make all the efforts to cut the whole budget on the Jeju naval base with the willingness to judge immoral candidate and party.

    Nov. 28

    The Gangjeong Village Association

     

    Photo by Emily Wang, Nov. 29, 2012/ Mr. Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the naval base, holds a sign om the current conscientious prisoners against the naval base project
    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo, Nov. 29, 2012/ Jeong Young-Hee, Chairwoman of the Village Women’s Association. It is her 2nd time to shave hair in protest against the naval base project. She has cut her hair on May 26 in protest of the Island governor who is complicit to enforce the naval base project.

    …………………………………………………………..

    Article on Nov. 28 protest in Gangjeong, see here and here(Carol Reckinger)

    Summary and photos (Seoul, Gagnjeong)  of Nov. 29 protest (in English), see here and here (Carol Reckinger)

    Summary and photos of Seoul protest on Nov. 29 (in Korean): See Catholic News, Nov. 29, 2012

    Videos on Nov. 29 protest

    20 people shaved the heads in Seoul and Gangjeong, Sit-in overnight protest and fasting started in front of National Assembly on November 29, against the government budget bill of Jeju naval base railroaded in the defense committee only with the presence of the ruling party members. The night of Seoul and Gangjeong is very very cold. . .Videos by Dunguree 박성수 (Facebook post by Regina Pyon)

    Video on Seoul protest, Nov. 29 (Source: Click here)

    Video on Gangjeong protest, Nov. 29 (Source: Click here)

    Video on Gangjeong protest, Nov. 28 (Source: Click here)

  • Coast Guard Illegally Blocks Boats in Public Gangjeong Port

    On Tuesday, November 21, several members of SOS (Save Our Seas), the Gangjeong ocean observation, monitoring, and action team, reunited after several months of focusing on other activities (and several members months long imprisonment). Four members, decided to take two kayaks, one turned into a homemade sailboat, out to the sea to observe the construction. Their plan was to circle the construction site legally from the outside, observe and take pictures and video. They also just to go out to sea for the first time in several months.

    The weather was a bit cold and overcast, but it was not dangerous or excessively windy and there were no sea weather warnings. All four members are excellent swimmers and kayakers as well as licensed divers. They also all wore heavy winter wet suits, both for warmth and safety. The members brought their kayaks to Gangjeong port, a small public port, and put their boats in the water. Upon doing so, the coast guard ran to them and began questioning them about their plans and motive. Since Korea is supposedly a free democracy and not a police state, the members merely replied that they were going to the ocean and felt no further need to give more details.

    Coast Guard boats intercept the kayaks

    As the SOS members got in the Kayaks and took off, they were suddenly surrounded by Coast Guard ships and officers. Without any announcement or information, the coast guard officers jumped in the water and began blocking the kayaks. They then grabbed the kayaks and began pulling and pushing them back to the shore. SOS members struggled nonviolently with the coast guard who continued to attack them and restrict their rights and freedom without any explanations.

    Finally after a lot of struggle, one coast guard official began to announce through a microphone that because there was a the construction site nearby, it might be possible that the SOS members would go inside and doing something illegal. He even referenced the June 30 action when Kim Dong-Won climbed a crane doing illegal dredging. Of course, this is outrageous as not only was Kim Dong-Won not aboard a Kayak but also his case is still currently on trial, meaning he is still innocent until proven guilty. Further it was outrageous that simply because there was a construction site in the area (hundreds of meters away, no where near where SOS was blocked while doing something completely legal in a public place. With that reasoning the police can stop anyone from doing anything if there is ever a chance of something illegal happening, which is always and everywhere!

    Coast Guard thugs block a swimmer.

    The struggle continued on and the SOS members went back to shore and then attempted to enter the water at several other places, every time illegally blocked and assaulted by the coast guard. They continued until it began to grow dark. At which point they returned to the land.

    It was an outrageous display of police stupidity and power (there were more than 20 coast guard officers to the 4 SOS), and total trampling on the rights of the SOS team members. It is clear that not only is Gangjeong a police occupation, but that the coast guard and the police are nothing more than free taxpayer paid security for construction companies, Samsung and Daelim. Many Korean coast guard members are very nationalistically proud of themselves for being in the coast guard, but they have nothing to be proud of. They are complicit in the destruction of Gangjeong Village, its people, heritage and culture, and the destruction of the environment, including the very sea that they are sworn to protect. This is both pathetic and shameful.

    More pictures available below:

    SOS members prepare their homemade sailboat kayak.
    Entering the water, ready for the journey.
    Coast Guard officers block the sailboat kayak.
    Not giving up, the SOS members got out of the water and entered again at another location. They were blocked again, this time by even more coast guard boats and officers.
    While being trapped by the Coast Guard, the SOS members found an old damaged silt protector, which again raised concerns about whether the construction site is using the required environmental protection.
    The silt protector viewed from underwater.

     

  • No night time entry of trucks for a week. What’s happening?/ Night time construction noise has brought complaints from Hwasoon residents

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo on Nov. 11/ ‘The blue-roofed housed are inferred to be the residential buildings by  workers.’ See Jang’s more photos of construction site where destruction is being done in thorough violation of the EIA, see here.

     

    1. Workers’ sabotage? Not confirmed yet.

    There have been no night time entry/ exit of cement mixer trucks since last Saturday, Nov. 10. Even though it is told that 24 hour construction is continued inside the construction site. As of Nov. 16, it became a week that cement mixer trucks did not enter or exit the gates in the nights. The police would withdraw from the field in the evening and people could fortunately take break in the nights. On Nov. 16, the last struggle in front of the construction gates was at around 5:40 pm since there were no more trucks and police withdrew after it.

    What’s happening? Is it just a part of normal process for caisson production that needs care period by the next caisson production? Or are the police tired to be mobilized in the nights since they think the navy is crazy, too, to rush for the construction even in the nights?

    There is information that needs much more factual check. So this is just for reference. According to information that should be checked in various aspects, it is told that the Korean workers inside the construction site are sabotaging, intending to rebel against unfair work management.

    It has been known that about 100 workers from Vietnam and other countries have entered into the naval base construction site in the village just before 24 hour construction (destruction). We could imagine their poor work conditions, exploited with low wages.

    And it seems Korean workers are also exploited, which should be never surprising news.

    According to  information, the navy-contracted companies hiring Korean workers laid off them after the workers were mobilized to teach Vietnamese workers how to work.

    In the morning of Nov. 16, peacekeepers in the protest field were told that the construction company unilaterally laid off 18 workers. A laid-off worker coming out of the site told people.

    Beside 18 laid off Korean workers, it is told that some Vietnam workers quit the jobs that morning because they felt so cold to stay inside the containers in the coast within the construction area.

    Regarding 18 laid-off Korean workers, they are workers all working with reinforced rods. There were originally 30 workers working with reinforced rods and now 12 workers are left. The company has made two caissons and the 3rd caisson has been posed in process. It is told that Vietnamese workers would fill the empty job spots.

    While the daily wage of a Vietnam worker is 60,000 won, a South Korean worker gets 150,000 won, it is told. The Korean workers are told to wonder why such so-called important national policy project is built by foreign workers and why the Vietnamese workers often take records of photos on construction site with their mobile phones.

    It is told that while the director of the field is the one who has worked in Hwasoon, the workers here in Gangjeong construction site are employed by the Daelim-subcontracted company called the Jeju T & C, of which the headquarter is told to be in Seoul and which they have never been informed before. The workers were employed from all over the country and there is no specific leader among them.

    The workers have originally been told from the construction company that they would get 4 million won for a month for two years with the job. But the 18 laid-off workers could not get any dismissal allowance since their work term was less than two months. According to the Ministry of Labor, dismissal allowance is given to workers of more than three months. To be worse, they could not get wage from the companies yet. It is told that the companies said to them that they would send wage through their bank accounts later.

    The unfair work management in the Jeju naval base project has already been exposed though in part in the Hwasoon workers’ case. See No. 3, here. The bad and suspicious work conditions for workers are being leaked…

     

    Update on Nov. 17: It is told that beside the Korean workers who are told to have intended strike, Vietnamese workers are also in the mood of organizing strike.  It is clear the caisson work inside the naval base construction site in the Gangjeong village is not being processed well. Even during the daytime on Nov. 17, Saturday, there were no more cement mixer trucks entering after 3:30pm. The police withdrew at the time. It is unusual considering that construction (destruction) has been going on by late evening on Saturday even before 24 hour construction.

    Also, it is told that the employees of navy-contracted security companies are complaining on illegal registration of companies (* for that, see page 4,  Nov. newsletter) and delayed payment of wages. They are in the move to file a suit on unjust employment to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

    Still despite such already exposed unjust construction including unfair work conditions, on Nov. 17, the Seogwipo City Hall, being pressured by the navy, sent a notice  to the villagers that if the villagers are not volunteering to remove their sit-in tents across construction gates, it will carry on forceful execution of demolition of them. The villagers and peacekeepers are ready to fight to save the sit-in tents next week.

    It also became clear that the residential households nearby the construction site in the Gangjeong village are suffering for the noise during the night time construction. One resident told that she felt like in the hell when she heard the noise of crane during the night.

     

    2. Night time construction noise has brought complaints from Hwasoon residents

     

    Photo: Jemin Ilbo, Nov. 8, 2012, Caisson built in the Hwasoon port

     

    There is not only a matter of work conditions for workers. The 24 hour construction to build 8,800 ton caissons in Hwasoon port (40 minutes car distance eastward from the Gangjeong village) has already been complained by the nearby residents.

    The Jemin Ilbo on Nov. 8 reported (Excerpted translation):

    The residents in Dongha-dong and Ungeun-dong, Hwasoon-li, Andeok myeon (* myeon (township) is the subdivision of gun (county)), in the Seogwipo city are being damaged by the construction noise related to the production of caissons that are put in the naval base construction area in Gangjeong village.

    The residents are especially protesting to Samsung C & T, saying they are experiencing discomfort because of greater noise in the nights as the caisson production is being done for 24 hours.

    The residents have demanded to the Samsung C & T to stop construction from 10pm to 5am and to take prevention measures to reduce the damage by noise.

    However, the position of the Samsung C & T is that it must progress construction even in the night time, reasoning that the caisson production needs unstopping construction due to technical matter; that there would be problem in quality management if construction is stopped in the night; and that the construction period has been delayed for several months.

    Eventually there have been meetings in last September and at the end of October, by the related personnel to solve the civilian complaints on construction noise by the caisson productions, for which local residents, contracted company personnel, and government officers in the Seogwipo City and Andeok Myeon joined. However, solution measures have not been provided yet.

    Kim Tae-Un, Chairman of Hwasoon li stated that “The residents nearby the construction site are being harmed not to be able to sleep again if they woke up from sleep due to abrupt noise occurring from the cranes in the dead of night… Even though we have raised noise issue from the beginning of this year, it has not been properly settled. And the residents are now standing up against it”.

    …………………………………………………

    Reference

    http://www.jemin.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=298043
    심야시간에도 공사 소음 피해 극심
    화순리서 해군기지 투입할 케이슨 24시간 제작
    주민들 “밤 10시~새벽 5시 공사중단 해야”
    시공사 “공사기법•공기문제로 부득이 강행”
    2012 년 11월 8일

    …………………………………………………

    An interesting article to look at:

    http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/560972.html
    Korean workers underpaid on US military bases
    Nov.16,2012 16:33 KST

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

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

    Download PDF

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

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

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

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

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

    Some points in the press conference statement read:

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

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

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

    Protest letter to the Saenuri Party: Excerpts

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

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

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

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

    Protest letter to the Democratic United Party: Excerpts

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

    ( Email address source: click here   )

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

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

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

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

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

    Thanks for listening.

     

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

     

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

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

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

    ( Youtube/ Source: Click here )

     

    Update on Nov. 16

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

    ………………………..………………………

    Reference

     

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

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

     

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

    제주해군기지 시뮬레이션 검증 ‘합의’…”주야간 검증”

    총리실, 제주해군기지 시뮬레이션 검증 요구 전격 수용

    2개 케이스 시현…주야간 검증…책임연구원 교체키로

    2012.11.15  09:47:42

     

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

    강정마을회 “민주당 전액삭감 입장 끝까지 지켜야”

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

    2012.11.15  11:17:35

     

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

    정부, 해군기지 15만톤 크루즈 시뮬레이션 수용

    2012.11.15  09:46:23

     

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

    “강정마을, 예수처럼 쓰러져도 평화의 표지 될 것”

    ‘24시간 공사’ 이어지는 해군기지 앞 끈질기게 지키는 사람들

    2012.11.15  11:14:37

  • Catholic Priests unite despite navy and police insult. Bishop Kang U-Il says, “Peace is the result of justice and love.”

     

    Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo, Catholic priests united facing the navy and police violence and insult in front of construction gate, Nov. 12, 2012. For many more resourceful photos on the day by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.

     

    Catholic priests unite against the navy and police violence 

    While the civil disobedience movement declared by Prof. Shin Yong-In, in front of the construction site in Gangjoeng started on Nov. 12, Catholic priests made voice on the same day as well.

    Since Fr. Lee Young-Chan(Jesuit) was arrested and imprisoned on Oct. 24, the Catholic priests have been holding a special mass beside their daily 11 am mass in front of construction site,  every 4pm, Monday.

    At 4 pm, Nov. 12, Catholic priests, clergy men and women who belong to the Catholic Solidarity for the Realization of Jeju, Peace Island, visited the village before the evening mass held by Bishop Kang U-Il in the Jeju City on the day.

    It was about 30 minutes later that four buses marked with ‘Korea National Defense University: KNDU’ and ‘ROK navy’ were to visit the Jeju naval base project building complex. When their entry became impossible because of the mass, police were mobilized and the police roughed out and moved away priests from the site, saying that the priests were doing of  ‘obstructing business.’ Priests were released only after the buses passed into the building complex despite people’s protests.

    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo/ The signs on the bus read, ‘Korea National Defense University: KNDU’ and ‘ROK navy’

    The Catholic priests denounced the police and navy : “It never happens in the world that the police mobilize, stop the mass, and confine priests indiscriminately without notice while religious events are processed. The police have not made any reflection despite the incident of damaged Eucharist by such police behavior last August.”

    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo/ Nov. 12, 2012

    People including Mr. Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base denounced the police: “Though their identities are uncertain, some of them in military costumes or suits in the buses even derided the priests being detained in the police circles. The Catholic priests were shocked. However such scenes are happening everyday in Gangjeong.”

    Photo By Jang Hyun-Woo, Nov. 12, 2012/ The young peacekeepers are suffering by the police’s roughing out of them
    Photo by Catholic News Here and Now and caption by Regina Pyon/
    Catholic Solidarity for the Peace island, Jeju, starts signature campaign until Dec. 2 (1st week of Advent) demanding ‘the release of Jesuit priest Lee Young-chan S.J and four other prisoners of conscience’ and ‘the overall re-examination of Jeju naval base construction’. . . In this photo, Catholic priests are blocking the cement mixing trucks after the mass of November 12 at the gate of Jeju naval base construction site.

    Supporting imprisoned Fr. Lee Young-Chan, Bishop Kang U-Il makes a voice

     

    Photo: Jeju Sori, Nov. 12, 2012/ Bishop Kang U-Il

     

    “Peace is not merely having no war or guaranteeing balance between the hostile powers. Peace is a serenity of order. Peace is the result of justice and fruit of love” (Clause No. 2304, Catholic creed, read by Bishop Kang U-Il).

    There was a ‘Nation Situational Mass to Release the Prisoners by the Naval Base project,’ in the Central Catholic Church, Jeju City at 7:30 pm, Nov. 12. The mass was sponsored by the 15 dioceses of the Justice and Peace Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Catholic Human Rights Committee, Catholic Solidarity for the Realization of Peace Island, Jeju.

    More than 20 Catholic priests and Catholic nuns have been arrested in their protests against the naval base project in the Gangjeong village. In  March, Fr. Kim Jung-Wook was first imprisoned (released after about 40 days) as a Catholic priest and on Oct. 24, Fr. Lee Young-Chan was imprisoned. Both are the Jesuits.

    Bishop Kang U-Il said, “The [projected] Jeju naval base is a strategic military facility for our country to be with the United States to dominate the superiority in the North East Asia, against China.”

    “The situation in Gangjeong this time is the God’s homework and task given to the Korean churches to examine themselves,  which have passively taken on God’s raised question on war. The God is inviting us so that we make all the efforts for peace.”

    Photo: Jeju Sori, Nov. 12, 2012 
    Photo: Catholic News Now and Here/ Catholic mass for the release of Jesuit priest Lee Young-chan S.J. and prisoners of conscience. . .About 900 people attended the mass held in Jeju cathedral. (caption by Regina Pyon)

    Nov. 12 poster by the Jesuits Korea (Caption by Regina Pyon): At 7.30 p.m. on November 12, Catholic mass is held officiated by Bishop Peter Kang U-il at Jeju cathedral for the release of Jesuit priest, Lee Young-Chan S.J, and imprisoned peace activists. It was organized by the Catholic Solidarity for Peace Island Jeju, that 15 national justice and peace commissions and representatives of lay and religious committees are participating. Bishop Peter Kang is also chairperson of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.

     

    Bishop Peter Kang U-Il’s homily on Nov. 12

    Full text of Bishop Peter Kang’s homily “There is no just war.” can be read here.

    (informed by Regina Pyon)

    (Source: Click here)

     

    Remembering Fr. Lee SJ and the four brave activists who are serving time in prison for their peace activities and putting their bodies in the way of trucks involved in the construction of a naval base which is destroying the coastal environment and the village community of Gangjeong.This base is being built in an already volatile region and will only serve to increase military tensions. . .this video was played during the Catholic mass at Jeju central cathedral celebrated by Bp. Peter Kang on Nov. 12. Video by Dungree (Caption by Regina Pyon)

    (Source: Click here)

    ……………………………………………………..

     

    Reference

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122451

    “경찰, 이제는 하다못해 종교행사까지 방해하나”

    2012.11.12  17:56:55

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164740

    “해군기지 시국미사 중 경찰투입…또 종교행사 침탈”

    강정마을서 또 충돌…천주교 신부들 분노

    2012.11.12  18:12:33

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=122456

    “한국 교회가 제주해군기지 건설에 문제제기 해야”

    2012.11.12  20:32:46

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8435

    [강우일 주교 강론]”정당한 전쟁은 없습니다”

    11월 12일, 제주 중앙주교좌성당 시국미사

    승인 2012.11.13  18:43:58

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8428

    강우일 주교 “강정 해군기지, 교회에 던진 하느님의 부끄러운 숙제”

    제주중앙성당에서 이영찬 신부 등 구속자 석방 위한 시국미사 봉헌
    천주교연대, 이영찬 신부 등 구속자 석방 위한 서명운동 시작

    2012.11.13  02:59:22

     

    http://www.catholicnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=8441

    이영찬 신부와 활동가 석방을 위한 서명운동 시작 – 가톨릭뉴스 지금여기

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

     

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

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

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

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

    (Source: Click here )

    Details of the video

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

     

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

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

     

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

    Nov. 8, 2012

     

    Gangjeong Village Association

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

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

     

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

     

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    So please stir up ourselves a little more.

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

     

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

     

     

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

     

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

    The latest news read:

     

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

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

     

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

    …………………………………………………………………………

     

    Reference:

     

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

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

     

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

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

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

    문재인의 해군기지 해법은? “先공사중단” 명쾌

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

    2012.11.08  18:19:01

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

    문재인 “해군기지 공사 중단하고 재검토 할 것”

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

    2012.11.08  17:05:12

     

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

    해군기지 2천억 삭감이냐? 고수냐? ‘정면충돌’

    2012.11.09  10:37:12