Tag: Samsung

National Assembly Defense Committee starts the examination on budget. Cut the budget for the Jeju naval base project!
[Nov 5] National Assembly Defense Committee starts the examination on budget. Cut the whole budget for the Jeju naval base project!

Photo source: See here. The Youth group called ‘100,000 Young People for the Peace of the Jeju,’ is actively working to cut all the budgets for the National assembly. They call for the budget for people’s welfare instead war base. The photo is the press Conference on Nov. 6, 2012. The group has submitted the No. 1 petition against the Jeju naval base project to the new 19th National Assembly on June 5 this year with signs by more than 27,000 people.

The National Defense Committee of the National Assembly starts the examination on the government budget included of Jeju naval base project next year on Nov. 5. The committee is composed of 9 members of the ruling Saenuri Party (New Frontier Party), 7 members of Democratic United Party and 1 independent. See here.

On Nov. 5, 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), delivering the defense committee 19 page ‘opinion statement for the budget cut on the Jeju naval base project, 2013’ strongly demanded the whole budget cut on the project, 2013. See here.

Among the 2013 compiled budget for the Ministry of National Defense and Defense Acquision Program Administration (DAPA), The Jeju naval base-related budget for 2013 is about 200.9 billion won. According to Oh Hye-Ran, Secretary of the SPARK, the budget, 200.9 won is compiled of:

About 186 billion won (92.5%): Harbor and bay construction

108.3 billion won: Caisson production & stationing and basic formation of breakwater in the 1^st work area ( *Samsung- supervised)

48.5 billion won: Caisson production & stationing and basic formation of dock in the 2nd work area ( *Daelim-supervised)

See the related article here.

About 21.9 billion won: Land construction

Among them, 10.1 billion won (5%): Military residential house (outside barracks).

(* In detail: The navy plans to use about 9 billion won for the purchase of land and 1 billion won for layout. It is the budget to build 616 households military apartment for the soldiers and their families in about 100,000 square meter size land. However, the navy presentations on the military residential house have been all dissipated because of the villagers’ strong protests on May. 29 and June 15, 2012. About 90% of the villagers who live in the land area that is chosen as the most probable for the military residential house have also submitted their opinion statement that they oppose the navy’s purchase and expropriation of their lands.

See the related article, here

People stated 8 reasons for budget cut:
1. The validity of the purpose is lack in the Jeju naval base project
2. The technical matters on the two 150,000 ton cruises’ coming alongside and out of pier and their entry & exit safety have not been verified. ( *The government’s violation of its own MOU with the Jeju Island government on April 27, 2009)
3. The navy has violated the recommendation items of the Budget and Balance Special Committee of the National Assembly, in 2008.
4. By the layout, the port will not work even for military function, [therefore waste of people’s tax]
5. The suspicion that the Jeju naval base is the US base. [Then why South Koreans’ tax?]
6. The Jeju Island and Island people demand verification on the current base layout. The Island people and villagers oppose the project and there is possibility that the construction would be stopped.
7. The suspicion on the unreliable production of caissons that would be used for harbor and bay construction therefore the suspicion on the unreliable harbor and bay construction, as well.
8. Low budget execution possibility (* The construction has been far delayed, given the navy’s 2011 and 2012 plans)
In the statement delivered to the National Assembly, the groups pointed out, above all, that the navy has thoroughly ignored the recommendation by the sub-investigation committee of the Budget and Balance Committee of the National Assembly that has demanded ‘to objectively verify the matter through the 3^rd party institute on the 150,000 ton cruises’ entry & exit of port and safety in their coming along and out of pier.’

People pointed out the matter of verification on the safety of cruse’s entry/exit of port is critical for the function of civilian-military complex port for tour beauty [that the government and Island government themselves have stipulated as the purpose in their MOU, April 27, 2009]. (*People know that the Government can never verify on it as the base layout has been not for the cruise but for the US nuclear air craft carrier and submarines, as recent exposures clarified it)

The people demanded to stop whole construction until verification is completed.

Three Jeju-based National Assembly members, Kang Chang-Il, Kim U-Nam, and Kim Jae-Yoon(all Democratic United Party) and a Jeju-origin National Assembly woman, Jang Hana(Proportional representation of the Youth, Democratic United Party) havel expressed their positions that the budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2013 should be cut.

Otherwise, for reference, While the government attempts to blind people with the false promise of local economic development with the Jeju naval base project, Park Ki-Hak, Research Institute for Peace and Reunification of Korea has written last year that the Jeju naval base would seldom help local economic development of Jeju. See here.

Photo by the SPARK/ People hold a sign of ‘Cut all the 200.9 billion won budget for the Jeju naval base project, 2012.’

…………………………………………………………………..

Reference

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164118

“국회는 제주해군기지 예산 전액 삭감하라”

강정마을회 등, 국회에 해군기지 예산 2010억 전액삭감 의견서 제출

“예산 삭감해야 할 이유 충분”…국회 국방위 5일 예산심사 착수

2012.11.05 09:01:23
November 6, 2012
Exposure: A Revolving Door between Police – Samsung C & T –Security Enterprise in the Jeju naval base project

The National Assembly inspection on Oct. 24, 2012 exposed that at least 22 high-ranking police officers have been reemployed as high staff members of the employment-limited corporations, such as Samsung C & T, the main contracted company of the Jeju naval base project. Is it still strange that the police are loyal to get order on their performance from the construction and security companies in the Jeju navy base project? The Oct. 24 exposure must be an only tip of iceberg.

Photo: Jeju Sori, Oct. 26, 2012. Jang Jeon-Bae(50), the new Jeju Provincial Police Agency chief as of Nov. 1, 2012. He was a former Jeollabuk-do Provincial Police Agency chief. According to the Headline Jeju, Oct. 31, he firmly stated that , he ‘’would NOT CONCEDE’ regarding the daily conflict with people in front of construction gates especially since the start of 24 hour construction( on Oct. 25) . He also clarified his will to continue to operate police teams for the photo/ video collection of protesters in the protest fields, which people have claimed to be illegal inspection.

Given the material on the status of reemployment of public officers that the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (MOPAS) has submitted to Lee Sang-Kyu (United Progressive Party), member of the Administrative and Safety Committee of the National Assembly, on Oct. 24, 22 retired high ranking police officers above the rank of police superintendents have been reemployed in the employment-limited corporations during recent five years.

The public notice No. 2011-51 by the MOPAS limits provincial police chiefs to be employed by the highly business-related companies, on which they perform the authority of permission, monitoring and supervising, such as construction or security companies.

According to the material, among 22, 8 got the jobs in the construction companies while 7 in the security companies.

In case of a Senior Superintendent General who retired the Chief post of the Daejeon Provincial Police Agency, he got the job as a full-time employment consultant in the Samsung C & T in charge of the Jeju naval base project, in less than 2o days of his retirement in 2009.

In case of ‘S’ corporation, a representing South Korean security company, it has reemployed former high-ranking police officers above the rank of police superintendents in rows EVERY year. In case of current Secretary of Security Association, he came from a former Provincial Police Chief.

National Assembly man Lee stated that, “In case of high ranking officers above the Police Superintendents, management should be strengthened on them so that they should not be reemployed to the enterprises of highly-related business, to prevent them doing unjust arbitration and impurity before and after retirement.”

…………………………………………………………………………

Translation and reference from

http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121713

경찰 간부 퇴임후 제주해군기지 시공사 취업

2012.10.24 16:11:43

See also a former policeman’s quite different story. Mr. Han Yong-Gi was employed by a Samsung insurance company as a worker but now became a fighter against the big corporation, Samsung, to recover the rights of workers.

http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001771332

어느 ‘삼성맨’의 변심 “삼성이 이럴 줄은…”

삼성화재 해고노동자 한용기씨가 삼성과 싸우는 이유는?

12.08.24 18:47l최종 업데이트 12.08.24 18:47l

정민규(hello21)

November 4, 2012
Worker’s exposure: Caissons for the Jeju naval base project are unreliably built/ The base layout on the breakwater is critically short of necessary sea wave height design.
Photo: Headline Jeju/ A worker, Ryu Yoon-Sun exposes on the problems in the caisson production in Hwasoon.

It was on May 12, 2012 that the Jeju Sori first reported about unidentified informant’s words and visual proofs about unreliable caisson production in Hwasoon. The village made a statement on it on May 22. See the statement and summary of the Jeju sori article, here.

In the press conference on Oct. 30, 2012, the people including the Gangjeong Village Association raised on the matter of unreliable caisson construction again along with the matter of the breakwater design.

Remarkably, a former caisson worker testified on the unreliable caisson production in Hwasoon port on the day. On the same day, the superintendent committee of the naval base project soon made a refuting statement saying that “the claim on the unreliable caisson production is false and distorted.” However, the next day of Oct. 31, the village association made a statement again proving that the superintendent committee’s asserts are totally wrong. You can see the village association’s statement in Korean here. The below is the summary translation of Jeju media articles regarding the press conference on Oct. 30.
1. A worker exposes on the unreliable caisson production
On the day’s conference, Mr. Ryu Yoon-Sun(45), a former worker in the caisson production site in the Hwasoon port, Andeok-myon, Jeju, testified on the matters on unreliable production of caissons. The work site, under the supervision of Samsung C & T, is producing 8,800 ton caissons that would be used for the frame of the breakwater in the 1^st work area of the Jeju naval base project. The total caissons that would be produced there are 57 and each costs 1.5 billion won.

Mr. Ryu with 30 years work career has been an employee of a construction company, a sub-contacted company of Samsung since last April. During his term of working at the Hwasoon caisson production site, he raised the problems of the caisson production process but was ignored. Since then he has taken photo records to secure the proofs. He left Hawsoon work site at the end of September.

Recently he visiting the Gangjeong village association along with other three workers, accused on the company’s unreliable construction behavior.

The focal point of the workers is that the navy and contracted companies are carrying out unreliable construction to move up construction, shortening the caisson production period into a week, which usually takes 15 days.

According to him, a caisson divided of many rooms that would be filled with concrete is being designed without installation of reinforcing bars in the parts of 50 H-beams of which two H-beams are in each room working as column, which makes caisson weak to the outside shock.

Photo: Media Jeju, Oct. 30, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong village)/Not only joint part is short but tie is weak.

Photo: Headline Jeju/ Oct. 30, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong village)

Also, even though it was designed that the gap between the reinforcing bars is to be 20cm, it is 50cm in reality. The space made for the workers’ passage is not filed with reinforcing bars therefore it would be the first site to be cracked in concrete during the typhoons.

Regarding foreign workers, he said, “In case of reinforcing bar construction in caisson production, the workers are divided of two teams, working 12 hours each in shift. Since April 26, foreign workers were put in but they are not managed well because the numbers of Korean artificers are only 12 who are the chiefs of the teams. Most of the foreign workers are not artificers.”

Ryu also explained that another reason of cracks in concrete is because the company, for the purpose of moving up construction, has reduced the putting numbers and amounts of retarding element when it is put into concrete.

“When you pour concrete, you should operate a tremor plate so that the density of concrete is heightened and there should be no bubbles. However, I saw myself that holes occurred like an osteoporosis diseased bone on the concrete plane after the concrete cure because the operations of tremor were not done enough.”

“The 1^st caisson was the least destroyed by the typhoon at the end of last August. That was the best made.”

Ryu also stated that “I have never seen a superintendent comes and checks the process inside the construction site for six months. Superintendent daily come once but only glance the process, circling around outside the caisson concrete cube. That’s it. He can never have chance to see the construction on the reinforce bars and concrete construction inside caisson.”

All the seven caissons that Samsung C & T have made were destroyed by the typhoon Bolaven at the end of August therefore new ones are being made again.

The Gangjeong village demanded that the Government punish the related personnel and the National Assembly cut the whole budget on the naval base construction in 2013.

2. The village raised on the matter on the navy’s reduction of sea wave height in the harbor and bay layout.

The village reminded that the element of wave height in design is an important variable to predict the intensity of breakwater, fixed temperature of port, and mooring safety; that it is custom that setting the standard with the strongest wave height among the wave heights observed for last 20 years is custom, ; and that all the military ports in Korea have been designed to be equipped with the ability of prevention against inner side and cross-over sea waves, by setting up one design sea wave as standard.

According to the village association, it is only in the Jeju naval base project that the design sea wave has been set up by sections with lower size than 13.7m, the highest sea wave at the time of typhoon Bolvan.

The design sea wave of A section in the west breakwater is 8m, while A and B sections in the east breakwater is merely 6.5 m and 5.4 m each.

The village stated that [the navy and navy-contracted companies] have designed reducing the design sea wave, concerning the over-excessive occurrence of construction cost.”

According to the ‘outer facility plan’ in the report on the basic plan of the Jeju naval base, written in January 2010, it reads that ‘the south breakwater has to be secured of construction and safety element at the time of sectional plan regarding the plane arrangement plan, and as it is expected that [the south breakwater] occupies 60~65 % of harbor and bay construction fee, construction, safety and economic element should be considered above all.’

Otherwise, Jang Hana, Jeju-born member of the National Assembly, Democratic United Party, also making public the inside accusation material on the unreliable naval base construction, criticized that ‘it is not accidental that 7 caissons were destroyed by the typhoon Bolaven. And it turned out that it was an inevitable result that the Samsung C & T that has connived and backed unreliable construction brought on itself. “

Jang scolded that “Now in Gangjeong village, 24 hour restless construction is being processed so that the navy could advantageously get the approval on the budget by the National Assembly by raising construction rate. And the villagers and peacekeepers are taking sleep on the ground in front of the construction site. What is the difference between this unreliable construction and four river project by which many workers have died?”

Jang stated that she would carry the inspection on the caissons with the media reporters being present and would drive to take all the legal measures such as cancellation of business of the Samsung C & T and construction-supervising committee according to the law on technical management, if it turns out that there has been done unreliable construction.

3. Issues on foreign workers and wages.

Otherwise regarding the matter on employing foreign workers, it is interesting to read the statement by the naval base project superintendent committee. According to it, “Among the 180 Vietnamese workers working in Hwasoon, about 10 Vietnamese who are very well in Korean and 8 Vietnamese whose communication in Korean is possible are arranged in work site. There is no problem in the communication between the domestic and foreign workers since a team chief takes a role as a translator.”

The superintendent committee also mentioned on the unpaid wages that Mr. Ryu Eun-Sun complained. The committee said that “there were no cases that the wages have been delayed even though there were loopholes during the tuning process between the section chief and workers.” It also said about the wage system that wages were negotiated with workers for change and there was no unilateral change when the wage system was changed from the monthly to daily.” The committee said that they would strongly take legal measure against Ryu.

However, the village stated on Oct. 31 that “When Mr. Ryu visited and talked with us, we witnessed in person that the company continuously called him and paid him three days’ delayed wages among more days’ through his bank account. Ryu also testified that not only him but most workers who quit the job experienced same. The three workers who came with Ryu also acknowledged it.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Reference

http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=36185

해군기지 케이슨 파손 “부실시공 때문”

현장 근로자 등 폭로…항만 설계파고 축소도

2012.10.30  13:27:07

http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121894

“제주 해군기지 케이슨 파손 우연 아니” 폭로

2012.10.30  11:31:40

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163663

“해군기지 공사 총체적 부실…시공사 엄벌하라”

강정마을회, 해군기지 케이슨 부실시공 의혹, “설계대로 안돼”
“철근 헐겁고 콘크리트도 대충…케이슨 부실 심각”

2012.10.30  12:40:13

http://www.mediajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=136085

“50년 태풍에도 견딘다는 방파제가 파손된 진짜 이유는?”

케이슨 작업장 근로자 “제주해군기지 방파제 설계오류·케이슨 부실시공” 폭로

2012.10.30  12:22:40

http://www.sisajeju.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=162469

강정마을회, “해군기지 감리단은 말에 책임 지고 공개 검증하라”

2012.10.31  11:30:28

http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=163709

해군기지 감리단 “케이슨 부실시공은 명백한 허위사실”

2012.10.30  18:24:19
October 31, 2012
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.

October 24, 2012
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 1^st 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 3^rd, 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 1^st work area and execution layout books on the date of April 6, 2010. Since the 1^st 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
October 22, 2012
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

October 16, 2012
Five Anti-Base Activists Occupy Caisson in Hwasoon, Jeju

Updated Below!

As South Korean state oppression increases in light of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) 2012 WCC (World Conservation Congress), with three Okinawans, one Japanese, denied entry on September 5th, and the entry denial of Imok Cha on September 3rd, Gangjeong villagers and activists are not giving into fear of unjust government attacks, something they have dealt with for 5 years.

On September 6th, the opening day of the 2012 WCC in Jeju, 5 anti-base activists climbed a 10 meter high, 8,800 ton caisson in Hwasoon Port, about a 40 minute car ride from Gangjeong village. Samsung is making these massive concrete caissons there and shipping them to Gangjeong, where they plan to use them to build the huge piers of the naval base.

The five simultaneously released a statement, translated and excerpted here:

Given that it is clear that the Jeju Naval base to be built in Gangjeong Village will be a military outpost of the United States, we cannot stand for our Gangjeong Village, Our Jeju Island to be in the middle of a conflict between an expanding China and the United States containment efforts. We know that the destruction of Gangjeong Village and Jeju, the Peace Island, will become the suffering of all our people. […]

Because of the recent typhoons, all seven caisson [brought so far to Gangjeong], the symbol of the Jeju Naval Base construction, were completely broken to pieces and left under the Gangjeong Sea. Still the Navy and [construction companies] Samsung and Daelim continue to eagerly produce new caisson in Hwasoon Port […]

Many villagers, religious figures, and peace activists have been injured, arrested, and imprisoned to stop this naval base construction (destruction) in the village.

Even though our power might be small, we will fight with all our strength against this enormous dominating power, symbolized by this caisson.

Therefore we will eventually REVOKE the Jeju naval base project, save the peace of Gangjeong and the peace of all humanity

The action began around dawn, with the 5 protestors scaling the caisson and displaying three large banners, two in Korean, on in English which said, “No! Naval Base in Jeju!” At approximately 7:30 a.m., construction workers violently assaulted the occupiers and began destroying the banners. The police began arresting the protestors by 8:30 a.m. 3 were arrested first as two of the protestors had chained themselves. Finally by 9 a.m. all were arrested and are, as of this posting, in police custody in the Seogwipo police station. Two of them are complaining of strong back pain as a result of assault by the workers. As of this time, the charges appear to be “Group Trespass of a Facility”.

The aforementioned caissons are a subject of major contention by the anti-base activists and Gangjeong villagers. In the late 90s, years before the Jeju Naval base construction was even begun, the South Korean Ministry of Construction and Traffic declared that, due to the topography and weather of the South Jeju Sea, caissons were not proper to be used for construction in this area.

Completely ignoring this statement, the Navy/Construction company plan calls for total of 144 caissons to be dropped in the total conservation area of the Gangjeong Sea of Southern Jeju. These massive caissons are also being dropped only 1km from a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and amidst Korean some of the worlds largest soft coral habitats. Soft coral is also a natural monument and endangered species in Korean.

When Samsung first began to bring the caisson to Gangjeong, it was discovered that they had not even done a simple and legally required inspection of the giant floating dock which is used to transport them. Samsung was later fined for this highly dangerous action.

Finally, two recent typhoons have been completely destroyed the 7 poorly made and dangerously placed thus far in the Gangjeong Sea. Their wreckage has litered the sea floor and contaminated the famously clean waters of Gangjeong. Learning nothing from this, Samsung continues to produce the caisson and will not change their plan. The Gangjeong sea is in a state of environmental emergency and if these unstable, unfit, and dangerous caissons continue to be dropped in this precious environment, the destruction could turn catastrophic.

In light of this new emergency, and the ongoing emergency of the illegal, unjust, and environmental destructive construction of the Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong, the Gangjeong Village Association applied for a booth at the WCC 2012, to spread the word of this disaster. However, this booth was rejected by the IUCN under pressure from the South Korean Government and Samsung, a major sponsor of the WCC and primary destroyer of Gangjeong.

Please spread the word on this action and the Gangjeong Struggle. Especially, IUCN members, we appeal to you to listen to the cry of Gangjeong!

Peace in Gangjeong! No Naval Base!

More Photos Available Here

Update:

The five caisson occupiers in police custody at the Dongbu Police Station in Jeju City.

September 6, 2012
IUCN遭質疑：因三星贊助沉默應對軍港破壞濟州島生態

世界自然保育聯盟（IUCN）9月6日到9月15日將於南韓濟州道中文旅遊區舉辦世界保育大會（World Conservation Congress，WCC）。WCC大會每4年舉辦一次，可說是當前最大的自然保育盛會。諷刺的是，濟州道中文旅遊區距離江汀村僅約十多分鐘的車程，當地正進行海軍軍港開發，但IUCN對此議題沉默以對，讓居民頗為失望。

江汀村村民從江汀村遊行至IUCN會議現場

江汀村原是韓國政府認定的｢絕對保護地區｣，江汀村附近海域同時也是聯合國教科文組織（UNESCO）劃定的生物圈保留區，是許多珍貴的海洋以及海岸生物的棲地，然而因為海軍基地建設的關係，江汀村珍稀的自然美景遭受無可挽回的破壞，江汀村許多瀕臨絕種的沿岸海洋生物也面臨絕大的危機。

舉辦日期漸漸迫近的IUCN世界保育大會，本應為江汀村反海軍基地運動帶來一線希望。

尤其2012年7月5日，韓國大法院（最高法院）就濟州道居民針對國防部長官提起的訴訟做出裁決，推翻原審中被告敗訴的判決，並將此案移交首爾高等法院審理。此前，濟州道江汀村438名居民針對國防部長官提起訴訟，要求法院判國防部取消濟州海軍基地建設計畫。據原審判決，韓國國防部2009年在並未切實進行環境影響評估的情況下批准建設專案實施計畫，因此這一計畫無效。

然而大法院認為，原審法院對有關法律規定存在錯誤理解，因此推翻原審中被告敗訴的判決。這也意味著，根據大法院的最新判決，韓國國防部將可如期推進濟州海軍基地建設項目。

居民仍對首爾高等法院寄予期待，並期許韓國國內以及國際公民社會盡全力展現其聲援江汀村之勢，然而在此關鍵時刻，身為世界最大環保團體的IUCN卻靜默了。

「江汀村和國際各界要求停止海軍基地建設、停止此案對環境與生態帶來不可逆破壞。但到目前為止，IUCN對的回應令人灰心。」江汀村反對海軍基地委員會國際組組長崔成希表示

IUCN僅含糊地於其網站上表示「針對韓國的環境議題，IUCN鼓勵開放及建設性的對話。」然而於此同時，IUCN卻一方性刪除了該網站上來自世界各地的留言，其中軍事針對海軍基地破壞江汀村生態、瀕絕生物與傳統文化的訊息。

IUCN對濟州島海軍基地的態度如此退縮，使許多民眾質疑：｢環境正義是否為IUCN以及WCC的核心價值？若是，問題究竟出在哪裡？｣

軍港承包商保育大會主要贊助者

菲律賓、孟加拉、印度、斯里蘭卡等市民社會聲援濟州島反海軍活動。圖片來源_No Naval Base Group

許多反軍港運動人士轉而質疑今年WCC的贊助資金來源：三星（海軍基地建設案主要承包商）為2012年WCC主要贊助商，名列「大會夥伴」（Congress partner）。

同時，E-Mart（易買得，韓國最大的零售商）也是WCC大會的「金牌」贊助商。E-Mart過去一直為新世界集團所擁有，而新世界集團則是由三星集團創辦人李秉喆最小的女兒李明熙擔任董事長。三星集團一直擁有新世界集團，直到1991年兩公司分立。去年5月，新世界集團分拆了E-Mart，並將其交由李明熙的兒子鄭溶鎮經營。

同時，其他WCC的大會贊助夥伴還包括現代汽車集團、起亞汽車（現代汽車子公司）。韓國現任總統李明博，推動江汀村海軍基地、以及國內許多破壞環境的大型開發案不遺餘力，他曾擔任現代集團總裁多年。

運動人士質疑，IUCN是世界級保育組織，其中不乏關心環境者，但針對濟州島海軍基地議題的態度，他們是否忘了IUCN的任務及責任。

「江汀村反對海軍基地建設委員會」將9月2日~9日訂為「反對濟州島海軍基地建設」國際行動日，此期間於村內將舉辦各式參訪活動、座談會提供國際人士深入參予。

該委員會國際組組長崔成希表示，希望無法親訪江汀村，卻願意表達支持的民眾直接聯絡國際組表達支持，聲援行動日期間在村內舉辦的各類活動；聯絡方式 gangjeongintl@gmail.com 。

August 14, 2012
Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | June Issue

In this month’s issue:
6000 bows for peace in front of the Governor’s building, special international solidarity feature, harassement of village elderly, Father Mun wins the 5.18 Human Rights Prize, a letter from Guam and more!

Download PDF

June 1, 2012
Caisson production is illegally and unreliably being done: Gangjeong villagers’ statement on the navy’s illegal destruction of environment

Below is the translation of the Gangjeong Village Association’s statement on May 22, 2012. (Sorry for any mistakes for hurried translation in advance). You can see the original Korean script here.

…………………………………………………..

Title: The Jeju Island government should take stern legal action on illegal and unreliable construction (destruction) of the Jeju naval base project!

The caissons that would be thrown down in the construction area of the Jeju naval base project are of giant structure of 38m length, 25m width and 20m height for each. Considering such giant structure of 8,800 ton for each, it should be natural that the [steel] frames of those should be strictly made as in the layout. However, there has been a controversy that the frames of the caissons [..] have been made unreliably.

(# The Jeju Sori May 12 article reports on the raised suspicion on unreliable caisson production by Samsung, see the bottom)

[The government] has seriously ignored democratic procedure without holding any hearings for the villagers during its process to get villagers’ agreement but allowing only the people who were bribed before; has annulled absolute preservation areas [in the village] in snatched way; and has been lack of persuasive explanation on the urgent reasons for security matter. NOT ONLY THAT, even though prior environmental review following the law on protection of natural environment had to be done before selecting location, it was done AFTER A YEAR of location selection while the government having APPROVED the project WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT. The whole process of naval base construction (destruction) was of the extreme of irrationality throughout all its process.

As if it is not enough to get the permission on the altered condition, holding down the law on protection of cultural treasure by the force of the Ministry of National Defense, it PROCESSED construction(destruction) EVEN DURING the excavation period on buried cultural treasures, using shortcut method of so-called ‘partial construction.’ The purported ‘Beautiful Tourism Port for Mixed Civilian-Military Use,’ of which the name was put to deceive the Island people, while the government clearly promoting a military-only port, has been proved out to be DUAL FROM THE BEGINNING.

While port operation rate has been suspected with the exposal of flawed layout, the Jeju naval base project that is now being in conflict with the position of the Jeju Island government for the matter on the two cruises’ simultaneous port entry & exit is now bringing reputes as the [central government] attempts to establish A MILITARY FACILITY PROTECTION ZONE in the current stage, which can be done ONLY AFTER permission for building completion according to the Port Act (law on harbor and bay). It is really suspicious whether it is truly a national policy further with the matter on unreliable construction (destruction).

In a word, it is ‘an example of business wasted of national tax’!

Furthermore, blast has been enforced even though the Gangjeong village association has warned many times that precise investigation is needed on the underground water vein, concerning about the water source of the Gangjeong stream. And now the blast has been enforced, the front sea and the port area of the village are now being increased with damage for daily dirty water, despite no rain. The Jeju Island government that has not taken any measure is committing DERILICTION of DUTY even though it was confirmed that the silt protection layer has never been restored by the result of underwater investigation and the village has submitted the Island government its opinion statement on the date of May 15, demanding construction stop at least until the completion of reduction measure following the law on the Environmental Impact Assessment and Public Waters Act.

Further unbearable is that the Island governor has not made public any of its position even though he himself was humiliated when a low-level personnel of the Prime Minister Office scolded the Island government for its boycott on the simulation [on May 16] and declared on enforcement of construction (destruction) […] on the very day.

(The Jeju Island government boycotted the simulation as the Prime Minister office refused to accept its demand on the simulation on three among five cases.)
The Gangjeong village association strongly demand the below to the navy and Jeju Island government.

The navy should not hide any more on the unreliable caisson production. It should remove away related caissons not to mention two caissons that it has already provisionally installed in front Sea of Gangjeong [..]

The Gangjeong village association clearly says that it would constantly take measure of accusation on the chief of the naval base business committee and joint chief of naval operation, by the proofs on the fields of dirty water flow because of enforced destruction despite damage on the silt protection layers.

The Jeju Island government should take precise investigation on the underground water regarding the Gureombi Rock and should be clearly responsible for its dereliction of duty in post management and supervision of environmental impact assessment based on related laws. If it finally abandons its responsibility, the village association would constantly raise dereliction charge against it with criminal cases. And the village association warns it that the village would stage the movement on the resignation of [governor, Woo Keun-Min] if he is not be with the village despite the fact that it is becoming clear that it is only a naval base ( # not a civilian-military dual port).

Finally it is nothing but impudicity that the navy that has been allocated only 4.9 billion won for the item of layout compensation because the National Assembly has cut 96% budget on the Jeju naval base project [due to exposed frauds in process and layout of the project] plans to hold an environmental impact assessment fair following [the plan] of building of military official residence, in the Kimjung Culture Hall on May 29. How does the navy dare to hold such fair when its budget for purchase of land for that business that will be taken in the vicinity of the village, has been ALL CUT? If it attempts to place an order on that business by diverting budget previously approved, we would definitely ask it for that charge.

To save Gangjeong, the Life and Peace village, to realize the Jeju, the Peace Island, and to build peace without threat of war in Korea, Northeast Asia and world, the Gangjeong village association and villagers will fight to the end, along with people in the world who support the Island people and Gangjeong village.

May 22, 2012

Gangjeong Village Association

……………………………………………..
Image source: Jeju Sori, May 12, 2012. See more photos here.

Photo: Jeju Sori, May 12, 2012

Photo: Jeju Sori, May 12, 2012

Photos presented by an informant to the Jeju Sori. The informant claimed that the caisson-producing subcontract company of Samsung in Hwasoon port has been doing unreliable caisson-production works by reducing the amount of steel frames of caissons, in violation of layout.

In the photo on the combination of steel frame, lower part is connected with the reinforcing rods of 800mm while upper part is connected with far shorter 200 mm.

According to that informant, the strength of structure is weaker when the joint of the reinforcing rods is shorter.

He also said, “If caissons are unreliably constructed, the possibility of damage by shocks due to sea wave and big military vessels when they come alongside the pier becomes higher. Even verification becomes impossible once those caissons are thrown into the sea.

It is known that about 220 workers including 180 Vietnamese and 40 Koreans are working on caisson production doing all-night works in Hwasoon port.

The Samsung C & T is to throw 57 caissons of 10 stories height caissons into the 1st work area of the Gangjeong Sea for coming 19 months.

(# If the construction is completed, it is expected that about 89 caissons will be put into the sea as a whole.)

May 22, 2012