[Jeju Update: Aug. 29~30] Ten Thousand Things: Jeju District Court's Obstruction of Democracy

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서울의 소리
강정마을 해군기지 건설의 문제점 (한국 진보 연대 정리) 강정마을회, 범도민대책위, 전국대책회의, 국회 진상조사단 조사 보고서 등을 참고하여 요약, 정리
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RELATED UPDATE COLLECTION
[URGENT PLEA: In Update] EMERGENCY in GANGJEONG Since Aug. 24, 2011
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See also
Who are the restrained after Aug. 24?
Words from mayor Kang Dong-Kyun in custody cell on Aug. 28
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See also Ten Thousand Things
Iara Lee: "'Obstructing Business': South Koreans on the March"on Aug. 29, 2011
(Original source: Huffington post: an excellent article with powerful photos)
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FACE BOOK
Release Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan, and Mr. Kim Dong-Won immediately!
Save Jeju Island 생명 평화 강정 마을
No Naval Base on Jeju
Save Prof. Yang and Sung-Hee Choi
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See also articles (* Thanks to Mattew Hoey)
Joongang Daily: District court forbids anti-base protests on Jeju on Aug. 31, 2011
Korea Times : Clash brewing at Gangjeong village on Aug. 30, 2011
Korea Herald: Standoff escalates over Jeju naval base on Aug. 30, 2011
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Paco says on Aug. 30, 2011
"Today, 54 villagers and activists (that we know of) received court summons for their actions on August 24th. We expect this number to go higher."

Regina says on Aug 30
'Catholic priests in prayer. The navy and construction companies hired gangs for plastic barriers and police show no principles and responsibilities for that.' (video by Dungree)




Photo by Thinkunit on Aug. 30, 2011


Photo by Thinkunit on Aug. 29, 2011
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* Photo source: Joongang Daily
Roman Catholic priests say mass at the entrance of the naval base in Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island yesterday to protest the base’s construction. [NEWSIS]



Photo source: Korea Times on Aug. 30, 2011

'Lawmakers from five opposition parties hold a rally to demand President Lee Myung-bak come up with measures to peacefully resolve the dispute over the construction of a naval base in Gangjeong Village in Jeju Island, Monday. [Yonhap]



Korea Herald
Residents of the Gangjeong village scuffle with police to stop a police van from carrying protest leader Kang Dong-kyun, arrested for obstructing the naval base construction in Seogwipo, Jeju Province, last Wednesday, Aug. 24]. (Yonhap News)

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Ten Thousand Things

Jeju District Court's Obstruction of Democracy
Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Yesterday the Jeju District Court granted an injunction to the Navy and the central government to forbid resident demonstrations against the seizure of their homes and farms, and the destruction of one of Jeju Island's most beautiful coasts (South Korea's only natural dolphin habitat) to make way for a massive naval base to house warships meant to intimidate China.

The court rejected an application by residents challenging the state seizure, demolition of the coastline, and destruction of the soft coral habitat. The residents argued that the state did not follow democratic due process and and failed to adequately assessment of the environmental damage to the coastline. .

The court said the residents and their supporters must not return to the residents' homes and farms, now a state military construction site.

People who attempt to return to their property would be fined 2 million won ($1,863).

Local residents have been joined by democratic and environmentalist activists and religious leaders from all over Korea. They are supported by environmentalist, democratic, and religious supporters worldwide, including scholars and luminaries such as Gloria Steinem.

In a replay of South Korea's worst periods of military dictatorship, the state has sent in hundreds of riot police, who are mostly conscripted youth, most of whom appear confused, embarrassed, and unhappy about having to perpetrate threat of violence or violence upon their fellow citizens.

South Korea is similar to North Korea in the authoritarian attitude of the ruling elite; although South Korea is not totalitarian like North Korea. Although citizens have engaged in movements for democracy for decades, repressive governments intent on maintaining privileges for corporations, have thwarted these movements. South Korea is known for severe state violence against its citizens, including massacres. In April, 1948, one of the worst massacres in Korean history took place at Jeju Island. Many of the demonstrators are descendants of that massacre.

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Ann Wright talks about her visit to Jeju Island on August 28, Honolulu/
하와이 호놀룰루 강연회에서 제주강정마을 방문기를 전하는 앤 라이트
(* Informed thanks to Younsil and M. Hoey)