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Tag: National Assembly

  • National Assembly Woman, Jang, reports relocation of endangered species poorly done

    [Oct. 12] The relocation of the habitats for the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was driven in a rough-and-ready method: A National Assembly woman, Jang Hana, reports.

     

     

    Left: Red-foot crabs that died during the process of relocation to an alternate habitat in the Jeju naval base construction process (Jeju Domin Ilbo, Oct. 12/ Original source: Press release attachment material by Jang Hana, National Assembly woman)

    Right: Red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) discovered in the Jeju naval base construction area. The species has been relocated to an alternative habitat. (Headline Jeju, Oct. 12)

     

    “[T]he relocation of the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was unreliably processed. In the Gangjeong village port, tens of red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) were discovered dead. It is because the red-foot crabs were moved in fish traps without protection of them during the process of the relocation to an alternate habitat (* Seongwenne Creek, nearby the Gangjeong village). It has been revealed that the investigation and habitat relocation on the narrow-mouth toad has not been properly performed. Even though the website of the Jeju civilian-military complex tour beauty reads that about 900 individual numbers of the Narrow-Mouth Frog( Kaloula Borealis, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) have been relocated, it turned out that they were all tadpoles. There is high possibility that all the adult narrow mouth toads have been killed during the construction process and there is low possibility that the relocated tadpoles survived, too.” (Press Release by Jang Hana, National assembly woman)

     

    The below is the translation of the press release by Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman, on Oct. 12.  She attached two documents (not translated here) to the press release. They are the elaboration of her press release. Otherwise, the Korean language of this site can be seen here.

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    [Press Release on the Inspection of government offices] Alternate habitats for the endangered species of the Jeju naval base project area…full of the unreliable, when applied to the US guideline.

     

    Oct. 12, 2012

     

    Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, says, “In South Korea, alternate habitats are an indulgence for development”

     

     

    1.Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman (Democratic United Party) has submitted a report titled, ‘Analysis on the environmental contamination due to military base and independent environmental impact assessment,’ as a resource material for the National Assembly inspection of the government offices by the Environment and Labor committee of the ROK National Assembly.

     

    2. According to the report, it was proved out that the relocation of the endangered species having been processed in the Jeju naval base construction has been in a rough-and-ready method, as a result of applying the ‘Guideline on the Relocation Plan on the Endangered Species,’  by the US department of the Interior.

     

    3. In the report that Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, has investigated, the relocation example of Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a worldwide endangered species, is presented. In the guideline on the relocation of Desert Tortoise, which is formed of total 7 stages, one glances elaborate concern and will on the protection of the endangered species in all the process of plan-investigation-relocation-adaptation etc.

     

    4. According to the guideline, comparison and observation on the habitat environment between the alternate habitat and 3rd region should be done before the relocation [of species] to an alternate habitat. According to the 2nd stage in the guideline, one should choose original habitat, alternate habitat, and the 3d habitat and should observe all the three sites. Then one observes the individual numbers etc. of the Desert Tortoise in an alternate habitat and 3rd habitat to observe on the matter of success [of relocation] in the alternate habitat and catch hold of problems [on it, if any]. However, National Assembly woman Jang says, “there was no part on the comparison and observation on the 3rd habitat,’ in the service [company] report on the release of the red-foot crab (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government), which was processed during the Jeju naval base project into an alternate habitat

     

    5. There is so called evacuation investigation according to the 4th stage of the guideline, which means that all the subjected species should be relocated to an alternate habitat with no individual number left in an original habitat. It means ALL individual numbers because the original habitat would be destroyed. Further an individual with abnormality in health should get heath check and rehabilitation medical treatment that costs $ 9,000 for an individual number for five years.

     

    6. In the 6th stage of the guideline, concrete explanations on relocation method is presented. The relocation should be done as possible as in spring, while release should be done within the range of 18~30 centigrade and safekeeping box should be moved through a clean and oxygen-enough container. The sanitary condition of the container is important, as well. Containers should be sterilized with household bleach or manufactured goods certified by the Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also all the Desert Tortoises must make contact with water within 12 hours before their release and must be released in a protection zone of no high density.

     

    7. The last 7th stage is on the monitoring and adaption management after relocation. In the guideline , monitoring point time and period is very elaborately presented. After the relocation to an alternative habitat, at least five years should be monitored. The monitoring should be done once within 24 hours right after release, minimum twice within two weeks’ release right after release, minimum once a week. However according to Jang, the monitoring cycle on the red-foot crabs in the alternative habitat (* Seongwenne Creek, nearby the Gangjeong village.See HERE) of the Jeju naval base project area was merely once in 6 months.

     

    8. However, the relocation of the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was unreliably processed. In the Gangjeong village port, tens of red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) were discovered dead. It is because the red-foot crabs were moved in fish traps without protection of them during the process of the relocation to an alternate habitat. It has been revealed that the investigation and habitat relocation on the narrow-mouth toad has not been properly performed. Even though the website of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Tour Beauty reads that about 900 individual numbers of the Narrow-Mouth Frog(Kaloula Borealis, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) have been relocated, it turned out that they were all tadpoles. There is high possibility that all the adult narrow mouth toads have been killed during the construction process and there is low possibility that the relocated tadpoles survived, too.

     

    9. Jang Hana, National Assembly woman criticized, saying, “The alternative habitats are becoming indulgence for the big size environmental destruction. Still [relocation itself] is being processed very unreliably in a rough-and ready method. She plans to strongly demand protection measures on the endangered species in the Jeju naval base projection area during the National Assembly inspection on the government affairs.

     

    10. Otherwise, the report submitted by Jang has been made by the Green Korea United and Endangered Species International (ESI), an IUCN member group and overseas environmental group who made joint investigation.

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    See also

    http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/I51g/585

    [Green Korea United] ENDANGERED SPECIES RELOCATION ASSESSMENT

     

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    Reference

     

    http://onethehuman.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=press&wr_id=121

    [국감보도자료] 제주해군기지 대체서식지, 미국기준 적용해 보니 부실투성이 . . . .

    글쓴이 : 장하나의원…

     

    http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35834

    해군기지 멸종위기종 서식지 이전 ‘졸속’

    장하나 의원 “미국기준 적용해 봤더니 부실투성이” 지적

    데스크승인 2012.10.12  18:40:45

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162168

    “해군기지 대체서식지 이전 졸속…개발 면죄부에 불과해”

    장하나 의원, “미국기준 적용시 부실투성이”

    2012.10.12  11:00:38

     

     

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

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

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

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

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

     
    Original Korean script: See  http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/5htg/79
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    Why the Jeju navy base is the US base?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Navy report: Jeju Naval Base to Accommodate US Nuclear Submarine

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

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


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

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

    Sung-Hee Choi writes:

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

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

     

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

     

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

    The Democratic Unity party members said,

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

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

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

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