'저는 그들의 땅을 지키기 위하여 싸웠던 인디안들의 이야기를 기억합니다. 백인들이 그들의 신성한 숲에 도로를 만들기 위하여 나무들을 잘랐습니다. 매일밤 인디안들이 나가서 백인들이 만든 그 길을 해체하면 그 다음 날 백인들이 와서 도로를 다시 짓곤 했습니다. 한동안 그 것이 반복되었습니다. 그러던 어느날, 숲에서 가장 큰 나무가 백인들이 일할 동안 그들 머리 위로 떨어져 말과 마차들을 파괴하고 그들 중 몇몇을 죽였습니다. 그러자 백인들은 떠났고 결코 다시 오지 않았습니다….' (브루스 개그논)





For any updates on the struggle against the Jeju naval base, please go to savejejunow.org and facebook no naval base on Jeju. The facebook provides latest updates.
Showing posts with label Kunsan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kunsan. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Text Fwd:[Translation] Statement against illegal inspection and unjust lay-off by the U. S. Air Force of Korea, Kunsan [번역]군산 미공군의 불법 사찰 부당해고 규탄 성명

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참조 reference

대한민국과 아메리카합중국간의 상호방위조약 제4조에 의한 시설과 구역 및 대한민국에서의 합중국 군대의 지위에 관한 협정
: 한_영SOFA.rtf 755K View as HTML Download

Agreement under Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in the Republic of Korea
: SOFA_Eng.doc 672K View Download
__________________________________________________

* Image & caption source: Voice of People, Nov. 8, 2010
( Kim Pan-Tae, Secretary of the Kunsan branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea)

군산미군기지 월례집회. 군산과 전북지역 단체들은 매월 둘째주 수요일 2시 정기 집회를 진행해오고 있다.ⓒ 김판태

A monthly rally in front of the Kunsan U.S. Air Base. The civil organizations in Kunsan(Gunsan) and Jeollabuk-do have been holding a regular monthly rally every 2pm, 2nd Wednesday of every month.

* Image source: Google
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* 아래의 두 번역은 평화와 통일을 여는 사람들 사이트의 군산 주한 미공군 기지의 불법적 민간인 사찰 및 해고를 규탄하는 11월 10일 기자 회견문(클릭)군산 미공군 불법사찰 및 부당해고 사건 주요경과(클릭)를 영문 번역한 것입니다. 내용이 중요하다 여겨지니 많은 분들께서 군산 평통사 카페 사이트(클릭)를 방문, 원문및 다른 기사들을 읽어 주시면 고맙겠읍니다. 또한 맨 아래에 넣은 군산 평통사 까페 사이트로부터 퍼온 이글의 유승기 목사님 의 11월 9일 연설 비디오 도 참조 하시길(클릭). 한편 군산 기지 관련 영문 블로그는 여기를 클릭
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_

* The below is a arbitrary translation of the Korean statement in the link.

* For more on the protests against the Kunsan U.S. Air force base, go to HERE.
* Kunsan is also spelled in Gunsan.
* USFK is United States Forces of Korea

__________________________________________________

Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea(SPARK)

Press release on Nov. 10, 2010


We strongly denounce illegal inspection and unjust lay-off
by the
Kunsan United States Air Force of Korea!


O
n last Oct. 21, a Korean civilian who has served in the Kunsan USFK base for 17 years has gotten a lay-off notice. In the sense that it was not a simple lay-off happening but that has been processed by the USFK investigation organization for the purpose of illegally inspecting and investigating Korean civilian, church, and civil organization and of oppressing their activities, it is a serious event that should never be overlooked.

* Image source: Ohmy News, Nov. 15, 2010
(Uploaded in the internet cafe site of the Kunsan branch, SPARK/ 군산 평통사 인터넷 까페 사이트: 클릭)

군산 미 공군기지 ⓒ 장재완
Kunsan U.S. Air base ⓒ Jang Jae-Wan

We announce our position, strongly denouncing the investigation organization of the United States Forces of Korea(USFK) that has been illegally inspecting and oppressing the activities of the Kunsan branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK) & its members that have openly expanded its movements for the settlement of the matters related to the Kunsan US base & for peace disarmament, and that has further infringed South Koreans’ sovereignty and human rights.

The United States Forces of Korea should immediately withdraw from its decision of illegal and unjust lay-off of a Korean civilian!

The event this time began when the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) took away Mr. Jung who has worked for 17 years as an electric engineer in the Kunsan U.S. Air Base (Eighths combat air wing of the 7th Air Force, United States) and investigated him with the charge of leakage of military secrete and on the relationship between him and the SPARK.

* Image source: Ohmy News, Nov. 15, 2010 오마이 뉴스, 2010년 11월 15일
(Uploaded in the internet cafe site of the Kunsan branch, SPARK/ 군산 평통사 인터넷 까페 사이트: 클릭)

▲ 미공군특별수사대 마크 ⓒ 김판태(군산평통사 사무국장)

U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI)
ⓒ Kim Pan-Tae, Secretary of the Kunsan branch of the SPARK

Mr. Jung is a Christian who has been present for 15 years in the Dolbegae (* meaning stone pillow) church that has been taken charge of by Rev. Yoo, a former representative of the Kunsan branch of the SPARK and is a civilian who has faithfully worked in the Kunsan U.S. base without bringing any problem. He is only a devotee of the Dolbegae church, nothing to do with the SPARK, and has no special concern with its activities.

At the time, the AFOSI investigating Jung and showing the activity materials of the SPARK & members-only resources of the Dolbegae church’s internet café etc, forced him to confess whether he had leaked military secret to the SPARK. [The AFOSI] also committed all kinds of illegalities and oppressions on human rights, by forcing him to do a false confession using a lie detector; expelling him out of base even by mobilizing (a) military dog(s) after investigation and by psychologically coercing him; and further its U.S. military inspector(s) confiscating his personal computer from his house even without a confiscation & search warrant and attempting to search his house even without taking off his(their) shoes.

(* In Korean tradition culture (and mostly in the modern times, too), people take off their shoes when they enter into the inside of house. It is considered very rude if they don’t, in Korea.)

[The AFOSI] especially took problematic that Rev. Yoo had visited Jung’s office in the Kunsan base, on his way of visiting his church followers’ places to help their religious faith activities. But [Rev. Yoo’s] visit at the time was only part of his missionary activities and was practiced following legal procedures of in &out [of base], only remaining (a) photo(s) in memory of his visit in Jung’s office.

(* In the beginning of the below Korean video, Rev. Yoo states about his feeling of how sorry he is about all the horrible things that have happened to his church follower, Jung. Rev. Yoo says he has been a representative of Kunsan branch of the SPARK for two years but has quit being so cautious because he did not want his SPARK activity could possibly damage of careers of his two church followers including Jung who had been working in the Kunsan U.S. air base for long time, before this incident happened. Rev. Yoo laments of how horrible things -illegal lay-off and inspection etc- happened to Mr. Jung, which were more than his imagination he could think. In the end of video, he urges Koreans that the Koreans, not the USFK are the masters of the Korean lands and they should retake their lands back, citing one of the Aesop fables of which a camel whom he compares with the USFK- and who eventually pushes a master (Koreans) out from his home (lands of Korea) and occupied them.)

Eventually, as the AFOSI could not prove its charges of [Jung's] leaking of military secrets and of his being related to the SPARK, which they had intended against him, the Kunsan U. S. air force ordered him never to inform the outside world of the fact that he had been investigated [by it] nor to attend at his own office [in the base] any more. Mr. Jung who was investigated with those tremendous charges that he could never understand has spent some months being adrift of anguish and without being present at the church he would go nor informing to anyone of the fact that he had been investigated, because of unspeakable mental shock and anxiety that he might lose his job that he had been working on for 17 years.

* Image source: Ohmy News, Nov. 15, 2010 오마이 뉴스, 2010/11/15
(Uploaded in the internet cafe site of the Kunsan branch of the SPARK 군산 평통사 인터넷 까페 사이트에 올려짐)


해고 당한 정모씨가 15년째 신앙생활를 해오고 있는 군산 돌베개교회 ⓒ 장재완
The Dolbegae Church, Kunsan, where the laid-off Jung has been attending for 15 years ⓒ Jang Jae-Wan


However, different from his expectation, the Kunsan US air force noticed him of its lay-off plan on him on last Sept. 20 and gave him its final lay-off notice on last Oct. 21. The reasons that it took to lay him off were that Jung had maintained an ‘inappropriate’ relationship with Rev. Yoo, a [former] representative of the Kunsan branch of the SPARK; had provided [Rev. Yoo] access to the Kunsan base; had provided it false information during investigation; and that he had been related to anti-US organization(s).

* Image & caption source: Voice of People, Nov. 8, 2010
(
Kim Pan-Tae, Secretary of the Kunsan branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea)

군산 미공군이 정씨에게 보낸 해고예정 통보서.ⓒ 김판태
A planned lay-off notice sent to Mr. Jung, by the Kunsan U.S. air force


However, how possibly it can be the lay-off reasons to attend at the Dolbegae Church that has devoted for peace, unification and its neighborhood and to be in and out of the Kunsan base following legal procedures? And how it can be a provision of false information for him to re-state the time period of his recognition of the SPARK and how it can be claimed that he is related to the SPARK [for the reason] that he has donated to Dolbegae church, Gunsan Women’s Hotline and Peace Missionary? The reasons for lay-off of him, that the Kunsan air force asserted are of all nothing but preposterous stubbornness and narrow-minded assertion.

* Image source: Ohmy News, Nov. 15, 2010 오마이 뉴스, 2010/11/15
(Uploaded in the internet cafe site of the Kunsan branch, SPARK/ 군산 평통사 인터넷 까페 사이트: 클릭)

군산 미 공군기지에서 해고당한 정씨(왼쪽) ⓒ 장재완

Mr. Jung laid-off by the Kunsan U.S. Air base (in the left) ⓒ Jang Jae-Wan


Such lay-off measure of the USAFK, Kunsan, must be the illegal lay-off that violated the clause 3 of the Article 17, Status of United States Armed Forces in the Republic of Korea (SOFA), that reads, “[T]he conditions of employment, compensation and labor-management relations established by the United States armed forces for their employees shall conform with provisions of labor legislation of the Republic of Korea.” and clause [2] of article 17, ‘Agreed Minutes’ that reads, “The Government of the United States shall not terminate employment unless there is just cause.”

* Image source: Ohmy News, Nov. 15, 2010 오마이 뉴스, 2010/11/15
(Uploaded in the internet cafe site of the Kunsan branch of the SPARK 군산 평통사 인터넷 까페 사이트에 올려짐)

▲ 군산 미공군기지(미 7공군 제8전투비행단) 앞 노동조합군산지부 안내판ⓒ 장재완

▲ A Guide mark of the Kunsan branch of the Korean employee union, in front of the Kunsan US Air Base(the 8th combat air wing of the 7th U.S. Air Force)ⓒ Jang Jae-Wan


Upon it, we strongly urge the authority of the United States Forces of Korea, to immediately withdraw from its illegal lay-off of an innocent Korean civilian and to reinstate Mr. Jung.

Apologize about illegal inspection and investigation that infringed sovereignty and human rights of South Korea!

The fact that the AFOSI, Kunsan forced by showing Mr. Jung the SPARK materials and closed resource that is only open to the devotees of the Dolbegae, during its inspection process tells that the USFK has routinely and illegally investigated civilian and church not to mention the civil organization(s) in South Korea.

The Kunsan USAFK is acknowledging itself that it has progressed illegal inspection by stating that it has investigated on the incident since last Sept. 11, 2008, in its dispatch letter on the lay-off of Mr. Jung.

There is no legal basis for an investigation office of the United States Forces of Korea to inspect and investigate South Korean civilian, civil organizations and churches. If any illegal activities are discovered, [inspection & investigation] are the tasks of the inspection organization(s), South Korean, never of those of the United States Forces of Korea.

Illegal inspection, taking away, confiscation and search committed by an inspection office of the United States Forces of Korea is a serious infringement of article 12, Constitution of Republic of Korea that states ‘freedom of body’; a grave encroachment of the judicial sovereignty of ROK; and a violation of article 3 of the law on the protection of communication secret that stipulated the protection of secret in communication.

* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Nov. 9, 2010평통사, 11월 9일

주한 미 대사관 앞 134 차 자주 통일 평화 행동 집회의 유승기 목사

Rev. Yoo Seung-Gi holding the sign of ' No infringement of freedom of religion, No United States Forces of Korea!'
At the 134th Self-Reliance, Unification, and Peace Action rally in front of the United States of Embassy, Seoul


Also, it is a serious damage of honor and challenge to ‘freedom of religion’ that is prescribed in the article 20 of the Constitution [of the ROK] that [the Kunsan USAFK] investigated the SPARK and Rev. Yoo, saying such and such of leakage of military secret and charging them as spy.

The Kunsan Air Base of the U. S. has annually held its open event of Kunsan base and it is common [for people] to come into and go out to the restaurant and other facilities inside base, guided by base worker. It cannot but be seen as the target inspection and oppression originated from the intention to shrink the activities of civil organization(s) that constantly raise(es) the issue of the USFK that [the Kunsan Air Base] laid off Mr. Jung, questioning the coming and going of only a SPARL representative.

The authorities of the United States Forces of Korea should clearly know that they is not a South Korean now, who tolerates the stationing of the USFK as a ruler who rather attempts to control and oppress civil organization and Korean people through its illegal inspection from the behind, not to mention its neither hearing the claims by civil organization(s) who make(s) an effort to settle the matters of the USFK nor trying to settle those.

Therefore, strongly denouncing illegal inspection, investigation and oppression on the SPARK by the Kunsan US air force, we strongly urge the authorities of the USFK to apologize to South Koreans and strictly punish the related personnel. If the authority of the USFK ignores our demands and does not thoroughly settle the event this time, we clearly state that we would strongly fight, such as widely spreading barbarism of the USFK not to mention of legal response such as bringing a suit and indicting against the U.S. air force, in Kunsan.

* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Nov. 9, 2010평통사, 11월 9일
△ 항의서한과 면담요청서를 미대사관에 전달.
△ The activists delivered their letters of protest and meeting request to the United States Embassy, Seoul

Along with that, the Lee Myung-Bak government should actively stand to correct the infringements of sovereignty and human rights of South Koreans and unjust lay-off by the U. S. air force, Kunsan.

Nov. 10, 2010

Kunsan branch, Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea; Gunsan Women’s Hotline; Dolbegae Church; The Civil Council for Retaking Back of Our Lands in the Kunsan(Gunsan) USFK Base*; Jeollabuk-do branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Jeollabuk-do branch of the Democratic Labor Party; Iksan branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea; Jeonjoo branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Unification of Korea; Jeollabuk-do branch of the Korean Alliance of Progressive Movements; Jeollabuk-do branch of the New Progressive Party; Peace Missionaries; and all the persons present in the press interview

___________________________________________________

* The below is an arbitrary translation of the Korean summary in the link.


Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea(SPARK)
Nov. 12, 2010


-Development of the main affairs related to illegal inspection and unjust lay-off by the Kunsan United States Air Forces of Korea (USAFK), -


○ June 10, 2010


- The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) takes away Mr. Jung (45) and processes an investigation related to military- secret leakage and to the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea ( Co-permanent representatives: Fr. Moon Kyu-Hyun, Mr. Bae-Jong-Ryeol, and Rev. Hong Keun-Soo)

- Jung denies the charge of leakage of military secret upon him and answers he does not know the SPARK.

- Investigation result: [the AFOSI] could not find from him any facts of military-secret
leakage and relation ship with the SPARK.

-Right after investigation: The USAFK, Kunsan, prohibits him not to outflow the investigation facts to outside and orders him to stop to attend to the Kunsan base .

- [The USAFK, Kunsan] searches [Mr. Jung’s] home without warrant and confiscates his personal computer.

- A completely armed base guard, using (a) shepherd, the military dog(s), and coercing Mr. Jung with psychological impact and expels him to outside the base.

○ June 11

- While Mr. Jung answered upon the inquiry that regards Rev. Yoo Seung-Gi, Dolbegae Church, as a spy, that “I don’t know about the SPARK,” being embarrassed and confused, brought back his memory after returning home and stated again saying that, “ After leading Rev. Yoo to the Kunsan base in 2007 & 2009, I became to know the facts of Rev. Yoo’ activities in the SPARK by internet searching around Jan. 10, but I don’t know about the SPARK in detailed contents.”

- Even though the Kunsan USAFK defined his former [statement] above as a false statement and made reason of his lay-off, it cannot be the reason of lay-off as [his changing statement] did not come from his vicious intention.

○ August 2 to 3

- The U.S. AFOSI: investigate [Mr. Chung] with lie detector.

- After the end of investigation with lie detector, the investigator asserting that “All Jung’s answers were lies,” and enforced Mr. Jung to acknowledge that, “Mr. Jung has been related to the SPARK,” but Mr. Jung said he could not acknowledge the investigation result on him.

- Upon that, the investigator conciliated him saying that, “ Since you have passed all the lie detector investigation except for one thing (that Mr. Jung recognized the fact that Rev, Yoo had been working in the SPARK when he was leading Rev. Yoo to Kunsan base), acknowledge only that.”

Mr. Jung re-claiming that all his answers were facts, replied that “As the origin of this accident was made because of the relationship between [myself] and Rev. Yoo, I could not but react much emotionally at the inquiry about my old acquaintance with whom I have to cut relationship, upon hearing his name,”
regarding the item that he could not pass [lie detector].

○ Sept. 20 : receives the notice on his planned lay-off

○ Sept. 28: submits an explanation letter

○ Oct. 20 (Dated Oct. 21): receives from the
Kunsan USAFK a notice on decision of his lay-off

○ Oct. 29: submits a written application to the human resource dept. of the USFK. Audit is planned (two to three months
are expected for it to be taken)
____________________________________________________

[2010/11/9] (동영상) 군산미공군 불법사찰 부당해고 사건_유승기 목사 연설 (비디오 소개 및 URL: 군산 평통사)
[Nov. 9, 2010] On the incident of Kunsan U.S. Air Force's illegal inspection and unjust lay-off_Speech by Rev. Yoo ( Video introduction & URL in Korean: Kunsan branch of the SPARK)


____________________________________________________
More Photos

* All the image source of the below: Kim Hyun-Jin, News Cham, Nov. 11, 2010
김현진, 참세상, 2010년 11월 11일

▲ 군산미공군이 민간이 불법사찰하고 부당해고까지 한 사실이 드러나면서 10일 전북경찰청 앞에서 전북지역 시민단체들이 강력 규탄에 나섰다. [출처: 참소리]
▲ As the fact that the U.S. air force, Kunsan has illegally inspected and laid off a Korean civilian was revealed, the civil organizations in Kunsan, Jeollabuk-do, entered strong protests in front of the Jeollabuk-do provincial police agency on Nov. 10, 2010
The sign reads, “We strongly denounce the U.S. air force, Kunsan, for its illegal inspection of church and civil organization( sign by the Dolbegae church).

▲ 전북경찰청 기자실 입구 앞 복도를 막아선 경찰. [출처: 참소리]
▲ The police are preventing protesters by blocking a corridor in front of the press room,
Jeollabuk-do police agency, Nov. 10, 2010


▲ 시민단체들이 기자실이 아닌 도경찰청 현관 앞에서 회견을 진행하려 했지만 그마저도 경찰은 무산시켰다.
▲ Even though some civil organizations tried to process a press interview in front of the gate of the Jeollabuk-do provincial police agency, not in its press room, the police prevented even that.

▲ 기자회견문 자료 내용이 모두 사실이라는 피해자 정모씨의 사실확인서.
▲ The Secretary of the Kunsan branch of the SPARK is holding Jung’s letter in which Jung , the victim by the Kunsan USFK confirmed that all the contents in the press release statement were true.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Text Fwd: Kunsan 8th FW and S. Korea Participating in the Max Thunder Exercise 군산 미 8 전투 비행부대와 남한, 맥스 썬더 합동 훈련 [10.15 ~22]

________________________________________________________
* 군산 기지 현황의 지도와 함께 자세한 내용은 '군산 미군 기지 우리땅 찾기 시민 모임 까페'를 클릭하세요.
________________________________________________________
Asia Pacific Command
Kunsan 8th FW and S. Korea Participating in the Max Thunder Exercise
By Master Sgt. Claudette Hutchinson
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Oct. 18, 2010

KUNSAN AIR FORCE BASE, Republic of Korea - Members from the 8th Fighter Wing and Republic of Korea Air Force are participating in the fourth annual Max Thunder exercise, hosted by Kwangju Air Base, Oct. 15 to 22.

Max Thunder is a bilateral training exercise intended to increase interoperability between Republic of Korea and U.S. military forces. The exercise replicates the scenarios and planning cycles of Red Flag Nellis, and will provide large-force employment training for U.S. and ROK military personnel.

"In all, nearly 50 combat aircrafts will participate in the exercise," said 80th Fighter Squadron Commander Lt. Col. James Wilkerson. "I'm looking forward to an outstanding exercise. This is the first time we've deployed such a large aviation package from Kunsan to Kwangju and I see this as an incredible opportunity to work alongside our U.S. and ROKAF neighbors."

This exercise will also test Kwangju's ability to fulfill the second tenet of the Wolf Pack's mission, "to accept follow-on forces," Colonel Wilkerson said.

"The movement of follow-on forces will include bases other than Kunsan AB, and it is extremely likely that U.S. units will deploy and operate from these bases," said Colonel Wilkerson. "This exercise is our opportunity to test and stress the various support systems that facilitate that effort, as each system involves a myriad of processes. As such, we'll not only test the base infrastructure at Kwangju, but we'll also test our ability to deploy to and operate from a bare-base location, as well as the ability of 7th AF to support our efforts."

Training side-by-side will be part of day-to-day operations for ROK and US airmen during this week-long exercise
______________________________________________________
* Related blogs 관련 블로그들

Saturday, October 16, 2010 2010년 10월 16일
Text Fwd: S. Korea, US begin [8day] air defense exercise on Oct. 15
남한과 미국 공군, [10월 15일부터 ] 8일간 방어 연습 시작


Friday, August 27, 2010 2010년 8월 27일
Video and Poster Fwd: [Event Info] Kunsan Peace March on Sept. 11, 2010

군산 평화 대행진, 2010년 9월 11일

Thursday, October 29, 2009 2009년 10월 29일
Photos Fwd: Kunsan: “Stop the Budget for the Combat Air Show!”
사진 포워드: "전투 에어 쇼 예산을 중단하라!"


Wednesday, October 21, 2009 2009년 10월 21일
[Bruce Gagnon] FR. MOON & RESISTANCE AT KUNSAN AFB
[브루스 개그논 블로그 번역] 문정현 신부님과 군산 미 공군 기지에 대한 저항


Sunday, September 13, 2009 2009년 9월 13일
Kunsan Peace March, Sept. 12, 2009
군산 평화 대행진, 2009년 9월 12일

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Photos Fwd: Kunsan Peace March, Sept. 11, 2010년 9월 11일, 군산 평화 대행진 사진 포워드

야간비행 중단, 전투기 소음피해 해결 촉구!
미군 기지 확장 중단, 공여지 해제, 아파치헬기장 즉각 반환!
주민 공동체 파괴, 생존권 위혐하는 전쟁 연습 중단!
해외 미군 순환 배치 반대! 군산 미군기지 확장 반대!
이제 동아시아에 미군 없는 평화를!

Stop the nighttime flight! Settle the fighter plane noise damage!
Stop the expansion of the USFK base! Cancel the lands provided [to the USFK]!
Promptly return back the [area for] the Apache helicopter field!
Stop the War Exercise destroying the resident community
and threatening the right to live!
No rotational deployment of the overseas US military!
No expansion of the Kunsan USFK base!
Peace without the U.S. military in the east Asia now!

* All the image sources 이미지 소스: Park Jae-Soon, Cham-Sori, an alternative internet site in the Jeollabuk-do
박재순, 참소리 _전북 인터넷 대안신문







________________________________________________________
*Image sources: Pyeongtaek Peace Center 평택 평화 센터

Human chaining around the Kunsan U.S. AFB

Stop the nighttime flight! Return back the [area] for the Apache helicopter field! (SPARK)

* Image source: Pyeongtaek Peace Center 평택 평화 센터

* A U.S. military surveillance vehicle that ran inside the base, following and monitoring the marchers who were told to strongly protest against it on the day.
진자들을 기지안에서 따라다니며 감시했던 미국 군대 정찰 차량으로 행진자들의 강한 항의를 받았다 함
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* Related blogs 관련 블로그들

Nov. 17, 2010
[Translation]SPARK Statement: We strongly denounce illegal inspection and unjust lay-off
by the Kunsan United States Air Force of Korea!(Nov. 10, 2010)
[번역] 평통사 성명서: 군산 미공군의 불법사찰, 부당해고를 강력히 규탄한다!(2010년 11월10일)


Friday, August 27, 2010
Video and Poster Fwd: Kunsan Peace March on Sept. 11, 2010
군산 평화 대행진, 2010년 9월 11일

Friday, August 27, 2010

Video and Poster Fwd: [Event Info] Kunsan Peace March on Sept. 11, 2010 군산 평화 대행진, 2010년 9월 11일

________________________________________________________________
*Update 엎데이트

Nov. 17, 2010
[Translation]SPARK Statement: We strongly denounce illegal inspection and unjust lay-off
by the Kunsan United States Air Force of Korea!(Nov. 10, 2010)
[번역] 평통사 성명서: 군산 미공군의 불법사찰, 부당해고를 강력히 규탄한다!(2010년 11월10일)


Sept. 15, 2010
Photos Fwd: Kunsan Peace March, Sept. 11(Click)
2010년 9월 11일, 군산 평화 대행진 사진 포워드(클릭)

________________________________________________________________

야간비행 중단, 전투기 소음피해 해결 촉구!
미군 기지 확장 중단, 공여지 해제, 아파치헬기장 즉각 반환!
주민 공동체 파괴, 생존권 위혐하는 전쟁 연습 중단!
해외 미군 순환 배치 반대!
군산 미군기지 확장 반대!
이제 동아시아에 미군 없는 평화를!


Stop the nighttime flight! Settle the fighter plane noise damage!
Stop the expansion of the USFK! Cancel the lands provided [to the USFK]!
Promptly return back the Apache helicopter field!

Stop the War Exercise destroying the resident community
and threatening the right to live!

No rotational deployment of the overseas US military!

No expansion of the Kunsan USFK base!

Peace without the U.S. military in the east Asia now!


*Image source: Peace in Wind 평화 바람


* Image source 이미지 소스: Kunsan Peace March, 2009 2009년 군산 평화 대행진


* Click the image for larger view 이미지를 클릭하시면 화면이 확대됩니다.
________________________________________________________________________

A promotion video on the Kunsan Peace March on Sept. 11, 2010 (Korean)
2010년 9월 11일 군산 평화 대행진을 알리는 홍보 영상
(URL: Kunsan regional branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea(SPARK)
평화와 통일을 여는 사람들 군산 지부 사이트에서 퍼왔읍니다.




The video purposed for the public announcement of the Kunsan peace march on Sept. 11, 2010 was made by the preparatory committee for the Kunsan peace march, 2010(composed of many peace organizations in Kunsan). It is introduced in the Kunsan branch of the SPARK site and also in the SPARK newsletter, thankfully forwarded by Mr. Jung Dong-Suk, Secretary of the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the SPARK. The video maker introduces oneself as Doongeuli at the end of the movie.

It is a hilarious and brilliant video that uses the scenes of the movie, Avatar, in parody, to express people’s will to fight against their counterpart, U.S. imperialism & militarism, in the middle of the scenes. It is the movie that the people who know Koreans cannot but laugh and agree with its sense.

In the beginning and middle, the movie introduces the Kunsan USFK base as the command headquarter of the overseas US military, located in the Okseo myeon, City of Kunsan, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea and as one of the most painful sites in the modern history of Korea. Even the address of base is California. The Kunsan USFK base currently 3.40 million pyeong (about 14 million square meters) is continuously being expanded at the cost of the nearby villages that will be demolished. The U.S. military is also demanding 10 million pyeong (about 3o million square meters) area size of land called Saemankeum nearby the AFB, for its use.

An old female farmer who curses the base saying that the Koreans should not allow the USFK bases in their land from the beginning and tells that the USFK should be expelled by protests.

The movie also shows some scenes of the peace march in 2009 in which hundreds of people from various fields and regions including the activists from Pyeongtaek joined. The people from Okinawa also came to the march to express their solidarity. For more information on the Kunsan AFB and peace march 2009, refer to the below blogs.

군산 미 공군 기지와 2009 년 군산 평화 대행진에 대한 다른 블로그들은 아래를 참조하세요.

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* Related blogs 관련 블로그들

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/10/photos-fwd-kunsan-stop-budget-for-war.html
Thursday, October 29, 2009 2009년 10월 29일
Photos Fwd: Kunsan: “Stop the Budget for the Combat Air Show!”
사진 포워드: " 전투 에어 쇼 예산을 중단하라!"

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/10/text-fwd-fr-moon-resistance-at-kunsan.html
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 2009년 10월 21일
[Bruce Gagnon] FR. MOON & RESISTANCE AT KUNSAN AFB
[브루스 개그논 블로그 번역] 문정현 신부님과 군산 미 공군 기지에 대한 저항

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/09/kunsan-peace-march-sept-12-2009.html
Sunday, September 13, 2009 2009년 9월 13일
Kunsan Peace March, Sept. 12, 2009
군산 평화 대행진, 2009년 9월 12일

Monday, March 8, 2010

Key Resolve, US-SK Annual War Exercise Starts in the Korean Peninsula on March 8 and Nationwide Protests against it, as Well

* Image source: Shin So-yeong/The Hankyoreh on March 9, 2010

'Members of Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea hold a press conference to oppose the annual joint exercise between the South Korean and U.S. militaries called Key Resolve in front of the war command post of the
Combined Forces Command located in Sungnam City, Gyeonggi Province, March 8.

Key Resolve, which began on the same day, has received intense criticism from North Korea.
The North Korean army issued a statement in which it ordered its army forces to assume a battle position
in response to the Key Resolve exercise on March 7.

Key Resolve is the name that was given to the exercise in 2008 previously known as RSOI, which stands for
R
eception, Staging, Onward Movement, Integration.

The South Korea and the U.S. have called the exercise a defense drill, however,
North Korea has labeled it training for an invasion.'


* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK)
'Let’s stop the war and blossom the flowers'

TANGO, CFC, Sungnam
(reference source: Koh Sung-Jin
image source: Cho Sung-Bong, Tongil News, March 8, 2010
)


The civil society organizations including Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea,
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements
and Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), South Korean branch, by starting with the press interview
on March 8, in front of Theater, Air, Navy, Ground Operation (TANGO), Combined Forces Command,
in Chungye Mt. Sungnam, South of Seoul, announced that, “By coming 18, we, through ‘the simultaneous anti-war & peace joint actions’ centered in the main USFK bases and cities nationwide,
including Seoul,
will urge to sop the invasive war exercise, and will spread our will for the realization of peace that has been longtime wished for.”


image source: Cho Sung-Bong, Tongil News, March 8, 2010
"Let’s stop the war and blossom the flowers"

Pyeongtaek
( reference/image source: Pyeongteak Peace Center)

About 30 activists from various organizations in Pyeongteak have gathered in front of Songtan branch, Pyeongteak City Hall on March 8, to denounce the Key Resolve exercise and to urge the stop of the additional runway in the Songtan USFK. The Pyeongtaek activists pointing out that the construction for additional runway in the Songtan USFK, which is planned to be completed by 2011, is for the realization of the strategic flexibility in the Korean peninsula, appealed to Pyeongtaek citizens to stop the construction. [The activists also pointed out that the planned return of the war time operation right from the USFK to ROK military has also been conditioned under the strategic flexibility]. The participants decided that they would make the issue of runway by the coming local election on June 2.

Click the image for larger view

"Stop the Key Resolve/ Foal Eagle War exercise and
the 2nd Runway Construction in the Songtan USFK Base!"


-Leaflet distributed to the citizens in Pyeongteak on March 8-

The leaflet was made by Gyunggi-do branch, Korean Alliance for Progressive Movement,
Gyunggi-do headquarter of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and
the Pyeongtaek Area Democratic Organizations’ Council.


Incheon
( reference/image source:
Incheon branch, Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea)

The Incheon activists, having the protest in front of Incheon City Hall criticized that the Key Resolve
that has been with the advanced weapons, was not for the defense exercise but for the attack against North Korea,
and was the illegal war exercise, a violation of constitution that pursed the peaceful unification.
They also said that, if the United States and South Korea truly want the dialogue with North Korea,
both authorities of them should stop the Key Resolve war exercise,
as they had stopped the Team Spirit military training in 1994 for the talk with North Korea.
Saying that the western sea in front of Incheon is always in tension including the military clash,
they denounced the war exercise that threatened the peace and heightened tension
in the Korean peninsula.

Finally activists appealed to the citizens to abolish the US-SK war alliance with anti-war peace actions.

Chungnam-do (province)
Image source: SPARK
In front of Chungnam Province Hall (original source: Ohmynews)

Kunsan
Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK)
In front of Kunsan AFB (original source: Newsis)


Busan
Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK)
In front of the United States Consulate (original source: Voice of People)


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Photo Fwd: Saemangeum tide embankment


Yonhap News
Dec. 23, 2009
Saemangeum tide embankment
'
Dec. 23, GUNSAN, South Korea -- The Saemangeum embankment, pictured from above on Dec. 23. At 33 kilometers long, it is the longest such embankment in the world, and is part of a tidal flat reclamation project. (Yonhap) (Photo courtesy of Gunsan provincial office)'

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Text Fwd: Obama urged to expedite int'l flights at Kunsan air base

Yonhap News
2009/12/02 06:30 KST
Obama urged to expedite int'l flights at Kunsan air base
By Hwang Doo-hyong

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean provincial governor Tuesday called on the U.S. government to take measures to allow international commercial flights to use a U.S. air base to help attract foreign investment.

Gov. Kim Wan-joo of North Jeolla Province delivered a letter to that effect to Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) at the office of the congressman, chairman of the House Asia-Pacific subcommittee.

In the letter to be conveyed to President Barack Obama, Kim requested Obama help revise the Status of Forces Agreement governing American deployments in Korea so the U.S. air base at Kunsan could be used for international commercial chartered flights.

The 400-square-kilometer Saemangeum area, including a reclaimed tidal flat, is supposed to be developed into a huge, multi-billion-dollar industrial and tourism complex in the coming decade with both domestic and international investments.

"The existence and function of an international airport for the Saemangeum Project will affect investment promotion activities and the growth of the Jeonbuk (North Jeolla) Province and Korea as a whole, to a considerable degree, and accordingly the foreign residents' welfare in the region," the governor said in the letter.

"I believe that the close cooperation and relationship in between three parties such as the Korean and U.S. government and 8th U.S. Army will be not only a necessary condition but also an ultimate solution factor for the issue posed ahead for the Saemangeum Project success," he said. "In that process, any positive cooperation you can render us will be appreciated."

Negotiations are under way between the two countries for the construction of more runways at Kunsan to accommodate international commercial flights.

Kim, however, said negotiations and ensuing construction should take considerable time, and called on the U.S. to allow use of the base by international commercial flights on an interim basis.

"A SOFA clause allows for up to 10 domestic commercial flights to land at the Kunsan air base every day, and what we want is to revise the clause to include international commercial chartered flights," Kim said. Kunsan air base currently accommodates a few daily domestic flights.

Kim said U.S. military authorities have been lukewarm toward the proposed SOFA revision, citing security concerns.

Kim is set to sign memorandums of understanding with representatives from Windsor Capital & Musa Group and Omni Holdings in New York Thursday for their investment of US$1 billion and $3 billion each in the Saemangeum project.

Saemangeum is supposed to emerge as an attractive investment destination due to its proximity to China, just across the Yellow Sea, with the North Jeolla government expecting to support up to 2,000 businesses, factories, logistics bases, research and development centers, clean production factories and international business complexes to facilitate trade.

Several energy-related companies from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan have shown interest, South Korean officials said, noting the national and provincial governments will provide tax breaks, cheap land and other incentives to investors.

hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Text Fwd: Samyang, Mitsubishi to invest 200 bln won in J/V chemical company



Yonhap News
Oct. 16, 2009
Samyang, Mitsubishi to invest 200 bln won in J/V chemical company

GUNSAN, South Korea, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Samyang Corp. and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. signed an investment pact Monday to build a joint-venture chemical company, a local government agency said.

The Gunsan Free Trade Zone authority said the pact calls for the two companies to invest 200 billion won (US$172.9 million) by 2011 to build a Bisphenol-A (BPA) production plant with an annual production capacity of 150,000 tons.


*
Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/11/petition-fwd-stop-pluthermal-nuclear.html

Friday, November 6, 2009
[Petition Fwd] From Japan : STOP Pluthermal Nuclear Power Generation in Saga, Japan! (Click Here)

'E mail sent from Makiko Sato(seamesky@sand.ocn.ne.jp) on Nov. 10, 2009

'I've recently looked at some archives in Green Action website, and found out
Kyuden (Kyusyu electric power co.) has MHI[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] as one of its Mox fuel fabrication contractors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2009-11-5 http://www.greenaction-japan.org/modules/wordpress0/index.php?p=75
Subsequently, Kyushu Electric refused to disclose pertinent information concerning its
self-inspection criteria, stating that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, their principle
contractor for MOX fuel fabrication would not allow the disclosure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, to sum up, MHI has the business of manufacturing and selling : PAC 3missiles,
newly advanced destroyers equipped with Aegis system for launchig SM3 ( joint development with the USA),
space rockets equipments, and Mox fuel !
[...] Only this company, in Japan, has gained a big profit last year, I read in Asahi at the biginning of this.'

_______________________________________________________________________


Update

* Jean Downey (jeandow2@cfl.rr.com) sent on Nov. 16, 2009

'Mitsubishi is involved with hidden weapons production in Japan (masked as non-military industrial products).

But I don't think that is what is happening here.

BPA --which to plant is going to produce -- is a very toxic plastic in widespread use. It is banned in Canada and health activists have been fighting to get it banned in the US but the US is controlled by banks and corporations, not citizens, so it's still legal here. It's the plastic used in water, soft drink bottles, baby bottles. It is also used in plastic linings in cans for vegetables and other foods. I have stopped eating any canned food because it's so toxic. I stopped using plastic water bottles years ago except when I travel in Japan and need to drink some water and the only water available is in stores.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/blogs/healthy-food/bisphenol-a-bpa-erectile-
disfunction-47111602

It is my guess that that is the purpose of the BPA to be produced at this plant -- for bottles and canned food linings as well as other industrial uses.'

Jean