Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: National Assembly

  • “You cannot buy us with money!” Villagers dissipated the Prime Minister Office presentation again.

     

    Photo and video: Jeju Sori, Oct. 25, 2012/ Lim Suk-Kyu, staff of the Prime Minister Office (left) and navy (behind) are embarrassed by people’s protest. See more photos in the below reference links and here(Photos by Cho Sung-Bong)

     

    On Oct. 25, 2012, while many peacekeepers watching the naval base project gates from the construction trucks from the early morning, about 40 people including many village elders led by Mr. Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base and Mr. Cho Kyung-Chul, Vice-mayor of the village, dissipated the presentation by the Government (supervised under the Prime Minister Office) on the local development plan in relation to the naval base project. The people’s anger and protest filled the presentation hall where the navy has barely mobilized small sum of pro-base villagers. The Prime Minister Office, not being able to even start the event, announced the end of event in 15 minutes.

     

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong, See more of his photos on the day, here

     

    The presentation collectively joined by 8 ministries and navy was to be unilaterally held in the 2nd Seogwipo City Hall at 2pm. The 8 ministries beside the Prime Minister Office are: Ministry of Administration and Security, Ministry of the National Defense (navy headquarter, joined by Jung In-Yang, Chief of the Jeju naval base project committee), Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs, and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The presentation was to introduce on the overall plan on the Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty and each ministry’s 2013 project plan.

     

    However, Chairman Go strongly protested to the Prime Minister Office, saying, “Currently the enforcement of the presentation is to totally ignore the Gangjeong villagers. The government has a mean intention to cover the matters of the naval base project with MONEY.”

     

    He also protested saying, “Does it make sense that the government having a presentation on the development plan WITHOUT the verification on the problems of the Jeju naval base project, exposed in the recent National Assembly inspection? If there should be any presentation, it should be the reasonable talk with the villagers who are the direct victims of the project.”

     

    On Oct. 23, Kang Gi-Jung and Jang Hana (Democratic United party), two National Assembly members secondly made public of the technical verification committee meeting minutes on cruise supervised under the Prime Minister Office and exposed the two important things on it.

     

    Photo: Jeju Sori, Oct. 23, 2012/ The meeting minutes of the technical verification committee on cruise, doctored by the Government was exposed.
    1. The Government explanation that it has been neural was a total lie as it was exposed that the chief of the technical committee, Jeon Joon-Sou, belongs to the think thank (국가미래연구원, Institute of National Future) of Park Geun-Hye, the Presidential runner of the ruling and conservative Saenuri Party, to the violation of the principal of the neutrality of the committee. Park is the daughter of the deceased ex-President Park Jung-Hee, military dictatorship during 60s~70s. Her repeated remarks that she wants to build the Jeju Island based on the model of Hawaii military base have been highly criticized by the domestic people and Hawaii peace activists. See here.) The 24 hour naval base construction and police watch that started on the very day of Oct. 25 very reminds Park Jung-Hee whose infamous 24 hour police watch against people during his resign has been seldom revived until recently.

    In fact, it reads in the meeting minutes that Jeon Joon-Sou has said, “the most fearful thing is the construction to be       stopped” (*so the data should be politically doctored) and “The construction should be started as the schedule.”  It is also known that he is a political figure nominated as a promotion member for the committee of the local development of the Saenuri Party on Sept. 29, 2012.

     

    2. It was also confirmed that the government has unilaterally and unreasonably pushed the project, forcing and ignoring the opinions by the technical committee members, some of whom even said that the entry of cruise entry/exit of port is IMPOSSIBLE with the current flawed base design. ( *which clarified the so called complex port is in fact, a military-only port)

     

    The people have already dissipated all the unilateral presentations by the government (Prime Minister Office) & navy’s on the subject on Oct. 28, 2011, and cruise terminal on Dec. 6, 2011 and Island government & navy’s on the military housing project on May 29 and June 15, 2012 (* The latter was scandal at the time since the navy attempted to use a ‘recorder’ to enforce presentation when its plan was disturbed by the villagers’ protest. The navy announced later that it would enforce the housing project)

     

    It is told that the personnel of the Prime Minister Office said:

    ‘In the National policy Control meeting supervised by the Prime Minister office on Feb. 29, 2012 (On the day, the Lee Myung-Bak government has issued its will to enforce the Jeju naval base project, along with the local development plan), 1 trillion and 77 billion won budget of 37 projects (supported by the national expenditure of 579 billion won for 10 years) of local development plan in relation to the Jeju civilian-military complex port for tour beauty has been decided centered on the Jeju Island government-demanding projects. It would be earnestly promoted from 2013.”

    It also said, “Preferentially, 7.5 billion won ( 5 billion won of national expenditure, 2.5 billion won of local cost) is input to drive 5 projects including the establishment of the Gangjeong village community center this year. For 2013, 42.3 billion of national expenditure is complied for budget and submitted to the National Assembly as the Jeju Island government has demanded 52.9 billion won for 12 projects.”

     

    With the dissipation of the presentation, Lim Joon-Kyu, the Jeju Policy director of the Prime Minister office said there would be no planned additional presentation but the naval base construction is to be enforced as planned.

     

    Later, the Prime Minister office personnel made a talk meeting with the Jeju island government personnel. The Gangjeong villagers and peace keepers, watching the hall by 3pm, joined the struggle in front of construction gates, returning back to the village around 3:30pm.

    ……………………………………………..

    Reference

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163281

    강정주민 격렬 항의에 총리실 설명회 ‘무산‘

    반대측 주민 30여명 설명회장서 격렬 항의…”당장 중단하라“

    설명회 시작 선언도 없이 종료…”주민과의 대화가 우선 돼야“

    2012.10.25  14:32:55

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121747

    총리실 “추가 설명회 계획없어, 공사는 계속“

    2012.10.25  15:01:07

     

    http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=161815

    제주해군기지 정부합동설명회 결국 ‘무산‘

    반대측 강정주민 설명회 시작전부터 단상 점거 및 항의
    총리실 “지역 주민들의 반대로 인해 무산돼 안타깝다“

    2012.10.25  14:43:42

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=36111

    정부 강행 ‘해군기지 설명회’ 무산

    강정주민·평화활동가 행사장 진입… “돈으로 덮으려는 정부 의도” 강력 항의

    2012.10.25  15:45:21

     

    http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=135938

    〔종합〕제주해군기지 지역발전 설명회 ‘무산‘

    강정주민 “주민동의 없는 설명회 인정 못해” 반발로 설명회 진통

    2012.10.25  14:54:22

     

    http://www.seogwipo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=82911

    “가슴에 못 박으면서 대화하자는 것이냐?”

    22일 해군기지 지역발전계획 정부설명회 15분 만에 파행
    반대 주민 40여명 참여… “납득시키는 과정 먼저 있어야“

    2012년 10월 25일 (목) 15:45:04

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121748

    1조원 제주해군기지 지역발전계획 들여다보니…

    2012.10.25  15:46:37

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121617

    전준수 “제일 두려운 건 공사가 중단될까봐…”

    2012.10.23  10:46:41

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121605

    총리실 25일 지역발전설명회, 강정 “못한다“

    2012.10.23  09:17:43

  • Daily struggle has delayed 28 billion won. Help to cut all the budgets on base!

     

    A woman activist, ‘Deulkkot,’ appeals to Ku Seul-Hwan, an infamous Seogwipo Police staff member with a humorous note.  More Photos by Cho Sung-Bong, here.

     

    The daily struggle is going on in front of naval base project construction gates. The numbers of committed people who daily appear are usually small-less than 20. They are daily roughed out and carried by police 10 times or even 12 times even by the night. They are hurt with bruise in all parts of their body or scratched by police women’s nails during their resistance process. As sometimes their cloths are taken off during the process of the police forcefully pulling off their bodies, humiliation is what they risk to bear, too. Seldom is time even for going to the communal restaurant for meals. Meals are carried to be taken with street dusts. Still they hardly leave the field. Blocking and delaying cement mixer truck is more important for them, even though they will be dragged and bruised, soon. Street art and graffiti are everywhere: on the street, on the wall, on the poles.

    A male policeman is grabbing a woman peacekeeper’s wrist even after roughing out on Oct. 23, 2012. Photo by Kim Gami.

     

    The construction (destruction) is being accelerated with the completion of the giant caisson production frame on the Gureombi Rock coast. It is told that the contracted companies finished test operation for producing caisson on Oct. 23. Caissons that need more than 450 ton cement mixer truck for one by filling the giant mold frame with cement will be rapidly produced soon. About 200 workers from the Vietnam and Philippine will be brought into the construction site with cheaper wages to be exploited for 24 hours. That has been the case of Hwasoon where the Samsung C & T sub-contracted companies enforced the production of 9,000 ton caissons, of which 10 are now floating, whether broken or not by typhoons   in the Gangjeong Sea.

     

    Video by Novie Na on Oct. 23, 2012

     

     

    It is told that the navy has requested more policemen to enforce construction for 24 hours! The people’s struggle will be then for 24 hours in shift, too! Even the policemen think the navy is crazy. It is expected that the numbers of the policemen will increase at least by the end of this week: From about 250 (3 police companies) to 500 (6 police companies) daily.  The government has been pouring the people’s tax to enforce this illegal construction (destruction).  24 hours police watch, seldom precedent since the military dictatorship of Park Chung-Hee during 60s and 70s.

     

    On Oct. 19, 2012, the Jeju press reported that Ku Seul Hwan, the Security director of the Seogwipo Police Station got a medal from the Jeju Provincial Police Agency on the Day of the Police, being acknowledged for his exploit in his security duty for the VIPs in the WCC. But he is an infamous man for the peacekeepers in Gangjeong. He is the one very well known to direct his policemen to use hammer and electric saw to the cut the PVC pipes with which the peace keepers have connected their arms one another to block the explosive cars and cement mixer trucks  on March 19 and April 16, this year. Forget human rights Gangjeong.

     

    Despite all those, it is encouraging to hear that as of September, the navy could use only 50 billion won of the 107 billion won  allocated for the base project budget, 2012, which has law-evasively been transferred  from last year. The navy has planned to use 78 billion won by September. The not-executed 28 billion won is what the field protesters could bring for all of us. Their daily dedication is bringing the result.

     

    How you can help them? Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project .( *The government says that the total cost for the Jeju navy base project is about 1.7 trillion won) For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.

     

  • Villagers state: Full of unlawful procedures, in approval to the navy on the reclamation license

    The Jeju naval base project is divided of the 1st and 2nd work areas
    The 1st and core work area is ordered to Samsung C & T: The outer blocks of the south breakwater, west breakwater, and dock for aircraft carrier and cruise.
    The 2nd work area is ordered to Daelim: East breakwater, east break water shore protection, mooring facility and west breakwater shore protection.
    (Source: P. 2 & 3 of the attached file to the villagers’ open statement/inquiry, on the violation on the directives on the maritime traffic safety, Oct. 22, 2012)

     

    On Oct. 18, the villagers raised a very important issue to the Island governor: The navy’s OMISSION on the ‘maritime traffic safety diagnosis report’ during the process of the government approval on the Jeju naval base project. See its original Korean script here. According to them:

    1. The Ministry of National Defense (MND)’s first approval on the defense/ military facility on Jan. 21, 2009 did not need the navy’s submission on the diagnosis report since the revised Maritime Traffic Safety Act became to be effective only from Nov. 28, 2009.
    2. HOWEVER, the MND’s alteration approval disposal on March 15, 2010 that even the Supreme Court acknowledged as a separate disposal needed the navy’s submission of the diagnosis report, which was NOT carried out: A violation of law.
    3. Also, since the reclamation license permitted on the navy on March 3, 2010 was DONE WITHOUT the submission of diagnosis report, it is unlawful, as well.

    Those exposures are very important since the Supreme Court has made a court decision that the Jeju naval base project is LEGAL on July 5, 2012. See here.

    On Oct. 22, the villagers developed the issue again with the below translated statement. The village Association attached the two proof documents not translated here but useful. You can see those two PDF files at the bottom of here. The villagers demanded the Island governor’s reply to their inquiries by Nov. 7.

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

     

    [Gangjeong village statement, Oct. 22] All approval disposals related to the issue on the public water and its vicinity surface is violation of law in the Jeju naval base project (So called Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty)

     

    Through the material resources collected upon the National Assembly inspection on the government offices, it has become clear that the Jeju naval base project has so many procedural violations of laws.

    On the first inspection, regarding the matter on the non-enforcement on the maritime traffic safety diagnosis following the Maritime Traffic Safety ACT (Enforcement Date 27, May, 2009), claimed [on Oct. 18], it reads in the maritime traffic safety diagnosis guidebook supplementary provisions that [only] research reports ‘on the projects whose research service works have been finished before Jan. 26, 2010,’ should be switched to ‘diagnosis document.’ [Please notice] the investigation and test report on the Jeju naval base project 1st work area (Samsung C & T) was issued in April, 2010.

    In other words, the Ministry of Land,  Transportation and Maritime Affairs (MLMT) did not demand the Chief of Naval Operations on the submission of diagnosis report even though it is clear that it is the project subject to maritime traffic safety diagnosis.

    Also, the Navy Headquarter got the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface from the Busan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office, without submission of diagnosis report on the date of March 3rd, 2010. It is an act that the Office permitted the reclamation license for the law-violating project, which is also unlawful.

    Further, the Navy Headquarter applied for the approval on the reclamation execution plan on the public water and its vicinity surface on the date of March 5, 2010. Even though it was supposed that it should submit the construction specifications and execution layout books etc., it got approval on the execution plan without submission of specifications on the 1st work area and execution layout books on the date of April 6, 2010. Since the 1st work area (Samsung C & T) construction specifications and execution layout books were issued in May 2010, it could not present those [to the Office].

    In other words, it turned out that the Jeju naval base project is full of all the procedural violations, related to the matter on the public water and its surface, not to mention the violation of non-execution on the maritime traffic safety diagnosis following the Maritime Traffic Safety Act.

    Therefore, Woo Keun-Min, the Jeju Special-Self governing Island governor, who has all the authority on the reclamation license on the public water and its vicinity surface should be responsible for all the recovery of flaws and immediately cancel the approval on the execution on reclamation.

    As the Island governor Woo Keun-Min claims fair simulation, what he should do is to demand the navy maritime safety diagnosis, according to law. It is needless to say that verification process could be objectively and fairly done ONLY when the construction stop precedes it through cancellation of reclamation license.

    As clear proofs that there have been administrative procedural flaws in the Jeju naval base project beyond political arguments, we will proceed a process to strictly inquire on the responsibility on the illegality to the Chief of naval operations and Chief of Busan Regional Maritime Port Affairs and Port Office.

    Finally we make clear that we would inquire Woo the responsibility for civilian and criminal cases, if he does not make a cancellation disposal on the unlawful approval to the unlawful project. We also make clear that we would recall him as the Presidential election period finishes ( * You cannot do recalling movement during the Presidential election period in Korea)

    Oct. 22, 2012,

    The Gangjeong Village Association

     

    Original Korean script:  http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/2045

    …………………………………………………………….

     

    Reference:

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162951

    “제주해군기지 건설, 공유수면 관련 모든 승인처분 위법”

    강정마을회, 제주도에 공문 전달…국토부엔 질의서

    2012.10.22  12:23:28

  • ‘No verification on cruise, no budget,’ ‘no function for operational water area,’ National Assembly man claims

    Image source: Jeju Sori, Oct. 18, 2012 (translated)

    In the National Assembly Inspection on the navy headquarter on Oct. 18,  Kim Jae-Yoon (Democratic United Party, Seogwipo City), member of the Defense Committee of the National Assembly raised primarily on two issues. While the 1st issue has been constantly raised by many observers, the 2nd is something new and important. Anyway, here is the summary based on the Jeju Domin Ilbo, Oct. 18.

     

    1.   Regarding the harbor and bay layout of the Jeju naval base:

    ‘If simulation verification on the control of 150,000 ton cruise is not correctly carried out, all the budgets related to the Jeju naval base project for next year should be cut.’

     

    Kim pointed out that:

    (1)  Because of the reduced size of turning basin, cruise navigation is dangerous.

    (2)  Because of sea route change, dredging at the bottom of sea is inevitable, which raises concern on the intrusion on the ecology system protection area.

    (3)  Because of arbitrary standard on wave height, there is the risk of accidents during ships’ mooring or unloading.

    (4) Because of no design on emergency exit that should be prepared, according to the layout standard on the defense/ military facilities, for the cases when vessel is being attacked or running aground so the port entry is blockaded, it is difficult for vessels to move out if emergency occurs.

     

    He claimed that:

    Even though the flaws on the harbor and bay layout of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty (* In fact, a pure military base) are very serious, the navy has attempted to hide those with false explanations. It should be verified through objective and fair simulation whether turning basin and sea route have been designed according to the legal standard and the base plan is appropriate. The Government should accept the simulation cases demanded by the Jeju Island government (* which, itself, does not trust simulations by the central government but constantly makes false propaganda on the dual complex port). And the whole budget on the naval base project should be cut for the next year, unless simulation verification, the core of 5 items recommended to the Government by the National assembly is properly carried out.

     

    2.   Regarding the government assertion on sea security

     

    ‘The base would take little role in the protection on the southern sea area and maritime traffic route. The navy cause of  [so-called ‘security’] for building the naval base is only appearance.’

     

    Kim pointed out that:

    While the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone( KADIZ) is set close to the Jeju island, the Japanese Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) is set below the south sea of the Jeju and the Ieodo (* a submerged rock, not the Island) in the south of the Marado(the southernmost Island in Korea) also belongs to the JADIZ.

    Therefore in case the ROK navy mooring in the Jeju naval base and patrolling in the southern sea area of the Jeju, carries out operations with helicopters or aircraft embarked on vessels within the ADIZ, it should make a prior consultation with Japan and its activities could be limited by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF).

     

    Therefore Kim emphasized that:

    ‘Even though the navy asserts on the expansion of its influential power in the southern sea area through the building of the Jeju naval base, in reality, it is questionable to which points it can assert on its operation scope in the southern sea area. Then the role of the naval base as an outpost that guards the southern sea area is very limited. The cause to enforce the base project with tremendous budget and social costs then goes down.’

    ……………………………………….

     Reference

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35945

    “크루즈선 안전성 검증 안되면 예산 전액삭감”

    김재윤 의원, 국감서 해군기지 설계 오류 집중 추궁

    2012.10.18

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121434

    “제주해군기지, 남방해역 보호? 매우 제한적”

    2012.10.18

  • Navy report: Jeju Naval Base to Accommodate US Nuclear Submarine

    A US nuclear-powered SSN-776 submarine, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

    Hankyoreh, Oct. 18, 2012

    Navy report: Jeju naval base to accommodate US nuclear submarine

    Recently acquired documents raise questions about Gangjeong Village as a joint civil-military harbor

    By Ha Eo-young, staff reporter

    A Navy report from 2009 states that the water depth for a naval base currently under construction on Jeju Island was designed to accommodate a US nuclear submarine.

    This latest revelation comes on the heels of allegations that the base was designed to allow a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to make port.

    Document 06-520, titled “Basic Plan and Examination Request Basic Plan Report” was acquired from naval headquarters by Democratic United Party lawmaker Kim Kwang-jin. It states in its harbor facility requirement standards section that the “overall depth of the submarine dock was set at 12 meters at the request of the orderer.”

    This design depth suggests the base was planned to accommodate the US nuclear-powered SSN-776 submarine, since a depth of 9.3 meters would be adequate for South Korean submarines. This means that the base was designed around a vessel that the South Korean Navy does not current possess, and has no plans to possess.

    “The Ministry of National Defense said there were no demands from CNFK [the Commander of US Naval Forces Korea], but from this design it appears that the South Korean government took it upon itself to make [the harbor] big enough for a US warship that might never dock there, without even being asked to,” said Kim.

    “If it is built this way, we can’t even guarantee that it will be a South Korean military base, let alone a civil harbor,” he added. The South Korean government previously said the base was being designed as a joint civil-military harbor.

    “Suppose the US military comes to Jeju with a nuclear-power aircraft carrier,” Kim continued. “How can we reasonably guarantee that civilians can freely use it for ‘tourism’?”

    This is not the first accusation that the Jeju base is being built to US military standards. Previously, observers pointed to phrasing about “water depth meeting the 15.2 m standards of CFNK” in facility construction specifications published by naval headquarters in 2010 as evidence that the base was being tailored to CFNK demands.

    “The report was a pamphlet based on documents submitted by the company that performed the study,” said a Navy official. “The client in it is obviously the Navy.”

    “The design is a preemptive step to allow all submarines above a certain size to make port, not just a US nuclear-powered submarine,” the official added.

    Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

     

    ……………………………………………………………………………….

    # Save Jeju Now adds….

    Mr. Go Gwon-Il, chairman of the villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base has done in-depth research about the issue on the submarines that may moor in the Jeju naval base. According to him, it is possible to station total 80 trident nuclear missiles in the coast, which is enough number to annihilate China.

    According to his research, it is possible that total 4 submarines, including maximum two nuclear-propelled submarines that loads 24 numbers of 8,000km range nuclear missiles each and two nuclear submarines each that loads 16 nuclear missiles, and more than two multipurpose attack type submarines can be moored and equipped.

    In detail,

    The length of the submarine dock, 365m is enough for the simultaneous mooring of the US nuclear submarines of the Ohio(the biggest) and George Washington class loaded with ballistic missiles.

    The dock for the mid-size ship/ submarine is for a combination of diverse US nuclear submarines. Submarines of attack type or ballistic missile submarines can be moored.

    Among the US nuclear submarines, the submarine with the deepest draft is the Sea Wolf class, which is multipurpose attack ship and draft is 10.66m. That is why the water depth of 12m has been demanded for the submarine dock, by the Commander, US Navy Forces of Korea (CNFK).

    For the photos and tables, see http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/2039

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

    In this month’s issue:

    Gangjeong and the Naval Base Issue stir up the IUCN’s WCC 2012, New U.S. Links to the Naval Base found, ROK Government ignores the UN on Gangjeong, Interviews with Prisoner Kim Bok-Chul and a WCC participant, Articles from several Veterans for Peace visitors to Gangjeong, and more!

    Download PDF

  • Struggle to Keep the Gates from Construction Trucks Continues at Night

    Image: Cho Sung-Bong

    On Oct. 16, police roughed out people 12 times to the exhaustion of people who have kept the two gates from the endless construction trucks from early morning.  It has usually been about 7 times. Many young activists got bruise and scratched wounds as the policewomen even use their nails. The navy is accelerating construction (destruction) from the anxiety that it may not get the construction budget for next year.  The navy has been building caisson production area in the west part of the Gureombi Rock, for which and shipment site in the east part of the Gureombi Rock, it has blasted about 10 % of it this March and April.

    Last year, the National Assembly has cut about 96% of about 130 billion won in proposed budget related to the Jeju naval base construction. Many problems including unreliable base design had been exposed through the National Assembly inspection last year. Instead, about 107 billion won budget unused in 2011 due to people’s protests was transferred to 2012 and the navy has been consuming that transferred budget for 2012. Still the navy could not even use half of that as of this October because of fierce struggles by the dedicated people who daily keep the construction gate from the construction trucks, from morning to late evening, sometimes, overnight.

    As the end of this year is approaching amidst the National Assembly inspection (The National assembly inspection on the government offices related to the Jeju naval base project is from Oct. 5 to 24) and there will be a Presidential election in December, the navy and conservatives are anxious to finish their job as much as they can do. The growing criticism on the current Lee Myung Bak government is an another factor. The People here have been organizing the nationwide march from Oct. 4 to Nov. 3, which contributes to organize people’s will to change the government and to revoke the Jeju naval base project.

    The Headline Jeju on Oct. 9 reported that about 200 billion won was appropriated to the ROK National Assembly in the 2013 budget for the construction cost related to the Jeju naval base concerned by the Ministry of National Defense and DAPA(Defense Acquisition Program Administration).

    The cost includes about 108 billion won for the caisson production & deferment in the 1st work area and basic formation for the breakwaters; and 49 billion won for the caisson production & deferment in the 2nd work area and the basic formation of dock.  It is also known that about 22 billion won was estimated for land construction.

    However, people’s will to stop the Jeju naval base construction will be accomplished. One should not forget the people who daily keep the gates. They are the people who are saving us as well.

    Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project .( *The government says that the total cost for the Jeju navy base project is about 1.7 trillion won) For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.

    …………………………………..

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=161923

    내년 제주해군기지 공사비 2000억원 편성…항만공사 본격화

    국회 제출 예산서, 항만공사비 등 대거 편성

    2012.10.09  11:57:38

     …………………………………..

    See also

    http://savejejunow.org/daily-struggle-budget/

    Daily struggle has delayed 28 billion won. Help to cut all the budgets on base! (Oct. 23)

  • The National Police Agency reply to the UN was without consultation to the Jeju Police Agency

    [Oct. 15] The National Police Agency replied to the UN human rights inquiry on oppression on Gangjeong without consultation to the Jeju Police Agency.

    According to the National Assembly inspection resource material that Park Nam Choon (Democratic United party), a member of the Administrative Security Committee of the National assembly, has gotten from the Jeju Police Agency, the agency has not gotten any consultation from the National Police Agency regarding the reply letter to the UN human rights special rapporteurs’ joint inquiry on human rights violation in Gangjeong [on May 30.]

    It means the National Agency has made the reply letter in the way of the arbitrary.

    It was also exposed that the Jeju Police Agency has recognized on the existence of joint letter only through media and it has only become to know that there is the Gangjeong-related contents only by the preparation process on the National Assembly inspection at the end of September.

     

    …………………………………………….

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162350

    “UN무시, 인권 위에 존재하는 경찰청은 소설가?”

    ‘UN인권이사회 강정 인권침해 질의서’ 경찰청 맘대로 작성

    제주청은 허수아비, 공동서한 내용과 답변여부 전혀 몰라?”

    2012.10.15  10:03:46

  • Nearly 130,000 Mainland Police have been stationed in Gangjeong since August 2011

    Original Korean Image: Yu Dong-Su, Voice of the People/English Version: Gangjeong Village Story

    Pak Nam-Choon (Democratic United Party), member of the Administration and Security Committee of the National Assembly, has compiled and released data received from the Police Office, as part of the National inspection on the Police Office on Oct. 15:

    Approximately  a total of 130,000 mainland police persons have been stationed in Gangjeong village between August of 2011 and the present. A budget of 4.2 billion Won (about $3.5 million USD) was spent for primarily for food, accommodations and transportation by ferry.

    According to documents submitted by the police for the parliamentary inspection on October 15, a total of 194 police units have been mobilized and an average of 352 police officers per day have stationed in Gangjeong village, reaching a total of 128,402 officers

    At the same time, [during the period between Jan. 2010 to Aug. 2012] , a total of 586 villagers and activists have been arrested, and among them 493 have been taken to court or put on trial.

     

    Reference:

    Jeju Sori: 지난 1년 강정에 투입된 경찰 13만명-42억원

    2012.10.15  11:29:33

     

  • People’s statement upon the National Assembly inspection on the Island government

    On Oct. 15 when there was the National Assembly Administration and Security committee inspection on the Jeju Island government at the Island government hall, many people including village elders gathered in its yard to show their determination against the naval base project and to demand the Assembly thorough inspection on the Island government and revocation of the Jeju naval base project, from 9am to 5pm. Beside anti-base groups, there was also protest by a pro-base group in much small numbers. No physical conflict between them. Still the Island government bullying on the anti-base group people, did not even allow them to put a banner on the ground of yard in the beginning. However, people persisted to carry on peaceful 300 bows there. Picketing, songs, dances, and grafting went all day.

    The below is an excerpt translation of people’s press conference statement read in front of the Jeju Island government hall  upon the start of the National Assembly inspection on the Jeju Island government on Oct. 15.  Original Korean statement can be seen here.

     

    Photo by Cho Sung-Bong

    [People’s press conference statement on Oct. 15] ‘CNFK intervention, false civilian-military dual complex harbor, human rights violation: Revoke the Jeju naval base project that destroys the future of the Jeju!’

     

    Since the Gangjeong village has been decided as the Jeju naval base project-targeted area five years six months ago, the ROK navy is enforcing construction (destruction) inputting project cost of more than 200 billion won.  [..]

     

    Two biggest issues have been disclosed in the National Assembly inspection on the government offices this time.

     

    The one is on a clear proof that the US military has intervened in the Jeju naval base construction. As seen in the construction specifications, the CNFK (Commander of the US Navy Forces, Korea) has demanded [the ROK navy] a base design in which [US] nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarine can enter. (*See here or here)

     

    Not to mention that the construction cost is added with about 150 billion won due to dredging and mooring facility to fit the water depth for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine, we reconfirmed the will of the United States that wants to aggressively intervene in the conflict on the maritime order in the Northeast Asia. Our concern that the Jeju Island would be the scapegoat of the supremacy competition between China and the United States turned out to be more and more realistic.

     

    The other point is that it has come in evidence with that the Government has glossed over as if it would build a beautiful tourism port while it builds the port, in fact, only as a military port.

     

    Scandal is being raised with the public exposure of the meeting minutes by the technical verification committee under the Prime Minister Office, in which even a government officer’s self-scorning remark was even made public, that ‘the [government] has [originally] made the base design as a military port then is to forcibly put cruises, that is why [the committee cannot prove that that cruise works in the projected base through its simulation test]. Still the remarks by the government side that intends to enforce construction by all means without the change of base design flowed in the meeting minutes. Further it turned out that the government has enforced only construction (destruction), glossing over as if the simulation report that is not the government official but has been done by the ROK Maritime University to which the Samsung C & T has privately requested and that was done even before the formation of the technical verification committee is the report that is considered of all of the claims by the Jeju Island government (* which has constantly demanded to the central government on the Jeju civilian-military complex tour beauty where two 150,000 ton cruises are supposedly to enter, The people not only oppose the idea but think it is a nonsense) [..]

     

    Even though the navy has stated that it would use the southern sea and large size maritime shooting range nearby the Chuja Island as a shooting training by maneuvering flotilla, the maritime and fisheries bureau of the Jeju Island government is not raising any inquiry on it. The arms that are used by maneuvering flotilla have much different quality level from the machine gun–level arms that are currently used by the Jeju Defense Headquarter. Also, what will happen in the maritime ecology of that areas called ‘golden fish bank’ in case there are torpedo and anti submarine bomb training not to mention naval bombardment training in that maritime shooting training?  [..]

     

    Also the air force is openly stating that it would drive for search and rescue air force base with the development of the new Jeju airport. [..]

     

    Woo Keun-Min, the Island governor should have no more fantasy on the local development with the naval base construction that has been full of expedient method, law-evasiveness and illegality. [..]

     

    The navy should not extort the sacrifice of the Jeju Island people with its concession project under the mask of so called security. It should return back to its duty for true security placing the management on the southern sea transportation route and Ieodo (Rock not island) water area to the coast guard, the proper group for such duty.

     

    Oct. 15, 2012

     

    The Gangjeong village Association

    The Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Sop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island

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

     

     

    …………………………………………………………….

    Reference

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articlePhotoView.html?idxno=162359

    국회 국정감사장 앞 제주해군기지 반대 시위 전개

    “국감 통해 해군기지 문제점 낱낱이 밝혀내야”
    제주도청 앞 100배 시위…청원경찰과 한때 실랑이

    2012.10.15  11:05:21

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35865

    해군기지 공사중지 결단 촉구

    강정마을회 등 반대단체 국감장앞 집회

    2012.10.15  15:47:06