Save Jeju Now

No War Base on the Island of Peace

Tag: Peace Island

  • Emergency Rally in Gangjeong on Nov. 10 with commemoration of Yang Yong-Chan

    The 15th Citizens’ Action to Save Gangjeong will be held in Gangjeong on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

     

    Commemoration event in 2011 for Yang Yong-Chan. Image: Headline Jeju, Nov. 6, 2012

     

    “Since I aspire for Jeju to be a place for our lives and a nest for our livelihood rather than a 2nd Hawaii, a global tour site that exploits our flesh & bones and makes us playthings, I walk this way crying for the end of the Jeju Special Law, abolition of the 2nd overall development plan, and the smashing of the Minjadang [Democratic Freedom Party, ruling conservative right-wing party from 1990 to 1995].“

    – Yang Yong-Chan, a true citizen of Jeju, greatly missed.

     

    The above quote was part of testimony by Yang Yong-Chan (1965 to 1991) who immolated himself in Seogwipo City on Nov. 7, 1991. Today is anniversary of his death. He was only 25 years old.

    According to Prof. Shin Yong-In, legal advisor to the village association, there was a pan-Island resistance against the central government’s development drive in 1990s. The Jeju Special Law has been nothing but legal justification for big corporations’ exploitation of Jeju. The immolation of Yang Yong-Chan who resisted against capitalist development of the Island sparked the Island people to rise up during that period.

    Because of Island peoples’ resistance, the Island government at the time was eventually forced to set up some important systems to preserve the pristine nature of Jeju from the central government’s thoughtless development. One of the most important systems is the Absolute Preservation System that is supposed to ‘absolutely’ protect the natural environment of Jeju, including its coasts. Ironically, it was the very governor Woo Keun-Min who established that very system as governor at the time (1991 to 1993). Woo becoming the Island governor again in 2010, but has not cancelled previous governor Kim Tae-Hwan’s undemocratic 2009 decision to abolish the Absolute Preservation Areas in Gangjeong village (the Joongdeok coast, most of which is called Gureombi Rock, as well as Gangjeong Stream and its vicinity) made in order to force the Jeju naval base project despite the Island Council’s demands at the general meeting vote in March 2011.

    “The cancellation of the Absolute Preservation Areas in Gangjeong in 2009 can be interpreted as the central government unilaterally infringing on indigenous rights to environmental protection, as well as their human rights and other creatures’ rights to live in their habitats,” Prof. Shin says.

    Current Governor Woo is affiliated with big corporations like Samsung, and is neglecting his duties as it is in his authority to order the navy to stop the illegal and forced Jeju naval base construction (destruction). His statements on faux so-called “Civilian-Military Complex Port for Tour Beauty” and the two 150,000 ton cruise ships are nothing but sugar-coated words to blind the Island people through false promises of local economic development.

    Succeeding the Spirit of Yang Yong-Chan: Citizens’ Urgent Action Day on November 10, 2012

    Yang Yong-Chan’s testimony, excerpted above. Image: Headline Jeju, Nov. 6, 2012

    What is the difference between his period and our period? Jeju, designated the “Peace Island” by the central government on January 27, 2005, is now suffering greatly because of the enforced and unreliable war base construction in Gangjeong village. The right-wing conservatives repeatedly say that they want Jeju to become a 2nd Hawaii, mixing militarism and tourism (so that big corporations like Samsung can wholly exploit Jeju Island). 24-hour construction started on Oct. 25, 2012. The navy has gone insane enforcing construction (destruction) as they try to get the 200.9 billion Won budget for next year (92.5 % of budget will go to big corporations like Samsung and Daelim who are in charge of  the harbor and bay construction). Even police from the mainland have been mobilized 24 hours-a-day to serve these companies will. The people have also responded increasing their protest to 24 hours-a-day, being carried by ambulance to hospital, injured, robbed of their sleep. Even the daily 7 a.m. peaceful 100 bows have been disrupted with police forcefully removing the bowers from the construction gates.  Catholic priests in robes are carried away during mass only for construction trucks to pass through the gates. Women’s clothes are taken off and bodies scratched and pinched by police women nails when the policewomen forcefully remove them from the protest sites. Men are dragged on the ground by one leg. The people are  uncared for especially in the night when the police only care about removing and throwing them aside as fast as possible. A woman was almost at the risk of losing her life when a policewoman neglected her after throwing her down on the 1st night 24 hour construction, October 25.

     

    Catholic priests in robes are surrounded by the police during mass and removed from the protest site at around 5 p.m. on November 5.
    A woman peacekeeper’s dirty clothes after being dragged carelessly across the ground at around 3:30 p.m., November 4.
    Around 10:50 pm. on November 5, Chairwoman of the village Folk Conservation Association played music. Then police attacked. Still people, including village elders played music and held pickets, inside circle of police.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Around 12:10 a.m. on November 6. The police usually come every two hours during the night time, but this time it was only after 1 hour and 40 minutes. People in solidarity right before the police’s attack.
    Around 12:40 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 1:50 a.m. on November 7
    Around 4:50 a.m. on November 7

     

    Since November 5th, the number of the police has increased even more. The police are wielding more physical power but still the people are resisting with all their energy. The intervals between police attacks have become shorter. During the day, it has shortened from the usual hourly strike, to every 30-40 minutes. During the night, from two hour intervals to every 1 hour and 30 minutes or 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is clear that the navy is getting more and more hurried with the destruction.

    Because of this people nationwide are mobilizing themselves to stop the 24-hour construction (destruction), to stop the navy and big corporations’ greed about the national budget, and to save Jeju, the Peace Island, following after the spirit of Yang Yong Chan, whose poignant words still ring true, that Jeju should be a site for life, not a second Hawaii. The 15th Nationwide Citizens’ Action Day to revoke the Jeju naval base project will be held on November 10.

     

    Let’s block together! 24 hour enforcement of construction (destruction)!

    Let’s save together! Save Gangjeong by staying over the night!

    Let’s cut together! 200.9 billion Won Jeju naval base project budget 2013!

    Let’s remember together! Yang Yong-Chan, a martyr, a true Jeju Island citizen!

     

    Schedule for Saturday November 10, 2012:

    3pm, Citizens’ Action Event in front of the main gate of the Jeju naval base project building complex: ‘Let’s run with peace, again!”

    5pm: Way-opening for the Peace Village, Gangjeong

    7pm: Commemoration for Yang Yong-Chan

    Sponsored by the Gangjeong Village Association, Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Stop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island (26 groups) and National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island (125 groups)

     

    Finally, Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut the entire budget for the Jeju naval base project next year. Contact english@asssembly.go.kr or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United Party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com

     

    References:

    양용찬 열사 추모 21주기 행사…”강정으로 간다”
    제주해군기지 반대투쟁 연계 ‘추모문화제’
    11일 대동한마당 행사…양용찬 평전 발간 등 추진
    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164274

     

  • The pain and wound of Jeju in a body.. report on the arrest and release of a woman

    Photo by Kim Sung-Hee/ Sungshim laid down her body on the roadway then the police soon arrested her, around 3:30 pm, Oct. 30, 2012.

     

    Sungshim, a Jeju native and Catholic follower (Lucia), was arrested around at 3:30pm, Oct 30, 2012 then released on the same day. It is a brief report based on the collected phone talks with her, chairwoman of the Gangjeong Catholic house, Taena’s mom, and Joan. Some of us dropped by her in the Seogwipo medical center around 10 pm on Oct. 30 but could not see her since she was deeply sleeping. Thanks, many people who helped our research on this.

    For reference, let us briefly remind you on the situation on Oct. 29. It was around 3:30 pm, Oct. 29 that Sungshim who having climbed up onto the top of construction gate right after a police roughing out and releasing of people, ran down her body in fury from the top to the concrete ground when the navy-contracted company thug ridiculed her rosary prayer. Despite the protest of shocked people who were watching her outside and demanding the company thugs to open the door, the thugs did not open the gate for a while, ignoring people’s appeal and protest for her. The police are also responsible for that accident since they left her alone even though they saw her climbing up to the gate. Sungshim was eventually carried to the Seogwipo Medical center by ambulance after about 30 minutes and as a result of twice x-ray, got the diagnosis of a doctor who said that she has a crack in the hill bone of her right foot and needed more precise medical inspection in the both feet. She was also recommended to be hospitalized. However, Sungshim wanted to return back to the village and stay there while she had bandage in her both feet and crutches. She could not stand that naval base entering into her Island, Jeju, the Peace Island. Around 9:30 pm, she laid herself down on the road in front of the naval base building complex. The police wanted to arrest her but people prevented them to do it and she got consolation from the Catholic sisters later, sitting on a chair, for people’s recommendation. She is told to have slept in front of construction gate at that night.

    The next day of Oct. 30, she was doing a prayer in front of construction gate around 3:30pm. The rosary prayer is composed of total five chapters and she was processing chapter 3. She was infuriated that her prayer was interrupted when she was roughed out by the police with her injured feet.

    When the police released their roughing out of people for the entry of cement mixer trucks, she crawled and laid her down in the middle of the roadway in protest. Then less than 5 minutes, Ku Seul-Hwan, an infamous Security director of the Seogwipo Police station said to her that the police arrest her under the charge of violation on the law on road traffic. She was stunned that the police who did not take any measure leaving her alone when they saw her crawling toward the center line of the road then arrested her when she laid down her body on it. Later she was also infuriated that she got investigation in an office section in charge of crimes of violence while she was arrested for the charge of violation on road traffic.

    When she maintained her right not to speak including her identity during the police investigation, her female investigator told her that, ‘Since you can hear, I suppose you have heard everything,’ and that she would submit file against her to the upper police department. Sungshim made a back talk to her saying, ‘Since you can see, you know I have bandage on and crutch next to my legs.’ The female police investigator could not say anything.

    It was around 5:30 pm that the chairwoman of the Gangjeong Catholic House and Taena’s mom visited the Seogwipo Police station to request the police to meet Sungshim. The policewomen rejected them to meet with her without explaining reason but saying, ‘No, without condition.’ When the two waiting women happened to see Sungshim behind an accidentally opened office door, they tried to meet her but the chief of the section in charge of crimes of violence chased away the aged chairwoman. So Taena’s mom protested to the policemen. The two delivered Sungshim and the police words of Fr. Mun who said she should be hospitalized since she is sick. However the police obstinately insisted transference of her to the Dongbu Police Station in the Jeju City.

    When Taena’s mom called the hearing inspection office of the Seogwipo Police Station later, delivering situation and appealing to its personnel that Sungshim is sick and need to be hospitalized, the inspection office personnel wanted to talk with a police staff in the investigation room.  When Taena’s mom asked the chief of the section in charge of violent crimes, the chief bluntly replied to her, “Why I have to get call?” So his subsection chief received the phone. And amidst that situation, the police were to forcefully transfer Sungshim to the Dongbu police station so Taena’ mom and Chairwoman of the Catholic house earnestly held them back. Suddenly, the police changed their words that they would ‘release her.’  When Taena’s mom phoned with the hearing auditor again, the auditor said, “You have misunderstood. The police were saying that they would release her but you were mistaken to hear that they would transfer her to the Dongbu police station.’ Taena’ mon was stunned and infuriated by the attitude of the police who distort the facts.

    Eventually Sungshim was hospitalized in the Seowgwipo medical center with the agreement of the chief of the investigation support section. The police checked Sungshim’s identification asking a nurse there. What the Seogwipo medical center! The same doctor who has recommended Sungshim to be immediately hospitalized on Oct. 29 said to her that he would hospitalize her ‘since the police allow it.’ Is he saying that she is qualified to be hospitalized since the police corresponded her. Gosh.

    Sungshim was eventually being moved to a treatment room around 7pm (No. 219, Seogwipo Medical Center)

    The spiritual and physical wound of Sungshim who cannot stand her Island to be a war base! Don’t you feel that the pain and aspiration of the Jeju are condensed there? Don’t you see the anti-historic and anti-human nature of the Island police that oppressed Island people, sided with the US military regime during the 4.3 massacre and uprising on the trace of the Japanese imperialism, in the attitude of the Seogwipo police who trample down the aspiration of the Island people, look down on them, distorting facts and overissueing punishments on them?

    Jeong Dawoori and director Cho Sung-Bong thankfully took photographs on her on Oct. 29. Click here for many poignant photos of her on the day. Her desperation to save her Island is remarkable. She has a disease in the thyroid gland. Still she says, “I am OK to die today, only if my Island is saved.”

     

    Photo by Jung Dawoori/ Sungshim on Oct. 29/ For more photos of Oct. 29 and 30 by Jung Dawoori and Cho Sung-Bong, click here

     

  • A disastrous military drill plan NOT consulted with the Island people, especially fishermen

    Source: Gangjeong village, Oct. 24, 2012 (In Jeju Sori, Oct. 24, 2012)

     

    On Oct. 24, the Village Association exposed that a plan on the maritime firing training that is to be carried out after the completion of the naval base construction has NOT been consulted with the Island people and will be the disaster for fishes and fishermen.

    In its statement on it, it says:

     If the Jeju Island government is a true civilian-elected government to at least save the safety and interest of the Island people, it should have made an effort to reduce the anxiety of the Island people in advance through informing to the Island people when it acquired such information; inquiring the navy materials on how often and what size the navy would carry out training; and consulting with it on the season and size limitation.  

    The below is a translation of a part of the statement.

    …………………………………………………………..

    If one looks at the basic material on the analysis on the economic effect in relation to the naval base, published by the headquarter of the Maritime Fishery, Jeju Island, in 2007, there surprisingly appears the plan on the maritime firing training field by the maneuvering flotilla that is to be stationed with the completion of the Jeju naval base construction.

     

    The content of the plan is that the maneuver training is to be carried out in the high seas and the firing training is to be in the site where the Jeju Defense Command is currently using as the high speed patrol boat’s firing site. At first glance, one may think it is not a problem since those training sites have already been being used [for drills].

     

    However, the arms currently being positioned in the Jeju Defense Command are merely 1 piece of 40mm naval gun, 2pieces of 20mm Sea Balkan (*a kind of naval gun) and 2 pieces of the M60 machine guns.

     

    However, the arms of the maneuvering flotilla are of higher levels. Just to mention Korean type destroyer KDX-II, it is equipped with 1 piece of 127mm naval gun, Harpoon anti-ship missile, fleet MK 48 missile, and 324mm Chungsangeo(* Blue Shark) torpedo tube. Beside the matter on the maritime control scope, if those arms are used as live shells in training, nobody can guarantee that there would be no disturbance in the maritime ecology system.

     

    It is more surprising to read that that the position of the Headquarter of the Maritime Fishery, Jeju Island, is that there would be no problem if there is a prior notice and evacuation order only to the applicable areas once the training plan is scheduled.

     

    To look at the coordinates of the firing training field through the Google Earth, it is the north zone that links the Gageo Island, Chooja Island, and the north sea of the Hubjae, [Jeju] Island. The sea area is applicable to the gold fishery of yellow corvine according to the fishermen of the Chooja Island.

     

    Source: Gangjeong village, Oct. 24, 2012 (In Sisa Jeju, Oct. 24, 2012)

     

    And to look at the coordinates of the firing training field in the southern sea of the Jeju Island, it is applicable to the South Sea of the Seogwipo area between Joongmoon and Weemme, which is also applicable to the gold fishery of tile fish and cutlass fish.

     

    Source: Gangjeong village, Oct. 24, 2012 (In Sisa Jeju, Oct. 24, 2012)

     

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    Reference

     

    http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121705

    “해군기지 이후 해상사격훈련은 어민에 재앙”

     데스크승인 2012.10.24  15:26:52

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163175

    “제주해군기지 건설되면 ‘황금어장’서 사격훈련?”

    해군기지 건설 후 제주해역내 해상사격훈련 계획 ‘논란’
    강정마을 “사격훈련 해역은 ‘황금어장’…양해 구했나?”

    2012.10.24  16:27:45

     

    http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=161737

    “제주해군기지 기동전단 해상사격훈련장은 황금어장”

    강정마을회, 피해 우려되는데 제주도정은 도대체 뭘 하고 있나?

    2012.10.24  15:17:47

  • Grand March for Peace and Life Continues! Detailed Schedule for Oct. 25 – Nov. 3

    The motto “We are the Sky” comes from the motto of the Sky Act, a joint solidarity campaign of three struggles in Korea: (S)Ssang Yong autoworkers layoff struggle, (K)Gureombi Rock/anti-Gangjeong naval base struggle, and the (Y)Yongsan Tradegy struggle.

    The Grand March of Life and Peace which started in Gangjeong on October 4th runs til November 3rd where it ends at Seoul City Hall Plaza. Below is a more detailed schedule for Tomorrow (Thursday, October 25) until the end. Please come out if we are in your area and tell your friends to join when we pass their area! And remember to check our photo section every night for pictures from each day’s march.

    [Grand March Day 21] Thursday, Oct.25-Chooncheon
    6:30am Departure from Samcheok
    11am Visit to Hyeoldongri golf development struggle in Chooncheon
    12:30pm Lunch at Gumanri village center in Hongcheon
    1:30pm Visit to Gumanri golf development struggle in Hongcheon
    3pm Visit to Dongmakri golf development struggle in Hongcheon
    4:30pm Meeting with local people in front of Gangwondo Provincial Office
    5:30pm Dinner
    7pm Candle Rally at Myeongdong in Chooncheon

    [Grand March Day 22] Friday, Oct.26-Wonju/Yeoju/Pyeongtaek
    8:30am Departure by bus
    10am Arrival in Yeoju. 4 Rivers Project, Gangcheon Irrigation Resevoir, Pilgrimage
    12pm Lunch
    1pm Marching down Jasansangbyeon Street or Gaechinalu Street
    4:30pm Moving to Daechuri in Pyeongtaek
    6:30pm Arrival in Daechuri
    7pm Welcoming Village Party

    [Grand March Day 23] Saturday, Oct.27-Pyeongtaek
    Prepare for the Joint People’s Association (Manmin Gongdonghoe) and divide into groups to join the different programs below
    Programs: Korean People’s Theater Festival (in Pyeongtaek) or Temporary Worker’s Rally (in Seoul) or Dasan Human Rights Center 20th Anniversary (in Suwon)
    Accommodations in Daechuri (same place as on the 26th)

    [Grand March Day 24] Sunday, Oct.28-Pyeongtaek
    12pm Lunch
    1pm Joint People’s Association (Manmin Gongdonghoe) in front of Ssangyong Motor Company’s main gate
    5pm Dinner
    6pm Join Pyeongtaek Peace Festival at Pyeongtaek Station
    * Accommodations will be near Pyeongtaek Station

    [Grand March Day 25] Monday, Oct.29-Pyeongtaek/Osan
    9am March starts from Pyeongtaek station after the Press Conference for the Start of the Grand March in the Seoul Metropolitan Region
    12pm Lunch and then visiting Ebada School
    1pm March
    5pm Arrival in Osan and Dinner
    7pm Candle Rally
    * Accommodations will be near Osan Station

    [Grand March Day 26] Tuesday, Oct.30-Osan/Suwon
    8am March starts
    12pm Campaigning about Yeongtong Samsung Electronics factory
    1pm Lunch
    2pm March and Support Visit to the SSM opposition struggle
    6pm Arrival at Suwon station and Dinner
    7pm Candle Rally at Suwon station
    * Accommodations are the Suwon Diocese

    [Grand March Day 27] Wednesday, Oct.31-Suwon/Ansan
    9am March starts
    12pm Lunch
    1pm Marching continues
    6pm Arrival in Ansan and Dinner
    7pm Candle Rally in front of Ansan City Hall
    * Accommodations are not fixed

    [Grand March Day 28] Thursday, Nov.1-Ansan/Bupyeong
    9am March from Oido Station
    12pm Lunch
    1pm March and Visit to Samhwa Express, Daewoo Motor Sales Co. and other local struggle places
    7pm Arrival at Bupyeong Station and Joint Solidarity Struggle Candle Rally (& party)

    [Grand March Day 29] Friday, Nov.2-Yoido
    9am March Starts at Cortek
    Visit to Jae Neung Education Sit-in Struggle
    Visit to Demolition Struggle in Jung3dong, Bucheon
    12pm Lunch
    1pm Marching
    7pm Arrival in Yoido and Candle Rally at Yoido Plaza

    [Grand March Day 30] Saturday, Nov.3-Yoido/Seoul Plaza
    9am March after Press Conference for the Opening of the Life and Peace Grand March in Seoul
    11am Rally at Namildang in Yongsan District #4
    1:30pm Rally in front of Ministry of National Defense to stop Jeju Naval Base Construction
    4pm Join 1-day sympathy fast for Ssangyong Motor Struggle at Seoul station
    6pm Cultural Rally “Everyone is Sky” at Seoul City Hall Plaza

    If you have questions please contact: gangjeongintl@gmail.com

  • Rocket launch? Missile Defense System is to be tested

     

    Image source: Yonhap News, Oct. 22, 2012

     

    The below is the translation of a Korean article in the Asia Gyungje (meaning Economy).

    Very important article, I think…

    ………………………………………………………………………….

     

    Asia Gyungje

    Two Aegis destroyers will trace the space rocket, ‘Naro’ at the same time.

    Oct. 23, 2012

    2012.10.23 10:27

    Image source: Asia Gyungjeo, Oct. 23, 2012

     

    It is expected that on Oct. 26, the top-of-the-line fighters and Aegis destroyers will be gathered in the sea of Yeosu and Goheung, Jeolla province (Southern part of Korea), ahead of the planned launch of the Naro (KSLV-I), a space rocket, [ which is launched by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Daejeon)

     

    On Oct. 23, a ROK military personnel said, “The F-15K, the top-of-the-line, of the Air Force will be on air patrol and Aegis destroyers will carry out the duty of path-tracing on the Naro.”

     

    The navy has supported the Naro with the mobilization of the King Sejong, the Great, an Aegis destroyer in its 1st launch (* Aug. 25, 2009, failed); Yulgok Yi Yi, the 2nd Aegis destroyer, in the 2nd launch (* June 10, 2010, failed). At this time of the 3rd launch, two Aegis destroyers are positioned in the west south sea of the Jeju Island and step to trace its path at the same time.

     

    The Aegis ships of the navy is loaded with the Aegis combat system of long distance defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare and ballistic missile defense system. Using that combat system, the Aegis ships can detect the ballistic missile flying from approximately 1,000 km and can intercept it with the Standard Missile-2 equipped to the vessel when it approaches within in-range.
    Since the applied launch technique is same in the space projectile and ICBM, with only difference that the space projectile is loaded with the civilian satellite projectile, but the ICBM with the nuclear and conventional warhead, it is a good chance to check the preparation ability of the ballistic missile.

     

    The Air force supports with the fighting planes of the F-15K, KF-16. It is to block the civilian and military airplanes that may approach in the upper air of the Naro Space Center set for the temporary no-fly-zone. The F-15K fighting planes using the TIGER-EYEs Targeting Pod, will film the launch orbit of the Naro (2 km to 12 km in the upper air) from the 10 seconds before the launch of the Naro and 70 seconds after the launch of it.

     

    The images that will be provided to the Naro Space Center are planned to be utilized as the source material of the data analysis for the development of the rocket, Naro. Also, there is a plan to provide weather, flight information in real time by dispatching the Air Force personnel to the Space Center and maintaining hot line with the Master Control and Reporting Center(MCRC), Osan, Gyeonggi Province.

     

    The Coast Guard is joining, too. The security ship No. 3002 (3,000 ton class) belonging to the Jeju Coast Guard left the Jeju port at 9am in the morning of Sept. 22 toward the international waters east of Philippine. The No. 3002 will move to the international water 600km east of Philippine, which is 1,700 km south of the Jeju Island. It will support the tracing of the projectile after the launch of the Naro and telemetering monitoring on the flight condition information. It will also take charge of duty to grasp the location of the projectile after it is separated from the satellite and to support on the maritime safety management such as controlling the vicinity in the Pacific Sea area to prevent the damage for the falling objects.

     

    The Jeju Coast guard ship (Jeju Sori, Oct. 22, 2012)

     

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    # The Osan Airbase (actually based on Songtan) is known to be the biggest in the region of the Asia Pacific since the closure of the Philippine Clark Air Force base, Philippine in 1991. It is also a headquarter of the 7th Air Force of the United Sates under the US Pacific Air Force. Currently in the Osan base, the ROK Air Force Operation Command Headquarter and MCRC 1 exist together in the Osan base. The MCRC 2 is in Daeku, Kyungsangbuk-do province, beginning its operation in 2002.

    ( Reference from here and here)

     …………………………………………..

    # Save Jeju Now adds on Oct. 26

    Image source: Yonhap News

     

    Reference

     

    http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2012102310255171056

    이지스함 2척 ‘나로호 궤도‘ 동시 추적

    최종수정 2012.10.23 10:27기사입력 2012.10.23 10:27

     

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    See also

     

    http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/10/113_122831.html

    S. Korea to add submarines, Aegis destroyers 

  • Jeju naval base-Marine corps-Air Force Base: Militarization of Jeju? National Assembly man raises the issue.

    A, F, G: Planned areas for a new airport that the Jeju Island has made public (* It is told that it was around 1997 that those were mentioned as the planned airports). One of them will have a high possibility to have an air force base along with a new airport.

    B: Alttre Air field, Moseulpo. The ROK air force has wanted to use it as the base for the South zone search and rescue corps unit. Very close to Daejeong eup, the planned area for a new air field

    C. In case the Jeju Marine Corps are established, field artillery and armored forces might enter. In the Hwasoon port, there is a coast guard-only dock and caissons are being made. The caissons are used for the building of the Jeju naval base project in the Gangjeong village.

    D. Gangjoeng village where the Jeju naval base project is being enforced.

    E. Seogwipo City. Even now, the Marine Corps’ warships are being moored. If the Jeju marine corps unit is established, headquarter might enter, too,

    (Source: Lee Jubin and Kim Do-Kyun, Ohmynews, Sept. 3, 2012, translated)

     

     

    On Oct. 18, the issue raised in the National Assembly inspection on the ROK air force was on the ‘South zone search and rescue corps’ that is being discussed to be installed in the old but currently unused Alttre air field, Moseulpo.

    Kim Jae-Yoon, Democratic United Party, a member of the Defense Committee of the National assembly claimed that it is a tactic ultimately to build an air force base.  He claimed that the Jeju, Island of peace is at the risk to be degraded as the ‘Island of military base.’

    Saying that “when I demanded the air force on the material on the ‘South zone rescue and search corps unit, the air force replied me that it is planning a creation of it for national security and people’s safety,” Kim interpreted that “However, given that rescue and search corps unit is a non-combat corps that is in charge of search and rescue, its words that it creates it for the securing of national security connote that the rescue and search corps unit is, after all, a combat corps.”

    He pointed out that “the South Zone Rescue and Search Unit is roundabout tactic to prepare for the bridgehead for an air force base. It is like the Jeju naval base has been faked as the civilian-military complex for tour beauty.”

    It is told that Sung Il-Hwan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force replied him that “Currently, there is no plan to build the air force base.’ Regarding the location for the South Zone Search and Rescue Corps, he stated that “Since the location has not clearly been decided, we plan to arrange it connected to the Jeju new air port, if it is built.”

    Kim’s claim is not new but has constantly been raised by many observers. According to Ohmynews on Sept. 3, 2012, Roh Hoe-Chan, Progressive United Party, has made a remarkable claim in the National Assembly inspection session in May 2007, that “the Ministry of National Defense and Jeju Island have agreed that the Island provides 300,000 pyeong (about 99 ha) to an air force in case the 2nd new air port is built on the condition that the air force concedes the Island old Alttre air field of about 600,000 pyeong (about 198 ha). It meant the Air Force is ready to use the Alttre Air field as an area for the South zone search and rescue corps unit unless the Jeju provides an alternative area to the Air force. (* For reference the Jeju naval base project is of about 48 ha.)

    The Alttre airfield (1.2 km runway), constructed during the Japanese imperialism is currently unused. But it used to be utilized for the Japanese attack to Nanjing, China, 700 km away, during Chinese-Japanese war in 1937 and is currently owned by the Ministry of National Defense. See here.

    It is not only an Alttre Air Field.  According to Ohmynews, there is a concern that the Hwasooon area and Seogwipo in the both sides of Gangjeong might be utilized as military fortress as well. It is because the navy plans to reorganize the Jeju Defense headquarter to the Jeju Marine corps (brigade level) in 2015. The Ministry of National Defense has issued the Basic Plan of Defense Reform (2012~2030) on Aug. 29, 2012.

    Since Roh Moo Hyun, ex-President declared the Jeju, as the peace Island on Jan. 27, 2005, the Alttre Air Filed has been mentioned for the Jeju Peace Park. But there has been only a small progress on it because of the demand mentioned above by the MND.

    Realization of the Jeju, as true Peace Island is ongoing supreme task for the people.

    ……………………………………………..

    Reference:

     

    http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162733

    “이번엔 제주 공군기지?”…군사기지의 섬 전락 의혹

    김재윤 의원, 국감서 ‘남부탐색구조부대’ 의혹 제기

    2012.10.19  09:38:49

     

    http://www.rispark.org/bbs/view.php?id=mun&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=54&PHPSESSID=44f5788322bd33d546742f73c7d479e6

    ‘국방개혁 기본계획 2011~2030’의 문제점과 대안

    http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001774446

    “제주도, ‘평화의 섬’ 아닌 ‘군사 요새화’ 된다”

    [구럼비 봉쇄 1년] ① 모슬포-화순-강정마을-서귀포 군사벨트화?

    12.09.03 15:22l최종 업데이트 12.09.03 21:09

     

    http://blog.daum.net/kkp2032/1192266

    남부탐색구조부대 양해각서 공개 파문

    김경필 2007.05.09 14:30

     

    http://www.eurasiareview.com/18102012-south-koreas-defence-reform-plan-a-case-of-bad-timing-analysis/

    South Korea’s Defence Reform Plan: A Case Of Bad Timing? – Analysis

    October 18, 2012

     

    http://www.vop.co.kr/A00000280358.html

    제주, ‘알뜨르비행장’에 평화공원 조성

    2010-01-27 20:46:23 l 수정 2010-01-27 21:00:03

     

    …………………………………………………………………….

    See also

    http://www.space4peace.blogspot.kr/2012/10/more-bases-on-jeju.html

    More Bases on Jeju?

    ‘Speaking at a Pentagon news briefing last June, Pacific Command commander Admiral Samuel J. Locklear said: “We’re not really interested in building any more U.S. bases in the Asia-Pacific.”  “We shouldn’t have to at this point in time. We have reliable partners and reliable allies, and together we should be able to find ways to—not only bilaterally, but in some cases to multilaterally—to be able to find these locations where we can put security forces that respond to a broad range of security issues.”
     Translation: The U.S. is having the South Korean government build the Navy base on Jeju Island for us.  A couple nights ago I was watching the local Congressional debate on TV and our Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (Democrat) was asked where we can cut the federal budget.  Her answer was that we can cut back on some of the money we spend on foreign bases by getting our allies to build them for us.  She didn’t say we shouldn’t have or use the bases for our military empire.  This “liberal” instead said we should get others to pay the costs for us.
    In the meantime the dredging of the ocean, just offshore from Gangjeong village continues.  The protests at the Navy base destruction gates continue as well.’

  • [Notice] Assault on Jeju: Video Presentation, Nov.18 Brunswick, Maine

     

  • Evidence Shows Government Ordered Data Doctored on Jeju Naval Base

    Image: Hankyoreh

    Base opponents now have concrete and irrefutable evidence to back up what they have suspected and declared for a long time. Assembly Woman Chang Ha-na has found and disclosed the full record of the meetings between the Prime Minister’s office and the Technical Committee, revealing publicly the complete lie of the so-called “civilian military dual use port”, as well as the general deception, and poor and hurried planning behind the Jeju Naval Base Project.

    The following article appeared on the Hankyoreh website on Oct. 10 and was the headline article on the front page of the Korean print edition on Oct. 11. Click to see original article.

    Evidence Shows Government Ordered Data Doctored on Jeju Naval Base; Committee recommended simulation tests, but construction was rushed ahead

    By Heo Ho-joon, Hankyoreh Jeju correspondent

    Evidence suggests that the government ordered data to be doctored to allow for the construction of a controversial naval base on Jeju Island without conducting simulation safety tests for cruise ships entering and exiting the base.

    Accounts from members of the technical committee examining the base, ostensibly a joint civilian-military “tourism harbor,” suggest it was designed as a military port, with the simulations planned only to give the appearance that it would also be accessible to 150,000-ton cruise ships.

    Democratic United Party Rep. Chang Ha-na, who sits on the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, disclosed full records on Oct. 10 from four meetings of a technical committee under the Office of the Prime Minister that convened in January and February to examine the port’s suitability cruise ship entry and departure. The six-member committee had six members recommended by the ruling New Frontier Party, the opposition, the administration, and the province of Jeju.

    At the fourth meeting on Feb. 14, one committee member hinted at government doctoring of the data for a simulation on the port’s safety for 150,000-ton cruise ships.

    “The government’s telling us to come up with data that would allow construction to begin right away without a simulation,” read the records of the technical committee’s meetings.

    Also, at the first meeting on Jan. 26, members of the committee made statements to suggest that the port was originally designed as a naval base, with no design changes to make it suitable for use as a civilian harbor.

    Statements made at the second meeting on Jan. 30 indicate that the design changes in question were not made, showing the government’s pledge to have been false.

    One committee member said, “I have no idea why [President Lee Myung-bak] gave that wild figure of 150,000 tons.”

    “You would need to make the boats smaller,” a second responded. “It doesn’t work for that region. The problem is that they had to go claim it could accommodate two 150,000-ton boats and design it around that.”

    A third said, “So the government was building a naval base and it went ahead and made the pledge [for a civil-military harbor capable of accommodating two 150,000-ton cruise ships] without examining the design at all. If they’d looked closely enough, then maybe this 150,000-ton stuff would never have been said.”

    A fourth said, “If you’re building a cruise dock, the first thing you need is harbor facilities. . . . They’ve got boats that size [150,000 tons] coming in here, and nothing’s changed with the surface. . . . And the reason is there’s an underlying assumption nothing’s going to be changed.”
    The committee was chaired by Sogang University professor Jeon Joon-soo and included Korea Maritime University professors Park Jin-soo, Kim Se-won, and Kim Gil-soo, Cheju (Jeju) National University professor Lee Byung-gul, and DY Engineering executive director Yu Byeong-hwa. The secretary was Im Seok-gyu, Jeju policy officer for the Office of the Prime Minister.

    After four meetings, the committee concluded with the recommendation that a vessel simulation was needed to take into account the repositioning of harbor structures and placement of tugboats without major changes to the existing harbor design, and was then disbanded.

    Since the committee’s fruitless discussions and non-binding conclusion, the government and Navy have pushed ahead with the construction, conducting no simulations and making no design changes to date. The project is currently 22% complete, according to the Navy.

    Other evidence surfaced to suggest the committee members were told that the construction would continue and there would be no design changes.
    One member said, “Ever since they set this [committee up], there has been the assumption that the construction would be going ahead all the while. They’re asking us to find some kind of technical alternative that wouldn’t require any design change.”

    Another member responded, “Right now, the government’s worried that the construction is going to be delayed” by a simulation.

    The same member said, “We advised [the Office of the Prime Minister] that a simulation was needed, and they said, ‘Can’t you just put a little phrase in there or something without messing up the construction timetable?’”

    Chang declared that the meeting records bore out suspicions that the government and military planned the harbor as a military port and looked for a way around the 150,000-ton cruise ship issue after the President made his remarks.

    “They need to halt the naval base construction and reexamine [the port] from square one,” she added.

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

    Front Page of the Korean Print Edition of Hankyoreh.

  • Villagers, Activists sleep on the street to block illegal truck

    In the cold night of October, people slept on the street to block a giant truck with their bodies. Please look at the letter that reads, “children,’ on the street, which means the street is never for giant trucks and speedy cars.

    On the night of October 6 into the morning of October 7, villagers and activists from Gangjeong slept on the street due to an illegal giant truck of Daelim construction company.

    Around 9 pm, Sept. 6 when people were working on making pickets, a giant truck was to enter the construction (destruction) site, passing the Kosa mart four-way intersection, the center of the village. While people were sorry to hear that there was already another truck before it, people, capturing the 2nd truck, kept it all night, daring to sleep on the street of cold October night.

    Daelim memo in Nov., 2011: It reads its vehicles would never illegally pass the four-way intersection where there is an elementary school and the road is narrow.

    Before that, villagers burst out with fury. Daelim, one of the main construction companies has written a memo to them in November, last year that it would not send construction trucks through the four-way intersection where car size and speed is greatly limited. However, the truck driver who introduced himself to be from Gwangyang, Jeolla province and it was his first visit to Gangjeong, was to pass the street last night, without having been informed on it.

    Looking at the materials loaded in the truck, they were giant frames that might be used in the caisson productions. The villagers have already been infuriated to hear that construction (destruction) has been ongoing even in the night and dawn, after the fall harvest holidays. Still the police pretending to hear their righteous protest words, stealthily took photos of them. Because of that, there were shuffles.

    From the port, news was sent that the construction companies were noisly working on barge and caisson dock on the Gangjeong Sea. It was a Saturday night again.

    Despite cold weather and tiredness, many people kept the field of street. Many people brought blankets for the people sleeping on the street.

    The truck is being covered with people’s pickets and flags.

    Please understand for bad qualities of photos.

    An improvisational fire stove
    Pickets that been made timely were mobilized to cover the captured truck: ‘No zone for construction vehicles,’ ‘no zone for police roughing out,’ ‘ no zone for police and construction vehicles.’
    ‘Your concrete buries our future.’

     

  • Dr. Song Kang-Ho, “Brother Song”, released from Prison after 181 days!

    A big smile from Dr. Song on his release from prison. Image: Jung Da-Woo-Ri

    On September 28, in the late morning it was suddenly and unexpected announced that after 181 days of imprisonment, Dr. Song Kang-Ho would be released from Jeju Prison on bail. Dr. Song was originally very violently arrested on April 1st, his birthday and held ever since then in Jeju Prison, about an hour from Gangjeong village. Dr. Song had been refusing bail in protest of his unjust imprisonment and show trial and was only two weeks away from the legal prison limit without being convicted of a crime (Oct. 13 was his expected release date).

    Father Moon and Dr. Song embrace. Image: Jung Da-Woo-Ri

    Despite this, to everyone’s surprise, he was suddenly released in the late afternoon. Although many people were not in Gangjeong village because of the Chuseok Harvest Holiday, a small group of friends and supporters from Gangjeong gathered in front of the prison to greet him and celebrate his release. Upon his release he was embraced by Father Moon Jung Hyeon and then ate tofu, as is customary, and then greeted those that had eagerly gathered to celebrate.

    Brother Song is free at last! Hurray!

    Dancing while waiting for Dr. Song’s release. Image: Jang Hyun-Woo
    Mayor Kang helps Dr. Song eat the customary Tofu. Image: Jang Hyun-Woo
    Dr. Song embraces supporters and friends outside the prison. Image: Jung Da-Woo-Ri