[Jeju Update] [May 6] Gangjeong villagers' solidarity message to the people in Maine

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Upon the news on the protest against the christening of another Aegis Destroyer, in the Bath Iron Works, Maine, United States, on May 7, 2011, the representatives of the Gangjeong village send a solidarity message to the people who join the protest. For more on the protest, see here(translated in Korean)


The message was written on May 6, 2011 in Korean time and forwarded to this blogger. English translation is in the below.

'Solidarity message

The Aegis Destroyer is a system with a bigger concept of aggression than that of defense.

We in the Gangjeong village express strong solidarity to your organizations’ activities, saying that we seriously concern about the development and deployment of the weapon system that provokes war and we oppose the current of the South Korean big corporation's growth toward military-industrial complex.

We urgently appeal to the United States who has the 1st military and economic power in the world to immediately stop provoking wars in the various regions of the world and invading the powerless countries.

Kang Dong-Kyun, Mayor of the Gangjeong village
Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Gangjeong villagers’ committee against the Jeju naval base'


On May 6, construction was stopped because of the rain and fog. The people could rest for a while. The Jeju naval base issue is increasingly becoming nationwide especially because of the long-time prison fast by Yang Yoon-Mo, movie critic, whose fast meets 32nd as of May 7 and the peace groups solidarity statements and mainstream media’s article on the issue is increasing. Otherwise, four people who have gotten the third letter from the Seogwipo Police Station to be investigated for their direct actions against construction but declined in their official press interview days ago got the forth letter on May 6. The letter says that the four should be present and be investigated on May 13 that is the same day of the 2nd trial on Yang Yoon-Mo.

Another peace banner.. The mandarin duck in the Gangjeong stream, dolphins in the Gangjeong sea and red-feet crabs in the very construction site..The Gangjeong village-the planned naval base area along with its sea- is itself ecology-excellent village (government-designated in 2006)

People in the evening after all day vigil (May 6, 2011)

It is unusual that the police present the forth letter. Usually the third letter is the final and the police would forcefully arrest the targeted people after their failure of presence upon the third letter. It is clear that the government is noticing increasing public opinion against naval base construction.

Otherwise, the Gangjeong villagers will have a fundraising event for the struggle on May 7, 2011. Yang Yoon-Mo, movie critic has met his 32nd prison fast against naval base construction as of May 7, 2011 and the villagers have suffered because of tremendous fines during the four years’ hard struggle.


* Image source: Click HERE