[Jeju Update] A French citizen's letter to President Lee Myung-Bak

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RELATED UPDATE COLLECTION

[URGENT PLEA: In Update] EMERGENCY in GANGJEONG Since Aug. 24, 2011
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Benj D'Amour wrote the below on July 25, 2011(Via FACEBOOK)


Dear readers, i post a letter addressed to President Lee, that letter has been already sent to many officials and leaders of the World obviously it is open to comments...


Mr President Lee,

As a French citizen, I know that you are in a close relationship with the government of my country, notably on the G20 issue and the development of your nuclear program.

I write to you on behalf of my activists friends, in Korea and around the world, who are peacefully and honestly involved in the Gangjeong issue in Jeju island. We are puzzled by the situation in Jeju.
I wish to awake your heart and your mind, as well as the hearts and minds of the members of your government. You and we activists belong to the same human community.
I wish you to look at the cruelty of the current action in Gangjeong.
Do you remember that President Roh, after his term and before his suicide, did regret to authorize US military expansion on Jeju island?
Are you going to be a President who would leave a legacy of ecological and cultural damage into your country's history?
Can't you feel that allowing to build that naval base will have, on Jeju Island as well as on Asian Peace Process, countless destructive consequences?

We urgently need to dialogue with you and your representatives. Please Mr President, allow us to come to your table and share with you.

From my point of view, it seems like you are allowing military expansion to oppress your citizens who have been living on this island for generations when trauma of 1948 massacre still remains in Jeju people's soul and has to be healed.
It seems that you are allowing military expansion to destroy Jeju Island.
It seems that you are allowing military expansion to open the way to the loss of precious Jeju's cultural and natural heritage.

Please Mr President Lee, come out and explain to us what are the real motivations for opening a military harbour in Jeju.

Your friend Mikhail Gorbatchev participated in 1991 to the nomination of Jeju as "The Island of World Peace". The project of opening a "United Nation's Peace University" on Jeju is intensely being discussed in Asia.
Now the "New7wonders" election result is approaching.
And next year Jeju will be the host of the IUCN World Conservation Congress which is the world largest and most important conservation event.

Then, I encourage you to think about how it will appear in the mind of the world's population that a military base is under construction on this South Korean Island.
And please consider that a countless number of organizations and people all over the world are aware of the non-democratic means that are used against villagers and activists to impose the construction of the naval base in Gangjeong.

In fact it is a serious sin to prevent future children from visiting and enjoying the pristine beauty of Gureombi rock, an inheritated jewel of our gentle creation.

Don't you think that empowering Jeju to become a model touristic island, as well as an "educative Island for World Peace" is a genius idea?Unfortunately the presence of a military base would ruin the essence of those genuine achievements.

Also I understand your concerns about the national security. However, please make efforts to re-engage a dialogue with North-Korean government on the basis of the 4th of October 2007 declaration. It would be a serious and brave way to drive back your country into a permanent peaceful, politically more independant and prosperous direction. Allowing a military base which cannot protect your country against North-Korea would only escalate provocative tensions, worsening diplomatic relations with your neighbors, and it would dangerously expose Jeju as a war target.

As a peace activist, as a concerned being about the future of humanity and planet Earth, it is with determination that I request you to consider to stop immediately the construction of the naval base in Gangjeong. Also I encourage you to make a clear public appearance stating what is your opinion about building another military base in your country and its consequences for Asian Peace Process.

With my sincere wish for a fairly outstanding course of the remaining 14 months of your fonction, hoping that your presidency will leave a memorable legacy to South-Korea and to the rest of the world.

Protecting life on Earth
Benjamin Monnet
"World Assembly member".
www.savejejuisland.org

PS: I ask you to forgive me if my English way of writting is "Frenchised".

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While some people enjoy life, some other people struggle to make life possibly enjoyable for longer times. Your help is essential, be parents, activists or simply compassionate people. Engage yourself against the militarization of our planet, against the loss of farming values, against the disappearance of our indigenous cultures, against the robotization of Humanity. NO FEAR, JUST LOVE, JUST ACT NOW (Benj D'Amour)