Text Fwd: George W. Bush’s invitation to Prayer Meeting for Peace draws criticism

President Lee Myung-bak, left, talks with former U.S. President George W. Bush at a hotel on Jeju Island, South Korea, August 2, 2009. 　

Hankyoreh
George W. Bush’s invitation to Prayer Meeting for Peace draws criticism
: Some Protestant groups say Bush fanned the flames of war and increased hostility toward N.Korea rather than promoting peace
Jun.22,2010

A controversy is raging in the South Korea’s Protestant Christian sector over a “Prayer Meeting for Peace” to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, with former U.S. President George W. Bush as a special guest.

The prayer meeting is scheduled to take place Tuesday at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul’s Sangam neighborhood and will mainly have conservative Protestant figures in attendance. Bush is to give a testimony on the topic of “freedom,” while Rev. David Yonggi Cho of the Yoido Full Gospel Church and Rev. Billy Kim of Suwon Central Baptist Church plan to appear as speakers.

Bush accepted an invitation to attend from Rev. Billy Kim during his visit to Jeju Island last year to attend the 2009 summer forum held by the Federation of Korean Industries. In a prospectus, the prayer meeting’s preparatory committee stated, “Our hearts sink to see people relaxing their guard against North Korea, which has weapons of mass destruction pointed at us, members of the same people, and approaching it only with a sense of love among fellow Koreans.”

In response, thirty-seven Protestant groups, including the Christian Alliance for Church Reform, Bible Korea, and Christian Ethics Movement, held a press conference Monday at the United Christian Center on Seoul’s Jongno 5-ga Road, where they urged a cancellation of Bush’s attendance and the holding of a gathering purely for praying for the true peace of the Korean Peninsula. Protestant figures attending the press conference include former Unification Minister Lim Dong-won and former National Institute of Korean History President Lee Man-yeol.

“They have revealed the limitations of their historical understanding by sending a message of peace praying for reunification between North Korea and South Korea by inviting former President Bush,” said figures attending the conference. “Former President Bush is the man responsible for causing the Iraq and Afghanistan, leading to countless deaths and injuries, and pouring fuel on the cold war fire and on the Korean Peninsula throughout his term by adhering to a policy of hostility toward North Korea with no exit.”

The figures at the press conference also said, “If it is a peace prayer meeting, they should strongly encourage the governments of both North Korea and South Korea to lay down their senseless weapons.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

_______________________________________________________________

# See the Statement, 'Bush: guest speaker at prayer for peace meeting in Korea?' by 17 Christian Peace Organizations HERE.

Text Fwd: PROK Position on the current crisis of the Korean peninsula

* informed on June 1, 2010

PROK Position on the current crisis of the Korean peninsula

Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven (Psalm 85: 10-11).

The Presbyterian Church of ROK that has been praying for peace in the Korean peninsula is now witnessing spreading signs of war and deepening economic crisis and conflict among citizens. We, all members of PROK deeply regret this situation and share our understandings and suggestions as follows.

The Cheonan incident shocked the Korean peninsula and the world. Numerous suppositions about the cause of the incident emerged and the South Korean government collected and analyzed evidences for a couple of months. The government concluded that “a torpedo fired from a North Korean mini-submarine had sunken the warship Cheonan. The government subsequently announced a complete suspension of trade ties and exchanges in various areas with North Korea. The government also declared strong military measures such as invoking a self-defense right in case of military provocations by North Korea. In response to South Korea’s decisive measures North Korea declared the entire shutdown of inter-Korean relations and the suspension of the non-aggression pact.

The extreme confrontation between the two Koreas has destroyed in a moment the frame of peaceful co-existence in the Korean peninsula that was built after almost twenty years of hard work and caused the vertical ascent of a possible war. The political instability of the Korean peninsula is becoming a major economic uncertainty getting interlocked with the economic crisis in Europe and the sharp devaluation of Korean Won and the decline of South Korean stock market. Above all this situation is dividing South Korean society causing confrontations and hostilities among people that make many conscious people deeply concerned.

There are many reasons including the Cheonan incident that have driven the Korean peninsula into the crisis of peace, economy and trust. However, we cannot but point out the South Korean government’s heavy responsibility for responding to and handling the incident. The ways of identifying causes of an incident and developing options to respond it have to be based on not presumptions but objective scientific evidences. But the government’s investigation and announcement of final results rather made people doubt the government’s intention to conceal the essential evidences from the nation that could help reveal the substance of the Cheonan incident. The evidences presented by the government could not be easily understood relying on people’s common sense. Above all the “unquestionable” evidences were not enough to prove the torpedo attack by a North Korean mini-submarine especially when South Korea and the US were conducting a joint military drill accompanied by world’s best aegis weapon systems. The purpose of the government’s investigation was to comfort the victims and their families, and seek preventive measures for future incidents. But we are rather facing a worst reality of the division of national opinion and economic crisis

We want to affirm three principles facing this overall crisis and present detailed suggestions to overcome the crisis.

First, the government must reconsider excessive hard line polices toward North Korea. During the presidential transition President Lee Myung-Bak tried to abolish the Ministry of Unification that had the rank of vice presidential office and disregarded the importance of unification issues in the national politics. This understanding led to underestimating the peaceful relationship between the two Koreas that is regarded as one of the most prominent achievements of the two consecutive administrations of President Kim Dae-Jung and President Roh Moo-Hyun, and as a result, to realizing hardline policies toward North Korea. The truth of the Cheonan incident is not clear yet. But it is clear that the government’s position is penetrating. At the same time, the government which monopolizes all the information about the incident is forcing people to accept the government’s position unconditionally. The government does not permit people raising questions about the points that do not appeal to common sense and treats dissenting views and comments as anti-national activities bringing the ghost of military dictatorship back.

Second, the government must carefully listen to civil society and religious institutions criticizing that the government is unreasonably manipulating national security issues to win local elections on 2 June that will be the mid-term evaluation of the government. This wide-spread criticism is based on the facts that the government announced the investigation result on the day of the official beginning of campaigns for local elections and did not include the investigation result of the gas turbine that had been discovered in the previous day and could be the key to revealing the cause of the incident. In addition, President Lee made a statement to the nation on the Cheonan incident at the War Museum which was unusual and created a tension of possible war. We all know that the ultimate goal of real politics is to gain and sustain power. But we know, at the same time that any political power cannot be priority over the nation’s peace and survival.

Third, we urge that the US government must take a more active action in investigating the incident and resolving this crisis peacefully. The Commander of the US-ROK Combined Forces who has the operational control power in time of war in the Korean peninsula might have been briefed the entire situation when the incident occurred. Based on the information both the South Korean and US governments announced immediately that the incident was not related to North Korea. However, the two governments suddenly reversed their agreed position and began to argue North Korea’s involvement, and as a result, people began to paying attention to the background of this change of situation. The US government must reveal accurate information about the incident and answer people’s questions and suspicions. The US has maintained a traditional friendly relationship with South Korea and we Koreans hope that the Obama administration which is distinct from the Bush administration that admired war can play an impartial role for peace in the Korean peninsula and the world. We want to emphasize that any national interest cannot come before truth and conscience.

We suggest the followings to restore peace in the Korean peninsula that is driving into catastrophe, to overcome economic crisis, and to rebuild trust between the two Koreas.

First, both South Korea and North Korea must overcome temptations to solve the problem with military power and resume talks immediately. We still have unhealed scars from the Korean War and it is a sin to even mention the possibility of war with any excuse. The two Korean governments therefore must revoke all the proclamations about the entire suspension of relationships and South-North economic and humanitarian collaborations must be continued under any circumstances.

Second, the South Korean government must honestly answer people’s questions and suspicions about the investigation result. Citizens in this democratic country have a basic right to know everything clearly under any circumstances. As we experienced under the military dictatorship the government’s forceful imposition of its conclusion on people will rather contribute to spreading rumors and destroying trust in society.

Third, a new international investigation team that is comprised of the members of the six party talks and can produce an internationally recognized investigation result must be organized. It is a big contradiction that the official investigation was carried out by the Ministry of Defense that was primarily responsible for the incident. It is also a cause of suspicion that the members of the international joint investigation team and their representations were not revealed. Therefore, a new investigation team that can be internationally recognized must be organized to verify the previous investigation led by the Ministry of Defense and a new investigation must be launched. This is a wise way to find out the cause of the incident and responsible people, and prevent similar incidents from recurring.

We, all members of the Presbyterian Church of ROK will maintain our attention to new developments of the situation and continue our prayer for peace, economic stability, and the restoration of trust in the Korean peninsula. We will also make all efforts for a better future of the Korean people in solidarity with conscientious citizens and diverse citizen groups. In addition, we will continue our efforts for revealing truth and restoring peace working together with fellow Christians from the World Council of Churches and Christian Conference of Asia who plan to visit South Korea soon to express solidarity with Korean people.

We pray earnestly that this disastrous situation resulted from the Cheonan incident must not be misused to divide the nation and spread war rhetoric. We hope this challenging situation can be transformed into an opportunity to build a stronger foundation for peace in the Korean peninsula and a more democratic society in South Korea. We believe that this is the most important way to mourn the victims of the Cheoan incident and contribute to peace in the Korean peninsula and the world.

31 May 2010

Rev. Bae Tae-Jin

General Secretary

Text Fwd: COMMENTS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE JOINT CIVILIAN-MILITARY INVESTIGATION GROUP'S CONCLUSION

COMMENTS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE JOINT CIVILIAN-MILITARY INVESTIGATION GROUP'S CONCLUSION

"Nothing is covered up that will not become known" Luke 12:2

We, PROK, who have been praying for democracy, peace, and life of Korean society, raise some points responding to the JIG's announcement of the conclusion of its investigation that says South Korean Navy ship Cheonan sank by a North Korean submarine attack with a heavy torpedo.

First of all, we point out that JIG's investigation cannot be fair and objective from the beginning. The Ministry of National Defense and the military, which are the most responsible for the incident took control over the whole investigation. They also made a hasty announcement to meet the first day of the campaign for the coming election on June 2, which left suspicions about the background. If there is any intention to take advantage of 46 young sailors' deaths for any political purpose, it will kill them again.

JIG's announcement did not explain anything but left so many questions among Korean people. Now we are asking the following questions.

1. We cannot understand why the crucial moment of sinking is missing from the footage (TOD). The JIG must also release the records of radio messages exchanged and Cheonan's CCTV recordings.

2. If Cheonan had sunk due to a shockwave and bubble effect by an underwater torpedo explosion, there must be any eyewitness of the giant water pillar. Moreover, most survivors are not suffering from torn eardrums, intestinal damages, fractures, or lacerations which are the general symptoms of torpedo explosion.

3. There were 13 Korean and US up-to-date ships at the West Sea near the scene. They were conducting a joint military drill at that time. Among those 13 ships are Cheonan, a warship to detect and fight with the submarines, torpedoes, airplanes, and missiles, and another warship Aegis specialized in dealing with submarines. Why couldn't any of the super modern ships detect the attack of the North Korean submarines or torpedo?

4. Why was late petty officer Han Joo-ho searching the third location, not the bow or the stern where the sailors were? Why did the American ambassador and the commander of American Army in Korea attend the memorial service for him to express condolences and pay comport money to his family? The JIG must give a clear explanation to the wide spread suspicions of probable clash between the US and Korean ships or mistaken firing between the two.

5. Why have the survivors been strictly separated and controlled since the tragedy happened? Why are they not allowed to say anything about it, though they know the truth best?

According to JIG's announcement, a North Korean submarine attacked Cheonan with a heavy torpedo and escaped without being detected at all. It means President Lee who is in charge of national security should take full responsibility for what happened and apologize to Korean people. The minister of defense, the joint chief of staff, and the naval chief of staff should do the same thing.

JIG's announcement did not answer any of the questions but left more suspicions. Now is the time for the Korean leaders to stop shifting responsibilities but taking them. They have to organize a new investigation group including civilian experts and opposition parties to find the whole truth answering all the questions above.

Once again we express our deepest condolences to the families of the late sailors as we promise to do our best to reveal the truth and take the follow-up measures.

May 20, 2010

Rev. Kwon Young-Joung
Peace and Reunification Committee

Rev. Jeon Byung-Saeng
Church and Society Committee
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea

Photo Fw: Sea of Catholic Protest

Hankyoreh
Posted on : May.11,2010 12:43 KST

'Catholics gather in front of Seoul’s Myeong-dong Cathedral to protest the Lee Myeong-bak Administration’s Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, May 10. An estimated 10,000 Catholic priests, nuns and believers gathered for the protest. The two large banners read, “Vote in the June 2 regional elections!” and “End the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project!”

Campaigns in opposition to this project have been spreading throughout the religious sector to include Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists and Won Buddhists.'

[Jeju Update] Catholic Fathers Hold the Peace Missal against the Naval Base in Gangjeong on April 26

* This site is in process...Please come by later.

_______________________________________________________________

Thanks, Bruce Gagnon and Ten Thousand Things for Spreading the News.

See HERE and HERE.

브루스 개그논과 '만개의 것' 블로그, 소식을 다른 사람들에게 전해 주셔 감사합니다.

여기와 여기를 보세요.

_______________________________________________________________

See the Korean articles 관련 기사들

Seogwipo Daily Newspaper, Sisa Jeju , Jeju Sori

________________________________________________________

* Video source: Artist Kim living in the Gangjeong village, Jeju Island, April 26, 2010 (Video URL)
Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun speaks after the Fathers' Catholic Missal in the Gangjeong village, Jeju Island on April 26, 2010.

* Image source: Boreum Doraegi, Jeju Island

Catholic Fathers giving the missal for the peace in the Gangjeong village and against the Jeju naval base plan, in the outside near the Joongduk coast where the naval base is planned.

* Image source: No Base Stories of Korea

Gangjeong villagers holding the flags of 'No naval Base' around the missal site during the rainy
and windy evening.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
* The below image credits belong to Boreum Doraegi, Jeju Island

__________________________________________________________________________

* The below image credits belong to the artst Kim, Gangjeong village, Jeju Island

__________________________________________________________________________________

* Image source: Artist Kim living in the Gangjeong village, Jeju Island

_________________________________________________________________

Text Fwd: 1,000 attend Christmas mass for Yongsan tragedy victims

* Image source/ caption: Cho, Sung-Bong, Tongil News, Dec. 25, 2009

'Devotees praying for the prompt settlement of the ‘Yongsan Tragedy’, at the Holy Feast missal'

* Image source/ caption: Cho, Sung-Bong, Tongil News, Dec. 25, 2009

'The missal was held by about 700 people most of whom are from the Christian organizations
such as the The National Council of Churches in Korea (KNCC), Candle Church and
Ecumenical Youth Council in Korea (EYCK).
[The Christian organizations were also the pivot of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence event in Korea]'

* Image source/ caption: Cho, Sung-Bong, Tongil News, Dec. 25, 2009

'Rev. Bang In Sung is hugging a member of the bereaved family of the Yongsan Tragedy.'

*Image source/ caption: Hankyoreh (same as the link below)

'Fathers with the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice (CPAJ) hold
Christmas Service at the Yongsan tragedy site, Dec. 25.'

Hankyoreh1,000 attend Christmas mass for Yongsan tragedy victims:
Lawmakers join the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice in a special prayer for a resolution to this tragedy
Posted on Dec. 26, 2009

It’s Christmas. Rain falls at the scene of the Yongsan Tragedy in Hangangno 2-ga located in Seoul’s Yongsan neighborhood.

On this day, the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice held a special mass for life and peace with the victims of the fire. The silent prayers of an estimated 1,000 people who braved the rain filled the alley next to the Namildang Building.

Portraits of individuals who were killed in the fire on Jan. 20 as they resisted evictions, demolition and subsequent police crackdown were placed next to the manger of the Baby Jesus. After mass, attendees sang “Silent Night” and laid flowers in front of the five portraits of Yang Hee-seong, Yun Yong-heon, Lee Sang-nim, Lee Seong-su and Han Dae-seong.

It does not seem possible that 340 days have passed. The color has begun to fade from the banners and signs that accompanied the lonely struggle. Yet the families of the victims, who sat in the first row of the mass, have not yet been able take off their mourning clothes.

The cloudy sky began sprinkling rain from the time the widow of Lee Seong-su, Kwon Myeong-suk, took the rostrum to greet the participants. Kwon said, “It seems the martyrs are sad, too, as on Christmas, which should be a time of congratulations and enjoyment, we would have eaten together had they been alive...” The bereaved families’ wiped their faces with wrinkled hand towels in response to her words.

Recent memorial masses for Yongsan victims have been attended by some several dozen people, but this Christmas mass at the site of the Yongsan tragedy gathered a crowd of close to 1,000. Former Democratic Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu, New Progressive Party Chairman Roh Hoe-chan, and independent Lawmaker Chung Dong-young and DP Lawmaker Song Young-gil took part in the mass.

Father Peter Lee Kang-suh, director of the Catholic Urban Poor Pastoral Committee of Seoul archdiocese, who performed the final prayers as the head of the day’s ceremony, asked, “Do you know why they place Baby Jesus in the manger?” Father Peter went on to say, “He was born in a manger because nobody else would take in even a pregnant woman since all the other houses were full of people. Some 2,000 years ago, the poor and powerless were unable to live in homes worthy of them and were driven out to live in the homes of beasts like today.”

Pressing the government to resolve the tragedy and to take an interest in the people, Father Lee said the Christmas mass was not the end. He also said that masses would be held every day at the Namildang Building until the tragedy is resolved. Since late March, the Catholic Priests' Association for Justice has hung up banners at the site and conducted memorial masses every day. In addition, Buddhist and Protestant human rights groups have also come to the site to spend time with the bereaved.

Despite their efforts, the situation appears far from finding a resolution. Prosecutors have chosen to only indict the protestors for their involvement in the events surrounding the Yongsan tragedy, and they have yet to release some 3,000 pages of notes dealing with their investigation of the police command's actions. On Oct. 28, the Court handed down heavy sentences of 5 years to 6 years each to seven of the nine former tenants, who were indicted despite the Court's instruction to prosecutors to hand over their notes.

Although winter has once again appeared on the streets, the hearts of the bereaved continue to burn just prior to the one-year anniversary of the tragedy. Kwon said the thing she is most afraid of is that this will all be forgotten as people are visiting the site of the Yongsan tragedy less in the heart of winter. The bodies of the victims are still awaiting proper funerals and when they might be released from the freezer of the morgue in Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, nobody knows.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]


* Related Korean article

Tongil News
"'용산참사 현장'에도 아기 예수가 오시길":
<포토>용산 남일당 건물 앞에서 열린 ‘2009 고난받는 이들과 함께하는 성탄예배’
2009년 12월 25일 (금) 21:08:22
조성봉 기자 (minjok615 (at) tongilnews.com)
“ Wish the Baby Jesus Comes to the Site of the Yongsan Tragedy, As Well”
: [Photos] ‘2009 Christmas Missal With the Suffering People’ Held in Front of Namildang Building, Yongsan
Dec. 25, 2009 (Friday)
Cho Sung-Bong (minjok615 (at) tongilnews.com)

Text Fwd: Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea

* Text Fwd from Bruce Gagnon(globalnet@mindspring.com) on Nov. 10, 2009

Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea

Nuclear Weapons, North East Asia and Beyond:
Re-vitalizing the Ecumenical Movement

Dates: December 3~7, 2009 (Arrival / departure inclusive)
Venue; Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea

Nuclear weapons with their related technologies, production, deployment and use, are incompatible with the life of living beings. Yet they were developed, deployed and used by the United States in1945 to kill the people and destroy the life of living beings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan. It was truly a fatal moment in the history of the earth.

Since then the nuclear regime has evolved into a global holocaust machine.

Christian involvement in this historical development is at least ambiguous. From the beginning, Christian ethics has been implicated in the nuclear weapons development and its use. Later the nuclear weapons system was justified in the name of political realism, that is, the balance of the power or terror.

“If we were to apply Niebuhr's real politics, with its ready acceptance of the inevitability of conflict, to the present nuclear situation, it could well mean “a perverse preference for the war of mutual annihilation, simply because the war of mutual annihilation means, at least, that the other side doesn't win either.”

In 1980's the Ecumenical Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation took up the nuclear issue as a matter of faith. As the Cold War Order was dismantled, the ecumenical movement had a chance to press the question further. However, the agenda to denuclearization of the geo-political order did not make any progress.

As the beginning of the 21stcentury took off, the US has revitalized the nuclear doctrine anew as a part of the War on Terror(People's Charter on Peace for Life).This created a new situation where nuclear weapons could be used in the actual war and combat.

Former President Gorbachov of Russia and more recently President Obama issued statements on the need to have the “world without nuclear weapons.” This lends a possibility for the negotiation for a new nuclear regime.

However, the debate on the issue is centered in the inter-state or multi-state context particularly among those states, which have already nuclear weapons and its system. The role of non-nuclear states, of non-governmental organizations and citizens' movements and of the people's movements is crucial, if the debates and negotiations are to be fruitful.

It is high time for the ecumenical movement to get involved in this process. It is our proposal that the issue be taken up by the World Council of Churches at its International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, 17-25 May 2011.

In the light of this proposal, a local initiative and global response is needed as a modus operandi of the discussion and debate for global action for the Nuclear Free World. It is timely to have a statement from Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (August, 2009).

It is proposed to have a small consultation on nuclear pacifism on three dimensions: 1) grasping the issue from the “expertise” dimension; 2) assessing ecumenical policies on nuclear disarmament, and 3) exploring different roles and capacities for international ecumenical advocacy in this field in a northeast Asia context. It would a local initiative, inviting a global response. It is differentiated from the rationale of “think globally and act locally.”Korean local situation presents a logical and historical place to initiate a local process of consultation on the issue.

Themes of the Consultation:

1. Nuclear developments in the Korean peninsula and their implications.
The focus can be on North Korean programme which has a number of implications not only for the region but also outside. They include peace and security in North East Asia, Korean unification, nuclear proliferation etc.

2. Geopolitics of Asia and nuclear weapons.

An analysis of the geopolitical situation especially the dominant role of the USA, challenges from China and India, the role of Japan etc and its relation to nuclear arms. Here the nuclear weapon programmes of China, India and Pakistan have to be looked at.

3. Nuclear disarmament, problems and prospects.

There are several new initiatives the most prominent of them being from President Obama. Why this sudden spurt of activity especially at the state level? Are we now joining the bandwagon or do we address the real problems and prospects?

4. People's perspective on security and nuclear weapons.

How do people in Asia look at nuclear weapon issue? There is need to develop a people's perspective on human security and see how it is affected by nuclear weaponization.

5. Implications, role and strategy for the ecumenical movement.

A fresh approach from the ecumenical movement is needed. The analysis under 1 to 4 will provide the context for this. Some references are made in the draft proposal to theological positions. Many developments after the cold war and during the war on terror have raised new theological issues e.g. preemption. Formulations of position of the ecumenical movement on various nuclear related issues need revision.

The objectives of the consultation:

1. Reflections on Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula and its implications for North East Asia and for the global perspective of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World.
2. Reflections on the implications and role for the global ecumenical movement
3. Exploring ecumenical strategy that can form the basis for ecumenical actions to promote a world free of nuclear weapons.
4. Understanding the current state of affairs on the nuclear regime from the people's perspective and engaging churches and church members.

Program Outline

Morning I Morning II Afternoon I Afternoon II Evening
Dec. 3 Arrival Dinner and Reception
Dec. 4 Registration Opening Keynote Address Korea and NE Asia Regional
Perspectives Conversations
Dec. 5 Regional Perspectives
US Perspective UN & Global Perspective WCC Perspective Conversations
Dec. 6 A Biblical Perspective
Theological Reflection Plenary Workshop General Plenary Dinner and Farewell
Dec. 7 Departure

Invited Participants (is it possible to include people from more sectors to unpack this multi-dimensional problem and link debate to different aspects of the reality, e.g.
o current or former diplomats,
o current or former military,
o people with experience in other disarmament processes
o ideally, some would be people of active faith and all would be open to the role of religions
1. Korean experts and movement people (4)
2. US and North American experts and movement people (2)
3. Europe experts and movement people (2)
4. Japan experts and movement people (2)
5. Chinese experts (2)
6. Indo-Pakistan experts and movements (2)
7. Russian experts and movement people (2)
8. African perspective (2)
9. Asian perspective (1)
10. West Asian (Middle East,) perspective (2)
11. Latin American Perspective (2)

Venue: Hwacheon Bell Park for World Peace
Hwacheon Peace Dam, Kangwondo, South Korea

The Organizing Committee:
Asia Pacific Graduate School, Korea
National YMCA, Korea
DMZ Society, Hwacheon, Korea
Supporting bodies:
National Council of Churches, Seoul, Korea
Presbyterian Church of Korea
Christian Conference of Asia, Chiang Mai, Thailand
World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
People's Forum on Peace for Life, Manila, Philippines
Bellpark for World Peace, Hwacheon County, Kangwon Province

[ 국문 번역] Text Fwd: WARM MEETINGS IN SEOUL

Following late night meeting with Kim, Young-Je in Seoul
서울에서 늦은 밤 김영제님을 만난 이후

North Koreans fishing in the Daedong River, Pyeongyang
평양 대동강에서 낚시질을 하는 평양 사람들
(* Image source: Tongil News 통일 뉴스 ( Uriminzokkiri
(* meaning 'Our Nation Together', a NK internet media )
sent it to the Tongil News on Sept. 17)

* Bruce Gagnon blog
WARM MEETINGS IN SEOUL 서울에서의 따뜻한 만남
Sunday, October 11, 2009 2009년 10월 11일

My last two days have been busy and exciting. Upon our return from Busan on Saturday Sung-Hee and I met Kim, Young-Je in Seoul for dinner. Kim is the national Director for the Reunification Unit of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCYU). He is in charge of organizing the trips of South Korean KCTU members to North Korea. I met him when I was here in August and we both agreed to meet again when I returned. Kim believes that it is crucial for US and international peace activists to go to North Korea to see for themselves what life is like there.

제 지난 이틀은 바쁘면서도 흥분된 것이었읍니다. 토요일 부산에서 돌아온 이후 성희와 저는 서울에서 김영제 님과 저녁 식사를 가졌읍니다. 김영제님은 민주 노총의 통일 위원회 국장입니다. 그는 남한 민주 노총 회원들을 북한으로 데리고 가는 여행의 조직을 맡고 있읍니다. 저는 그를 제가 8월에 있었을 때 만났고 우리는 서로 제가 다시 [한국에] 돌아올 때 다시 만날 것을 동의했었읍니다. 김영제님은 미국과 국제 평화 활동가들이 북한으로 가서 북한의 삶이 어떠한 것인지 아는 것이 결정적이라 믿습니다.

Having been to Cuba three times, while living in Florida I used to organize large groups of Floridians to take trips to Cuba, I know that seeing the reality of life is much different from what you read in the mainstream corporate media in the US.

플로리다 주에 살 때 큐바를 세 번 여행한 저는 많은 플로리다 인들을 큐바 여행으로 조직한 적이 있읍니다. 저는 삶의 현실을 보는 것이 미국의 주류 기업 언론을 읽는 것과 크게 다름을 알고 있읍니다.

Kim took us to a small local restaurant near the tall KCTU national headquarters building. This restaurant cooks shellfish on charcoal stoves built into each table. The enormous shellfish are split in half and placed on the coals. Some spices are added to the largest ones and the smaller ones are eaten as they are. Kim told us that these shellfish are very popular and are imported from North Korean waters. The shellfish can cross between borders, he said with an ironic smirk, but the people cannot do so.

김영제님은 우리를 민주 노총의 본부가 있는 높은 건물 근처의 작은 지역 식당으로 데리고 갔읍니다. 이 식당은 각 식탁마다 숯불에서 조개류를 굽습니다. 거대한 조개들은 반으로 떼어져 숯불위에 놓여집니다. 가장 큰 것들위에는 양념이 얹혀지고 작은 것들은 그 채로 먹습니다. 김영제님은은 이 조개류들이 매우 인기가 좋고 북한에서 수입된다 했읍니다. 조개들은 경계를 넘을 수 있으나 사람들은 그렇게 할 수 없다고 그는 빙글거렸읍니다.

Following dinner Kim took us back to the KCTU offices where we talked until late in the night. He said that recently the right-wing government in South Korea has thrown road blocks in the way of the KCTU organizing worker trips to the north. This would make it more difficult for the Global Network to make such a trip in the near future. He said he would still encourage North Korea to make it easier for groups like us to visit there.

저녁 식사가 끝나고 김 영제님은 우리를 민주 노총 사무실로 다시 데리고 갔는데 그 곳에서 늦은 밤까지 얘기했읍니다. 그는 최근에 남한 우익 정부가 민주 노총이 회원들을 북한으로 데리고 가는 여행에 장애물들을 던졌다 말했읍니다. 이것은 글로벌 넷워크로 하여금 가까운 시일 내 [북한으로] 여행을 가는 것을 어렵게 할 것입니다. 그는 그래도 우리와 같은 그룹이 그 곳을 방문하는 것을 더 쉽게 할 수 있도록 북한을 격려하겠다 말했읍니다.

Kim talked in a deep and heartfelt way about the "inhuman situation" for all the people on the Korean peninsula - from both north and south. Presently 10 million people, 25% of those living in the south, have family in the north. The US-South Korean military alliance has forced the south to subjugate itself to the US like a slave, he said. (In fact the Korean War is still not officially over as the US has never signed a peace treaty with North Korea. South Korea is not allowed by the US to sign a peace treaty with North Korea. So the US completely controls when and if there will ever be peace on the Korean peninsula.)

김영제님은 한반도의 북과 남의 양쪽의 모든 이들이 겪는 “비인간적 상황”에 대해 깊고 마음에 사무치게 말했읍니다. 현재 남한에 사는 이들의 25%,천만명이 북한에 가족이 있읍니다. 미국-남한의 군사 동맹은 남한을 미국에 노예처럼 종속되게 했다고 그는 말했읍니다. (사실 한국 전쟁은 미국이 북한과 평화 조약에 결코 서명한 일이 없음에 따라 아직도 공식적으로 끝난 것이 아닙니다. 남한은 미국에 의해 북한과 평화 조약에 서명하도록 허락되지 않습니다. 그래서 미국은 한반도의 평화가 언제 또는 가능할 것인가에 대해 완전히 통제 합니다.

My interest in all of this is largely due to the fact that the US military in massively upgrading its military presence in Japan and South Korea, particularly with the addition of "missile defense" systems. This is all justified by the Pentagon as being "caused by the North Korea problem". But I strongly believe that the North Korea "problem" is used by the US as an excuse for a military buildup that is aimed at encircling China. Thus the US has no urgent desire to reach true peace with North Korea for fear they lose their justification to surround China. In the meantime the Korean people, used as pawns in the big power game, have to suffer the consequences. I don't like that.

이 모든 것에 대한 제 관심은 미국 군대가 일본과 남한에서 특히 “미사일 방어” 시스템과 함께 그 군사적 존재를 엄청나게 증가시키는 사실에 크게 기인합니다. 이 모든 것은 미 국방부에 의해 “북한 문제때문에 생겼다고” 정당화됩니다. 그러나 저는 북한 “문제”가 중국을 에워싸는 것을 목표로 하려는 미국에 의해 구실로 이용되고 있다고 강하게 믿습니다. 그러므로 미국은 그들이 중국을 에워싸는 것의 정당성을 잃을 것을 두려워 해 북한과의 진정한 평화 조약을 맺는 것에 대해 절실하게 요구하고 있지 않습니다. 그 동안 강대국 게임의 볼모로 이용되는 Korea 인들은 그 결과들로 고통을 받아야 합니다. 저는 그 것을 좋아하지 않습니다.

The most touching comments from Kim were when he said, "The first thing the US needs to apologize about is how the US has divided Korea, changed the way the Korean people think about one another, and then boasted about their success in making it [the division] all happen."

김영제님께서 한 말 중 가장 마음을 움직인 것은, 그가 미국이 첫번째로 사과 해야 할 일은 어떻게 미국이 Korea를 분할했으며 어떻게 미국이 한국인들이 서로를 생각하는 방식을 바꾸어 놓았으며 , 그리고나서 어떻게 그 [분단] (*[ ]는 원문에서 옴)이 생기게 한 성공에 대해 우쭐거렸는지에 대해서라고 말할 때였읍니다.

Kim continued to outline why the US should apologize: "By never allowing North Korea to rest, to build their economy, always keeping North Korea on edge, [with non-stop military exercises like the one planned October 13-16 just off the coast of North Korea] fearing war, oppressing South Koreans through right-wing governments, dividing the people against each other."

김영제님은 왜 미국이 사과해야 하는지에 대해 계속 개설했읍니다: “한번도 북한이 쉬거나 그들의 경제를 건설하도록 내버려두지 않음으로써, [북한 바로 근해에서 10월 13일~16일 계획된 것과 같은 끝없는 군사 연습등으로] (*[ ]는 원문에서 옴) 항상 북한을 벼랑끝으로 몰아세우고 전쟁을 두려워 하게 함으로서, 우익 정부를 통해 남한 사람들을 억압함으로서, 사람들을 서로 분열,대적하게 함으로서”

Kim feels this is the great tragedy of Korean history.

김영제님은 이것이 한국 역사의 가장 큰 비극이라 말합니다.

The KCTU has officially adopted the program of self reliance and reunification. To North Korea self reliance means they will always refuse to be dominated by any foreign powers. To the KCTU it means the workers will always be independent from corporate capitalist powers.

민주 노총은 자주와 통일 프로그램을 공식적으로 채택했읍니다. 북한 사람들에게 자주란 그들이 어떠한 외세에 의해서도 지배되는 것을 항상 거절한다는 것을 의미 합니다. 민주 노총에게는 노동자들이 기업 자본가 세력들로부터 항상 독립적일 것을 의미합니다.

Kim said it brings him great sadness to see some people in South Korea get used to the division of their nation and their people.

김영제님은 남한의 어떤 사람들이 조국과 민중의 분단에 익숙해져 가는 것을 보는 것이 자신에게 큰 슬픔을 가져온다 말했읍니다.

Kim told me that he shared his intimate feelings with me because he felt I was open. I told him I would do everything I could to help bring the issue of Korean reunification into my work.

김영제님은 제가 열려 있는 것처럼 느껴서 친밀한 느낌을 나누었다 말했읍니다. 저는 그에게 제 일에 Korea의 재통일에 대한 이슈를 끌어올리도록 도울 수 있는 것은 다 하겠다 말했읍니다.

On Sunday I spoke to 40 members of the Saegil Institute for Christianity and Culture following their religious service. This church was founded in 2000 by recognizing "the responsibility to spread the true spirit of Christ into the whole of society, beyond just the individual spiritual life." Most of these people were doctors, professors, ministers, and other professionals. They had many important questions for almost an hour following my talk. Then they took me to a nearby restaurant, where over coffee, I talked with a dozen of their leaders for another hour.

일요일 저는 새길 기독 사회 문화원의 종교 미사가 끝난 후 모인 단체의 40여명 회원들에게 연설했읍니다. 이 교회는 “ 단지 개인의 영혼적 삶 너머 진정한 기독교 정신을 사회 전체에 전파하기 위해” 2000년도에 세워졌읍니다. 이 들의 대부분은 박사, 교수, 목사, 그리고 다른 전문인들입니다. 그들은 제 이야기가 끝난 후 거의 한 시간 동안 매우 중요한 질문들을 했읍니다. 그리고 그들은 근처 레스토랑으로 저를 데리고 갔는데 그 곳에서 저는 커피와 함께 그 지도자들과 한 시간 가량을 더 이야기 했읍니다.

One of the men, Lee, Il-Young, lived in Boston in the US for many years. He is a retired medical doctor and pastor and has been to North Korea many times. This short and robust man, with a great smile and spirit, told me North Korea would never surrender and that reunification had to be accepted by the US. I invited him to come to Maine next time he is in the US so I could organize some talks for him to share the story about the Korean situation.

그 중 이일영님은 미국 보스톤에서 여러 해를 살았읍니다. 그는 은퇴한 의학 박사이자 목사님인데 여러번 북한에 방문했었읍니다. 훌륭한 미소와 영혼을 지닌 이 단신의 건장한 분은 저에게 북한은 결코 굴복하지 않을 것이며 미국은 재통일을 받아 들여야 한다 말했읍니다. 저는 그를 초청했는데 그가 미국에 다시 올 때 메인주를 방문해 제가 그를 위한 간담회등을 조직하고 Korea의 상황에 대해 이야기를 나눌 수 있도록 말입니다.

Sung-Hee likes to tell everyone that I was born on July 27, 1952 - exactly one year after the signing of the Korean War ceasefire. But the war is not over. My entire life has witnessed this constant state of semi-permanent preparation for war that has been draining all sides. The time has come for the war to end. I am a peace activist. I have to do what I can to help.

성희는 모든 사람들에게 제가 1952년 7월 27일, 정확히 한국 전쟁 휴전협정 1년 [전에] 태어났다고 말하길 좋아합니다. 그러나 전쟁은 끝나지 않았읍니다. 제 전체 삶은 모든 것들을 빨아들였던 이 반영구적인 전쟁을 목격하는 것이었읍니다. 전쟁이 끝날 때가 왔읍니다. 저는 평화 활동가입니다. 제가 도울 수 있는 일은 다 해야 합니다.

[국문 번역] Text Fwd: KOREA TRIP ENDS WITH CHURCH LEADERS

Some of the church leaders gathered for photo after my talk

Veterans for Peace- Republic of Korea accept the banner I delivered on behalf of Maine VfP leader Tom Sturtevant

Bruce Gagnon blog
Thursday, August 20, 2009
KOREA TRIP ENDS WITH CHURCH LEADERS

I began my last full day in South Korea with a meeting at the office of Veterans for Peace-Republic of Korea (VfP-ROK). About eight leaders of the group were waiting to greet me. Sa-Mook Choi, a former tank squad commander, welcomed me on behalf of their organization and quickly pointed out the enlarged 2006 "Memorandum of Understanding on Exchange and Cooperation" between their group and the national Veterans for Peace in the US that was taped to the wall.

Sa-Mook Choi told me that in the 1950's, when he commanded a tank squad, the US brought 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons into his country and taught the South Korean forces how to use them. He said that he kept thinking to himself, "Who was the only country to ever use nuclear weapons?"

The VfP-ROK has about 4,000 members in 73 local chapters across their country. They have nine national co-chairs in the organization and their top co-chair is a former military general who founded the organization in South Korea.

The VfP-ROK was created four years ago and is still today not a "legal" organization as the current law in the country only allows one veterans organization, a right-wing group, to exist.

Before leaving their office for a lunch together, I presented them with a Veterans for Peace banner sent by Tom Sturtevant who is one of the leaders of the Maine Veterans for Peace chapter that I belong to. Tom served on a Navy aircraft carrier during the Korean War and tells sad stories about the US bombing North Korea so badly that there was virtually nothing left standing in the country. In return the VfP-ROK presented me with their banner and asked that I give it to the Maine chapter upon my return home.

In the evening I was taken to a dinner in a traditional Korean restaurant by a team of Christian church leaders who were organizing my final talk in Seoul. Following dinner 70 people, from about 30 different churches/organizations, came to hear my talk at the historic Presbyterian Church that is considered the only progressive church in the city. I was told that in the early days of the democracy movement, much of the organizing was done from this "sacred" site. Church leaders from many different denominations were present at the event including two officers from the Salvation Army.

During my talk I stressed the moral and ethical questions that are naturally raised when we consider the consequences of moving the arms race into the heavens. I suggested that there was no better time than now, just as South Korea was poised to launch their first space rocket, to begin a discussion about space inside the churches of the country.

After the talk a large group took me out to a local bar for snacks and beer. We parted remembering that I will return in October during the time of Keep Space for Peace Week and the World March for Peace & Non-Violence. On that trip I will visit some other parts of the country to spread the message about our efforts to prevent the arms race from moving into space and the need to convert the global war machine to peaceful production.

South Korean activists have been good to me. I told the folks tonight, that despite the language difficulties we have, they have all made me feel at home.

I now fly back to Japan for two days of restful time and information sharing with Global Network board member Atsushi Fujioka. On August 23 I will make the final leg of the trip home. Without a doubt this month-long journey to Japan and South Korea has been the most successful organizing trip during all my years with the Global Network. I am grateful to Global Network board Sung-Hee Choi who has done a remarkable job of coordinating the South Korea portion of this tour. She says that she is an artist, not an organizer, but she has shown real talent at bringing many people from different paths together. In my view, that stands for something good.


* Related blogs

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/09/video-fwd-bruce-gagnon-seoul-korea.html
Sunday, September 6, 2009
[국문 번역: Video Fwd]: Bruce Gagnon, Seoul, Korea Speech Aug. 20, 2009

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/09/video-fwd-q-following-bruce-k-gagnons.html
Sunday, September 6, 2009
[국문 번역: Video Fwd] Q & A, Following Bruce K. Gagnons Speech, Seoul, Korea, Aug. 20, 2009

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/bruce-gagnon-seoul-korea-speech.html
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Bruce Gagnon, Seoul, Korea Speech


*Related Korean article

Union Press, reporter, Lee, Sora
http://www.unionpress.co.kr/detail.php?number=39794&thread=01r02r01


한국 방문은 교회 지도자들과의 [모임으로] 맺음하다
2009년 8월 20일

저는 남한에서의 마지막 꽉 찬 일정을 한국 평화 재향 군인회 Veterans for Peace-Republic of Korea (VfP-ROK) 사무실에서의 모임으로 시작했읍니다. 그룹의 약 8명의 지도자들께서 저를 기다리다 환영했읍니다. 최사묵, 전 탱크 부대 중대장께서 그들 조직을 대표하여 저를 환영하셨고 그 들 단체와 미국 평화 재향 군인회 사이 2006년 “교류와 협력에 대한 이해에 관한 정관”이 확대 복사되어 벽에 테이프로 붙여 있는 것을 빨리 가리키셨읍니다.

최사묵님은 저에게 그 분이 1950년대 탱크 부대 를 지휘했을 때 미국이 2천개의 전술적 핵무기를 자신의 나라에 들여왔고 대한 민국 군대가 그 것을 어떻게 사용해야 하는지 가르쳤다 말씀하셨읍니다. 그는 계속 스스로 생각해왔다 말합니다, “핵무기를 사용한 유일한 국가가 어디였던가?”

한국 평화 재향 군인회에는 나라 전체 73 지부에서 온 약 4천의 회원이 있읍니다. 그 조직에는 9명의 국가 공동 의장들이 있는데 수석 공동 의장이 남한에서 그 조직을 창설한 전 군대 사령관이라 합니다.

한국 평화 재향 군인회는 4년 전에 창설되었는데 그 나라의 현행법이 한개의 재향 군인회, 우익 단체만 존재하도록 허락함에 따라 오늘날까지 아직도 “합법”조직이 아니라 합니다.

점심을 먹기 위해 그들의 사무실을 같이 떠나기 전 저는 그에게 제가 속한 메인주 평화 재향 군인회 지부의 지도자인 탐 스턴트번트가 보낸 평화 재향 군인회 깃발을 선물로 드렸읍니다. 탐은 한국 전쟁 당시 해군에서 비행기 조종사로 복무했는데 미국이 북한을 심하게 폭격해서 그 나라에 서있는 채로 남아 있는 것이 거의 없었다는 슬픈 이야기들을 말하곤 합니다. 저의 선물 증정에 대한 보답으로 한국 평화 재향 군인회는 그들의 깃발을 선물했으며 제가 귀국할 때 메인주 지부에 줄 것을 부탁했읍니다.

저녁에 저는 서울에서의 제 마지막 연설을 조직했던 기독교 교회 지도자들의 팀에 의해 한 전통 한국 식당으로 안내되었읍니다. 저녁 식사 후 약 30여개의 다른 교회/ 단체들에서 온 70여명이 역사적인 한 장로 교회에서 열린 제 연설을 듣기 위해 왔는데 그 교회는 서울에서 유일하게 진보적인 교회로 고려된다 합니다. 저는 [한국]민주주의 운동의 초기, 많은 조직화 과정들이 이 “신성한” 장소에서 행해졌다 들었읍니다. 두 구세군 직원을 포함, 여러 다른 종파의 교회 지도자들이 참석했읍니다.

제 연설에서 저는 우주로 무기 경쟁이 갖고 갈 결과들을 고려할 때 자연스러이 일어나는 도덕적 윤리적 질문들을 강조했읍니다. 저는 대한민국이 현재 그들의 첫번째 로켓을 쏘도록 된 만큼 이 나라의 교회들에서 우주에 관한 토론을 시작하는 것이 이 시점보다 더 적절한 때는 없다고 말했읍니다.

연설 후에 많은 사람들이 저를 스낵과 맥주를 파는 지역 바로 데리고 갔읍니다. 우리는 제가 우주 평화 주 및 평화와 비폭력을 위한 세계 평화 행진 기간이 있는 10월에 다시 올 것을 상기하며 헤어졌읍니다. 그 기간에 저는 우주로 무기 경쟁을 옮기는 것을 막고 지구 전쟁 기계를 평화로운 생산으로 전환하기 위한 우리의 노력에 대한 메시지를 전달하기 위해 이 나라의 다른 지역들을 여행할 것입니다.

남한의 활동가들은 저에게 잘 해 주었읍니다. 저는 오늘 밤 청중들에게 말하길, 우리가 갖고 있는 언어의 어려움에도 불구, 저를 집에 있는 것처럼 편하게 해주었다 말했읍니다.

저는 이틀간 휴식과 글로벌 넷트 워크 보드 멤버 아슈시 후지오카와 정보를 교환하기 위해 일본으로 돌아갑니다. 8월 23일, 저는 마침내 집으로 가는 마지막 여행을 할 것입니다. 의심의 여지없이 일본과 한국의 이 한달간 여행은 글로벌 넷워크 조직 여행중 가장 성공적인 것이었읍니다.

[종략]

* 원문 이미지 캡션

1. 제 연설이 끝난 후 사진을 찍기 위해 모인 몇 교회 지도자들
2. 제가 평화 재향 군인회 메인주 지부 지도자 탐 스턴트번트를 대신하여 전달한 깃발을 한국 평화 재향 군인회가 받음