Blow, Spring Wind/ With RIMPAC, South Korea Expands Its Military Footprint/ World Peace University invites new energy to the village/ Women conscientious objectors’ movement keeps on/ International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament/ The Local Election and Jeju 2nd Airport project/ Illegal Dolphin Transfer from Jeju to Geoje Accused/ Woljeong-ri and Jeseong village/ Celebration and Concerns in the CNMI/ Connecting Past and Present in Okinawa/ The ROK-US-Japan alliance, NATO, and Global Alliance/ With the Nuri Rocket, South Korea heads for Space Imperialism/ In Soseong-ri, police are mobilized five times a week/ etc.
Gureombi’s Power Lives On/ International Messages Upon the 10th remembrance year of the blasting of Gureombi Rock/ Gangjeong Protectors’ Seminar Series/ Navy Base affects Soft Coral in the Gangjeong Sea/ “Spring Wind” Pilgrimage to Meet Another World/ No New Airport in Jeju, Gadeokdo or Saemangeum/ Construction for the military road comes into full swing/ The true nature of the navy base entry road straightening project/ I dreamed in prison/ Common issues for the improvement of the Jeju EIA system/ Resisting to the attempt to secure a supply line for THAAD/ For a People-led ‘Alddreu Grand Peace Park’/ Hosting International Visitors at the Alddreu Memorial/ Heading into “New Space” imperialism more and more/ Resisting to the attempt to secure a supply line for the THAAD/ Whales Will Save the World’s Climate—Unless the Military Destroys Them First (Excerpts)/ US Indo-Pacific Strategy to exacerbate regional tensions/ “Water is Life: Choosing Water Over War”/ Gangjeong has no expectations for Yoon/ Trial Updates etc.
Light Aircraft Carrier, Jeju Naval Base, US Indo-Pacific Strategy/ The 2021 Gangjeong Peace Activist March/ The release of Song Kang-ho/ Accusing the Navy Chief of Staff on Gangjeong Stream/ Ocean Action/ Update on the struggle against the 2nd airport project/ The New Space Era of South Korea with Rockets/ Opposition to AUKUS/ Rocket Lab: Privatized Militarization of Space in New Zealand/ US Militarization of Guam and the Marianas/ Updates from Henoko and Miyako/ The War Drum-beating 53rd ROK-US SCM etc.
A Declaration for Life, Peace and Culture Village; Interview with Gangjeong villagers; Remembering Father Bix; International Conference on Women, Peace and Security, Philippines; Hotbed of irregularities at the Jeju naval base construction; The Police’s Reasonable Judgment?; War Tax Resistance; trial update; The Precarious Spring of Korea; The first International Peace Film Festival In Gangjeong(IPFFIG); Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon’s speech trip to NY; Gangjeong Friends Candle vigil in Jeju City; and more.
A full translation from people’s statement on Feb. 25, 2016, here
Our Position on the Jeju Navy Base Construction Completion Ceremony
On Feb. 26, the Jeju navy base construction completion ceremony is held in Gangjeong Village, land of life. It is clear that the Jeju navy base cannot create an era of peace. The Jeju navy base cannot but be an outpost which threatens the peace of northeast Asia, amid conflict for military domination between the United States and China. Rather, it would be a seed of international conflict and would trigger an arms race. Peace should be kept by peace. The Jeju navy base cannot be the answer for the peace of Northeast Asia.
The completed Jeju navy base was built by merciless state violence which trampled villagers’ human rights and the sacred natural environment. The struggle for the last nine years has been a step towards true peace. During this time, villagers have have made efforts to counter the war base built of cement over the remains of Gureombi Rock where Gangjeong villagers had shared the breath of peace. It has been a history of peace versus state violence pushed through under the guise of a ‘national policy project,’ ignoring even the basic procedures of democracy. We will continue to build this history of peace even after the Jeju navy base construction completion ceremony.
The Jeju navy base, built through the trampling of villagers’ human rights, has ruthlessly destroyed the Gangjeong village community. The responsibility to restore the community lies on the central and island governments which have unilaterally pushed ahead with the Jeju naval base construction. However, neither the central nor island governments have ever made efforts to restore the peaceful community of Gangjeong. The government should make an apology now for the Jeju naval base construction which was continued while the will of Gangjeong villagers was ignored. Won Hee-Ryong, the Jeju Island governor has emphasized in words only the examination of the truth, conflict resolution, and community restoration. From the point of view of the villagers he should suggest a genuine solution. The navy has merely repeated its words that they would support the collection of villagers’ opinions and the resolution of conflicts. It can only fancy itself to have played the role of ‘conflict inducer,’ ignoring the villagers’ opinions, enforcing crackdowns like carrying out military operations, threatening and splitting villagers. How can a military which is not even loved by the local residents be a military for the citizens?
4. Now by the power of Gangjeong villagers themselves, we would make Gangjeong village to be reborn as a ‘village of life and peace,’ not as a ‘military base icon.’ The declaration of this ‘village for life, peace, and culture’ was held before the navy ceremony on Feb. 26. It is the villagers’ noble step for true peace as well as the start of the restoration of the Gangjeong community. And all of us who pray for the peace of Gangjeong will strengthen our solidarity bear the blossoms of the flower of peace. In resistance we will remember and continue our actions and cries for peace in order to stop the Jeju naval base for even one minute, one second. The Jeju naval base was built with the backing of state violence. We will cover it over with the wave of peace.
Feb. 25, 2016
Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stopping the Military Base and for Realization of the Peace Island, and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing the Naval Base in Jeju Island
In this March Edition:
Gureombi Remembrance Day, Permanent War, “Gureombi, The Wind is Blowing” travels the world, Women Crossing the DMZ Borders, Protecting Democracy or an Occupying Army? Choosing Arrest Rather than Paying Fines, Human Rights: Forever a Fugitive, Crosscurrents, Interview with Gangjeong Women’s Association leader Jeong Young-sim, Welcoming Grandma Youngdeung, Visit to the US Congress for Jeju 4·3 Solution, Remembering Fukushima and much more!
In this September Edition:
Catholic Conference, anniversary of Catholic solidarity and the fence around Gureombi, International Day of Peace, remembering an Japanese anti-base activist, North East Asia Regional Peace-building Institute, hunger strikes, Okinawa updates, trial updates, international solidarity, and more!
In this month’s issue:
Soft corals of Gangjeong dying, Jeju after the elections, Sydney Harbor, Solidarity with Okinawa for the Battle of Okinawa, police disturb Catholic mass, village bus gets painted, nonviolent direct action workshop in Gangjeong, remembering the Korean war, noisy construction, prison updates, trial updates, international solidarity, and more!
The official English poster for the 2014 Grand March for Life and Peace
The time for the annual Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace is almost here! From July 29 to August 2, Gangjeong friends and supporters will march across Jeju from Jeju City to Gangjeong. Then in Gangjeong there will be a festival and celebration.
Join us! Internationals are welcome! See the poster above for details and contact us at gangjeongintl@gmail.com & peace@pspd.org for info! It will be very helpful if you inform your participation to us through email in advance for the logistics purpose though your participation fee can be paid in the march site.
For the international friends who can physically join the march: For more concrete guide, please see the below. Any peace flags and talents that you may bring and share with the marchers would surely encourage the villagers and activists here. Thanks for joining us in march!
For the international friends who cannot physically join the march: Even though you may not be able to physically join the 2014 Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace, you may join us by sending us international solidarity messages(up to 100 words)/photos/videos through gangjeongintl@gmail.comby no later than July 23. As in 2012 and 2013, the village international team thankfully receives solidarity messages from the friends in the world upon the 2014 Grand March for Life and Peace which is followed by the Peace for the Sea International Peace Camp(Aug. 3 to 6), and boosted by other campaigns like writing a letter to Pope campaign . All the messages you send will be publicly shared. Please check the solidarity messages collected in 2012 (Click here) and 2013(Click here) . We want to let you know how Kang Dong-Kyun, ex-mayor of the Gangjeong village, has much appreciated all your messages, sitting and reading all the translated messages printed in 20 pages, with awe and gratitude, without moving for a while. None of your messages will go in vain. We also want to display some of your messages with translation in the Village Peace Center where many villagers and activists always gather. Thanks for encouraging us.
………………………………. Guide to 2014 March……………………………….
1. Accommodation and meal:
Tent and food are provided during march but you may bring your personal tent and/or sleeping bag(s). Please bring your personal washing tool (tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo, towel etc) , You may also bring jacket, umbrella etc.
2. Brief scheduleJuly 29 (Tues.):
Please gather across the main gate of the Jeju Island government hall by noon. If you join march in the middle of it, please contact Jungjoo (English,010-8560-3734), Emily (Chinese, 010-6469-9413 ), and Dongseok(Japanese, 010-9334-0933) for information.
Aug. 1 (Fri.):
There will be a Peace Bus in the Jeju airport at 2 pm. The bus directly goes to the village where there will be events (see the below) Once arrived in the village around 5 pm, there will be a Great gathering for people’s talk in the Gangjeong soccer field from 8 to 9 pm. Then movie night after it.
(* 6-7 pm: dinner 7-9 pm: Great gathering for people’s talks (Maningongdonghoe)
9:30 pm ~ : Movie night with Yang Yoon-Mo and Grace)
Aug. 2 (Sat.):
In the morning, there will be various program such as peace mass and human chain. From 7 pm, there will be a Cultural Event for the Stop of the Jeju Naval Base Project and Citizens’ Prayer for Peace in the Gangjeong Soccer Field.
(* 9-11 am: Gangjeong village tour
11 am -12 pm: Life and peace mass
12-1 pm: Human chain, Peace ribbons
1-2 pm: Lunch
2-6 pm: Peace prayer tower building, Peace-Protection Totemic Pole building, Writing wishes, peace prayer ceremony, Ieodo-ro Peace Market, Treasure-search (peace book village team), water play in the Gangjeong stream(watermelon party)
6-7 pm dinner
7-9 pm Cultural Event for the Stop of the Jeju Naval Base Project and for Peace Prayer )
Aug. 3 (Sun.):
Breakfast together at 8 am. You may join Seeding Flowers, Wish tower-building. The official events end on Aug. 2. Therefore Aug. 3 program is optional.
3. Schedule in detail
July 29(Tues.):Jeju Island Government Hall-A small park in the Halla University four way intersection- A Funeral House, Hagwi Agricultural Cooperative(Nonghyup)-Youngmowon-Gosungri Sports Field-HangpaduriJuly 30(Wed.): Hangpaduri-Yusooamri Small Park-Saemangreu Research and Training Institute-Saebyul Oreum(Oreum-climbing. Please notice that there is no bathroom here)
Aug. 1 (Fri.):Hwasoon Beach-Andeok Valley-A Small Park-Cheonje Fall-International Convention Center-Yakcheon Temple-Gangjeong Soccer Field (Arriving around 5 pm)
4. Guide on the Peace Bus (At 2 pm, Aug. 1, Jeju Airport): The bus directly goes to the village to join the events that start 7 pm on the day. If you need to use this bus, Please contact gangjeongintl@gmail.com andpeace@pspd.org in advance for the reservation of the bus seats! It is mandatory!
5. Elementary school studentsFor the elementary school students, participation fee is free but a t-shirt should be purchased at the price of 10,000 KRW. Please contact gangjeongintl@gmail.com and peace@pspd.org in advance.
6. Support for the participation feeFor the participants who come from the outside of the Jeju and join more than three nights four days, 20,000 KRW of participation fee will be supported.
In this month’s issue:
Yang Yoon-Mo Free at last, April 3rd Remembrances, 4 catholics arrested, letter from David Hartsough, Trial Updates, Peace for the Sea Camp, Peace Book Cafe anniversary, international solidarity, and more!
