'저는 그들의 땅을 지키기 위하여 싸웠던 인디안들의 이야기를 기억합니다. 백인들이 그들의 신성한 숲에 도로를 만들기 위하여 나무들을 잘랐습니다. 매일밤 인디안들이 나가서 백인들이 만든 그 길을 해체하면 그 다음 날 백인들이 와서 도로를 다시 짓곤 했습니다. 한동안 그 것이 반복되었습니다. 그러던 어느날, 숲에서 가장 큰 나무가 백인들이 일할 동안 그들 머리 위로 떨어져 말과 마차들을 파괴하고 그들 중 몇몇을 죽였습니다. 그러자 백인들은 떠났고 결코 다시 오지 않았습니다….' (브루스 개그논)





For any updates on the struggle against the Jeju naval base, please go to savejejunow.org and facebook no naval base on Jeju. The facebook provides latest updates.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Text Fwd: NARPI Response to Artillery Exchange between North and South Korea

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* The statement was thankfully forwarded by Lee Jae-Young, Peace Program Coordinator, Korea Anabaptist Center and Director of Norhteast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute on Nov. 24, 2010

* See also as attachment
NARPI November 23 Statement.docNARPI November 23 Statement.doc
61K View Download
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NARPI Response to Artillery Exchange between North and South Korea
November 23, 2010

In response to the artillery exchange which took place over the West maritime border of North and South Korea, in the afternoon of November 23, 2010, the Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute members wish to express our concerns as follows:

1. NARPI members first wish to extend our deepest condolences to the communities, families and friends of those who lost their lives unnecessarily due to this event. The lives of these young people were precious and we acknowledge the emotional toll this loss brings to the involved communities. We also express deep regret and sadness towards those who have sustained injuries and those people whose property was damaged in the artillery exchange.

2. This incident reminds us that the present situation of military confrontation will continue to bring unnecessary deaths. We ask for a ceasefire and for no further military action from all sides in order to prevent further loss of life and injuries. In place of violent military action, we ask that the focus of leaders and military personnel would be directed to peaceful resolution through dialogue. We also express deep concern over continued military drills, including U.S.-joint drills, near the border or the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which only escalate the tensions in North and South Korea and the region.

3. We must also acknowledge the ongoing fragility of the situation between North and South Korea and the region as whole, and the fear and concern that is experienced by civilians throughout Northeast Asia. The impacts of this artillery exchange and other past conflicts between North and South Korea are not only felt by these two countries but indeed by Northeast Asia as a whole. Therefore we call upon other civil society groups in Northeast Asia and the international community to raise their voices in concern over this and to advocate for the use of non-violent, non-military approaches.

4. This event indicates more than ever the need for the people of Northeast Asia to find realistic and concrete solutions to the cold war structure, which was created by the world powers against the will of the Korean people, and the 55-year military conflict within the Korean peninsula. We are convinced that in our region, capacity building for nonviolence through peacebuilding institutes such as NARPI, instead of ongoing reliance on military strength and solutions, is absolutely vital in our present reality. Therefore, as a civil society peace organization in Northeast Asia, we call for the cooperation of all groups toward the transformation of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia into a peaceful region.

-Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute
Administration office: 82-2-554-9615
6F Aroma Ville, 648-3 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea 135-911

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