Dear
Friends in Maine, United States,
Hello
from Gangjeong village, Jeju Island, South Korea. Despite our struggle against
base construction for nearly nine years, there was a ceremony for the completion
of the Jeju navy base construction this February. However, despite the navy
base, we will do our best to maintain village community. And we cannot get along
with the navy as long as it continues to foster conflicts.
We
heard that there is a ceremony for the christening of a recently built Zumwalt
destroyer in the Bath Iron Works (BIW), Maine, United States on June 18 and that
this destroyer is the most threatening naval ship in history, with a production
cost of more than 4 billion USD per ship. According to the Korean media, the
U.S. Secretary of Defense said that all three Zumwalt-class destroyers, once
being made, would be deployed in the East Asia Sea by the end of this year. It
is very worrisome as it would intensify tension in Northeast Asia and threaten
peace. We heard that you would carry out protest to the christening ceremony on
the Zumwalt destroyer and some of you plan non-violent civil disobedience on
June 18.
Many
of you have visited Gangjeong and have made solidarity with us with deep concern
for the struggle in opposition to the Jeju navy base project. Thanks to you, we
came to know that our fight is not isolated but connected to all the peace
movements in the world. Therefore we send deep gratitude, friendship, and
solidarity to you all who are to magnificently expressing faith on peace in
protest to the christening of the Zumwalt destroyer. We also resolve that we will endeavor more
fully to keep our struggle.
Despite
the navy and government manipulation 9 years ago, more than 94% among more than
70% of the electorate of the village strongly opposed the Jeju naval base
construction. However, the government ignored villagers’ opinion and enforced
base construction destroying democracy, environment and human rights. Further,
the government and navy filed a wrongful lawsuit demanding around 3 million USD
against the people of Gangjeong and are preparing to evict our community protest
site, at the entrance to Gureombi Rock, which is now covered by concrete. The
Jeju navy base was built on the destruction of democracy and threatens the peace
of northeast Asia. That is why we continuously oppose to it and will do so in
the future, too.
The
Gangjeong sea with UNESCO-designation and the world’s largest soft coral
habitat, a place where the 100 remaining Jeju Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins
often came, has changed into a site infested with aegis destroyers and
submarines. It is currently only used by military vessels of the South Korean
navy. However given that Lisa Franchetti, the ex-commander of US naval forces of
South Korea mentioned last August that the US wants to ‘send its ships’ to the
ports of South Korea, including the Jeju navy base, it is very worrisome to
imagine that the Zumwalt destroyer, the so called most threatening military
vessel, might enter the Jeju naval port.
We
think peace can be made through peace not through war. Even though the base was
completed and oppression on the opponents to the Jeju navy base has been heavy,
we will not stop our efforts to oppose militarism and make Gangjeong a ground
for life and peace, on behalf of future generations and the living creatures in
the sea.
We
thank for your noble dedication and solidarity.
In
peace,
The
Anti-navy base committee of Gangjeong Village, Jeju Island, Korea
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