[Jeju update] 15~18 July 2011

On July 15th, the arrest of the three leading Jeju Island resistance leaders by undercover police happened. Here's the video of that morning:

http://youtu.be/74SL1KPq0K0

July 18th, for the whole afternoon, the broadcasting in Gangjeong kept informing villagers that the press conference in front of the navy office would be started soon for against the naval base and for criticizing two more conscientious prisoners newly being in jail.

Village leader of Gangjeong said "if one thief come to your house, won't you try to arrest them? But now the thief tried to accusing back the owner of house under the name of business interruption, and the police surprisingly turn back to arrest the house owners. In the morning of 15th July, you send so many police men (around 70) to arrest me. Am I that much dangerous? "

In my eyes, their eyes are so pure, how can they be the people who need almost one hundred police men to arrest them?

In the press conference, Yune, The Frontiers staff, read Brother Song's letter which he wrote while lose freedom. One word by word, one sentence by sentence, she read. Hope the people who should listen really listen. We will never stop talking like this.

The Following is the letter from Brother Song:

Letter from Brother Song in Jeju East Regional Police Station Detention Cell_July 17

July 17, Sunday, 2011
Song Kang-ho from Jeju East Regional Police Station Detention Cell

Dear Navy, Samsung, Daelim People

I have met you starting from this early March. It is already 5th month. Personally I feel so sorry that I have caused you big trouble. I know you have been through hard time. We could be good friends if we not meet under the situation of Gangjeong Nave Base Construction. In my eyes, you look like good and kind uncles, friends and juniors. I am trying to understand you even though you have restrained me by force and abused me a lot. All things are because of your job. After all our evil destiny brought me into prison, now my freedom is taken as you wished.

I do not blame you, nor reproach you. I believe the wrong policy of Korean Government and Ministry of National Defense put me in prison. It was our Constitution Day when I was imprisoned a charge of business interruption against Navy Base Construction. All democratic procedure was ignored. Finally I was imprisoned because of the fighting against our Government to protect democracy, the foundation of Republic of Korea Constitutional Law, to save our country from the war, to preserve our beautiful sacred nature.

Personally I like you, even respect you. It is because of my absolute respect for the blue workers. Even though I am against war and hate militarism, it is true that I admire your dauntlessness, dignity and feel human affection at the same time. I ask you no more criminal making. 50 residents have punished disgracefully, tens of people are accused. Please deliberate why Gangjeong Villagers should go through these trials. Please think about the discords and distresses that you bring this peaceful fisherman and farmers village. Why you should work like this? Don't you recognize that it is inevitable to face with bigger opposition if you proceed the construction by force? I do believe that this mad Navy Base construction would be stopped someday. But what I am concerning most is that it will cause irrecoverable sacrifice, loss, pain and harm of villagers. Do not forget villagers even could lose their life. I beg a favor of you. Please stop the construction temporarily, resolve the conflicts with residents, first. This is all people's request, and most of residents pro Navy Base construction also agree with. There is no reason to be existed if the military ignore the people. Please respect residents, listen what they are requesting. Stop the war against residents and try to persuade them. You have your own logic, counterproposal and compensation plan. Why you could not persuade residents? Gangjeong residents love our country, respect military service same as other villagers. Please appeal to their patriotic sentiment, remind their national defense spirit. Please do your best to talk with residents.

The one thing I want to make clear is that you should give up Navy Base construction if you fail to persuade residents. You should not proceed construction by force. Oppressive construction will destroy our National Identity as democratic country. I sincerely beg of you. Declare construction stop, try to do unlimited talk with residents. It is the only way to resolve all the conflicts caused by Navy Base construction, not make pure heart residents becoming disgraceful criminal. Oppressive construction is like dragging an unrolled wheel car. Your car must be fallen down. Like a wheel could not win asphalt road, Navy could not win people, nor samgsung does. Please listen carefully what people saying before you get bigger losses and shame, before people go through bigger pain and sacrifice.

Mr. Ko and Brother Song walking out from the trial room.
Brother Song was holding a bible which a friend gave to him at that day before the trial.

Press conference in front of the Navy Office to protest the unjust arrest of peace activist on July 18.

Source: http://fromlospalos.blogspot.com/2011/07/am-i-that-much-dangerous.html