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| Press conference by Gangjeong villagers held in front of the Jeju Island provincial government building (South Korea). The banner said "Navy killed all the Gangjeong villagers and then just take away the property! You have already taken away our land, destroyed our community and now even try to take all our property away!" |
Navy files suit for losses against locals that opposed naval base in Jeju
Activists, civic and religious groups accused of causing loss of
taxpayer money for delaying construction in Gangjeong Village
The South Korean Navy is demanding damages from local groups and residents
in Jeju Island for “taxpayer losses” incurred by their opposition to the
construction of a new naval base.
The groups targeted include the village association of Gangjeong in the
city of Seogwipo.
“On Mar. 28, we filed a suit with Seoul Central District Court for the
exercise of indemnity rights for the Jeju multi-purpose port complex,” the Navy
announced in a press release on Mar. 29.
“The purpose of this exercise of indemnity rights is to hold those
responsible accountable for losses in taxpayer money from among the additional
costs of 27.5 billion won (US $23.8 million) incurred due to the [14-month]
delay in the port’s construction period owing to illegal obstruction of
operations,” it added.
The total compensation claim amounted to 3.4 billion won (US$2.9 million)
of the additional costs, with the Gangjeong village association listed among the
defendants alongside five groups and 117 residents and activities who took
action to oppose the naval base construction.
Last year, Samsung C&T demanded 36 billion won (US$31.2 million) in
compensation from the Navy for delays in the construction schedule; a figure of
27.5 billion won (US$23.8 million) was finally settled on after mediation by the
Korean Commercial Arbitration Board. Mediation is currently under way for Daelim
Construction’s claim for 23 billion won (US$19.9 million) in compensation.
The Navy called the claim a “legitimate measure for legal responsibility
for causing construction delays and losses in taxpayer money through their
illegal obstruction of a state effort undertaken according to lawful
procedures.”
In addition to holding residents and activists accountable for the
additional costs incurred by their opposition, the Navy‘s decision to pursue the
claim following the base’s completion on Feb. 26 appears intended to send the
message that those who oppose state efforts in general will face legal action.
The Gangjeong village association responded with indignation.
“We intend to discuss this with residents at the village level,” said
association head Cho Gyeong-cheol, adding that legal professionals were being
consulted on a response.
“The same Navy that said it would be ‘working with residents’ is now
demanding compensation, and it hasn’t even been that long since they finished.
It’s shameful to see the Navy going on about the ‘shared benefits for
residents,’” Cho said.
Hong Gi-ryong, the head of the provincial countermeasures committee‘s
executive committee, said it “makes no sense for the Navy to demand compensation
when resident lives have been devastated.”
Hong went on to say residents and groups planned a joint legal response
with the group MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society.
In 2007, the administration selected Gangjeong as the site of its naval
base construction despite procedural objections over an ad hoc general village
association meeting attended only by a portion of residents. The construction
went ahead despite the objections of local residents, activists, and religious
workers, and was finally completed in February. Around 600 people were
prosecuted over obstruction, with some 400 million won (US $346,000) in total
fines to residents and activists.
Take Action: Please call the South Korean embassy or consulate nearest you and complain about this outrageous action to destroy Gangjeong village. Here is the link to find the ROK consulate nearest you in the US. Do it today!
2 comments:
This is the kind of corporate-military relationship which has money and power (economic and political) that has been dictating to we, the people, everywhere, what they want. Recall that earlier chant, was it Jesse Jackson, "the people united cannot be defeated." This is what must be done, a coordinated worldwide struggle against the Power of Money and Militarism (war or preparing for war is good for business - profits). I hope that Veterans for Peace can participate in this effort and can embrace the concept of "peace at Home, Peace Abroad."
As a Veteran for Peace and a member of WILPF I applaud your heartfelt comment. Here on the home front WILPF, VFP and JAPA support my filmmaking endeavor to enlighten Americans and the world about the most powerful peace document-in-action ever written, Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. Now that document is being threatened by the Japanese government so they may join the U.S.in military actions anywhere and any time the U.S. finds it convenient. The film, "Article 9 Comes to America," available on Amazon, embraces your quote, "Peace at Home, Peace Abroad."
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