Light Aircraft Carrier, Jeju Naval Base, US Indo-Pacific Strategy/ The 2021 Gangjeong Peace Activist March/ The release of Song Kang-ho/ Accusing the Navy Chief of Staff on Gangjeong Stream/ Ocean Action/ Update on the struggle against the 2nd airport project/ The New Space Era of South Korea with Rockets/ Opposition to AUKUS/ Rocket Lab: Privatized Militarization of Space in New Zealand/ US Militarization of Guam and the Marianas/ Updates from Henoko and Miyako/ The War Drum-beating 53rd ROK-US SCM etc.
The Jeju 2nd airport construction project nears the brink of falling/ Civilian-Government-Military Cooperation/ Gangjeong stream takes the island government and MND to court/ The 2nd airport still casting shadows after the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment was rejected/ Opposing Talisman Sabre for a Peaceful Pacific/ Cancer cases in village close to THAAD radar/ Countering the “China Threat”-At What Price? Etc.
Not a Deceptive Apology but Truth Investigation!/ Gureombi Remembrance Pilgrimage/ Despite the lawsuit, military road construction continues/ MOLIT and the Jeju Island Government should respect the result of the public opinion poll/ Resisting Militarization in Jeju and Northeast Asia/ Okinawa update/ Jeju Environmental Declaration/ Jeju Council’s approval of land sale for the Satellite Center/ Song and Ryu’s appeal to the Higher Court was dismissed/ “White Terror, ‘Red’ Island: A People’s Archive of the Jeju 4.3/ US Pressures South Korea to secure land route for THAAD base/ A Dangerous Global Alliance etc.
Solidarity Messages for 5000 days of Gangjeong Struggle / Islanders Choose a Sustainable Jeju, Rather than Over-Tourism and Reckless Development/ We can defend Seongsan with the power to overcome the sorrow of Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre/ Bringing Legal Action Against the Military Roadwork/ People appeal for the release of Song Kang-ho/ Activists Opposing the 2nd Airport on Trial/ New U.S. Marine Force Structure to Challenge China’s Navy/ Pleas to honor war victims and stop base construction in Okinawa/ Campaign to Stop the US-ROK War Drills/ The National Satellite Integrated Operation Center should be refused/ US Space Force in Korea/ US Indo-Pacific Strategy and South Korea Arms Development/ Gender Minorities Suffer from Hatred and Discrimination etc.
A Military Road over the Water Supply Source/ The time has come for the islanders’ decision on the Jeju 2nd airport/ Voices from Seongsan / Solidarity Letters to Peace Prisoners/ Nanjing Seen from Alddreu/ National Satellite Integrated Operation Center in Jeju/ Mouth cancer found in a Jeju dolphin/ The Problem of Returned US bases/ Okinawa Update/ Building More Infrastructure for War with China/ In Memory of George Ogle etc.
On Mar. 7, 2020, Song Kang Ho and Ryu Bok Hee entered the Jeju Naval Base to pray for peace on the remaining part of Gureombi Rock. It was the 8th anniversary of the blasting of Gureombi rock, the precious coastline of Gangjeong Village, which was destroyed in order to build the navy base.
On Sept. 24, 2020, Ryu Bok Hee received a suspended sentence, which means she will have 3 years probation, but Song Kang Ho was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. (So far, he already served 9 months). He is appealing this harsh sentencing. Please follow the instructions below to send a petition to Judge Wang Jeong-ok by Jan. 23, 2021.
<Letter Appeal: Release Peace Activist Song Kang-ho>
Song Kang-ho has been working for peace in international conflict and disaster affected areas like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Rwanda, Aceh, Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Haiti since 2000. Recently, he has been opposing the competition between imperial powers to dominate international waters in the South China Sea from Gangjeong on Jeju Island, South Korea, and tirelessly promoting solidarity for demilitarization and peace between islands of different countries fighting militarization like Okinawa and Taiwan. This is the fifth time he has been imprisoned in the struggle against the Jeju naval base.
Song Kang-ho remains imprisoned with his appeal trial underway after being sentenced for two years for cutting through the barbed wire fence of the Jeju naval base and entering the base to pray for peace on what remains of Gureombi Rock where the original waterside park once stood on 7 March 2020. The base itself was constructed illegally, in haste, and through violence on Jeju, the Island of Peace. President Roh Moo-hyun proclaimed Jeju the ‘Island of Peace’ on 27 January 2005. However, Jeju has steadily become more and more militarized. We hope you will help us create a real island of peace. In particular, to ensure that civilians can share in what is called the ‘Civilian-Military Complex Port’, Song Kang-ho has been requesting that the remaining fraction of the dynamited Gureombi Rock be opened for public access once a year on 7 March. After entering the base on the 8th anniversary of the blasting after not hearing a response to his multiple written and verbal appeals, he is now appealing the heavy sentence of two years imprisonment imposed on him.
How to Write and Send a Petition letter
1) Letters are to be sent to the Presiding Judge Wang Jeong-ok by Jan. 23, 2021. Please refer to the letter below and write a brief message of 3~4 sentences in large letters that are easy to read. Make sure to include a handwritten signature at the end.
2) If possible, we would be grateful if you could write the letter by hand and send scan or photographed copy to us.
3) For those who consent, also attaching a copy of your personal ID card will allow your letter to be recognized as carrying more weight.
4) Please email photos or documents to the following:
Dr. Song Kang Ho, who founded The Frontiers, has committed his life to peace work in Korea and all over the world – from Rwanda to Afghanistan to Iraq to Rohingya refugee camps. In his work against war and structural violence, we have witnessed his commitment to nonviolent peace and justice.
We are aware that because he violated Korean laws during his protest action at the Jeju Naval Base, that he has been in jail for almost a year, and that there is one year remaining in his sentence.
We ask you to consider that Dr. Song did not cause human harm in his violation of the law, and that the message behind his action was a call for human security and sustainable peace that cannot be obtained through military competition between nations. When he is released, Dr. Song’s work of building a more peaceful society will benefit many more people around the world. Please use the power that you have been granted with wisdom and justice.
Date:
Name:
Organization:
Address:
excellently translated by Tom, and originally shared by Jungjoo
See more here and in forthcoming editions of the Gangjeong Village Story
Gureombi Rock will be returned back to us without fail / Naval base entry road is destroying Gangjeong River / Gureombi Rock and Kim Jong-Hwan’s Operation/ Why Do I Fast?/ Udo and Hundertwasser/ From the trees of Guam and Hawaii/ Okinawa Opinion Statements/ More Coal-Fired Power Plants? /Lets’ save Ha-je Village and the Hackberry Tree/ Keep Space for Peace Week/ SCM and THAAD/ Jeju Navy Base should be watched/ A Sewol Ferry Survivors’ fast in front of the presidential house/ Nuclear Weapons Banned Formally/ Congratulations to Christine Ahn, recipient of the 2020 US Peace Prize etc.
President Moon’s emphasis on maritime power and the navy chief’s visit home/ Black Lives Matter in Gangjeong/ THAAD product improvement amid COVID-19/ Can Island Governor Won who dreams to be South Korean President care for the lives of Korea and the Earth?/ Susan-ri, Visiting an Endangered Village/ Divest from Endless Wars: Cancel RIMPAC and End the Korean War etc.
Asking “What is True Security?” During the COVID-19 Pandemic/ The Imprisonment of Song Kang-ho and the World Peace Island/ Protect Jeju! Citizens’ Declaration for a Sustainable Jeju/ 1 Billion Women Rising, Singing and Dancing in Solidarity!/ Cancel RIMPAC, Protect Hawai’i/ Coronavirus and Carcinogens in Okinawa/ COVID-19 affects budget cut on the Jeju 2nd airport project/ Continued Struggles in the US Colony of Guahan/ Daejeong Wins Two Struggles/ Breaking Censorship on Art/ General Election Amid COVID-19/ Urgent: A Special Investigation Team Right Under the President!/ Art for Citizen Activism in the Bijarim-ro etc.
In this month’s issue:
100,000 Books arrive in Gangjeong for the creative transformation to a “book village”, National Assembly inspections on the base, Solidarity from Italy and Western Europe, Gangjeong at the Busan WCC Assembly 2013, Trial updates, outrageous imprisonments, police disrupt prohibit catholic Eucharist and more!
