Jeju: One of the longest running protests in the world

 

Catholic mass is held every day followed by protest (that includes singing and dancing) at the navy base gate in Gangjeong village on Jeju Island, South Korea. (Base military housing can be seen nearby in both videos. The land, previous to the destruction of the local farms, used to grow tangerines.)

The valiant Gangjeong villagers and supporters have maintained this daily vigil for 17.5 years. As of November 29th it has been 6,407 consecutive days!

 

The U.S. forced construction of the naval base as part of Obama's 'pivot to the Asia-Pacific' in order to encircle China. More ports of call for warships were needed. More airfields for US-NATO aircraft. More barracks for Pentagon and allied troops.

The people have fought heroically to save their small 500 year old fishing and farming community that is still being torn asunder in order to continually expand the base.

And now the US Space Force is working with South Korean aerospace corporation Hanwha to build a satellite construction facility on Jeju. And just offshore there have already been satellite launches from oil rig-type platforms.

Because of Jeju's proximity to China the U.S. sees the island as an ideal 'military operations center'. 

Navy Aegis destroyers (built in Bath, Maine) along with submarines and aircraft carriers from the US-NATO regularly port at the base in Gangjeong village. Each time they arrive they are met with protests.

Peace groups around the world could learn alot about stick-to-it-ive-ness from the folks on Jeju Island when it comes to sustaining a protest movement thru thick and thin.

They use prayer, song, dance, art, a community kitchen and much more to keep their activities alive. 

I've had the great fortune to travel to Gangjeong village many times over the years. I have wonderful friends there and they continue to inspire me every day. My heart goes out to them always.

See this excellent film about the early resistance in Gangjeong village made by former Mainer Regis Tremblay (now living in Crimea) called the Ghosts of Jeju. The documentary film will be shown on December 4 at the Archangel Film Festival in northern Russia.

All love and peace to the people of Jeju Island!

Bruce