[Photos Fwd] Upon the 60th Commemoration of the Incheon Landing Operation on Sept. 15, 1950: No War, No Sanction, Yes, Peace Treaty!

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* Excerpt translation from the joint statement by the 12 organizations on Sept. 14, 2010. To see the original Korean statement, click HERE or HERE. 국문 성명서 원문은 여기 또는 여기를 클릭하세요.

'7월 중순에 실시한 여론조사에서 이미 우리 국민 70% 가량이
이명박 정부의 [천안함] 조사결과에 대해 불신하거나 의혹을 제기하고 있다.'

'According to the public poll conducted in the middle of this July,
about 70% of our people were already distrusting the Lee Myung-Bak government’s
investigation result [on the Cheonan ship] or raising the suspicion on it.'

우리의 결의 Our Resolution

_ 우리는 대북 제재 중단과 북미대화 및 6자회담의 조속한 재개를 위해 투쟁할 것을 결의한다!
_We are determined to stop the sanction against North Korea and to struggle for the prompt resumption of the NK-US dialogue & six party meeting!

_우리는 미국 강요에 따른 이란에 대한 제재 철회를 위해 싸워나갈 것을 결의한다!
_We are determined to fight to repeal the sanction on Iran, enforced by the United States!

_우리는 천안함 진상규명 국정조사와 [남, 북, 중, 미] 4개국 공동조사 실현을 위한 투쟁을 결의한다!
_ We are determined to struggle for the investigation in relation to government on the Cheonan ship [incident]and for the realization of the joint investigation by the four nations [of South Korea, North Korea, China & the United States]!
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*Image source: Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), South Korean branch, Sept. 14, 2010
http://tongil-i.net/2006/bbs/bbs/tb.php/bumnews/444

*Image(below three) source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Sept. 14, 2010

Explaining on the Cheonan ship and political weather

Stop Sanction [on Iran and North Korea]! (SPARK)

The United States should apologize and compensate for the U. S. military bombings
onto the Wolmi-do on Sept. 10, 2010.

* The below was informed from an attachment at the SPARK site(평통사 사이트에 알려짐)

EXCERPT from the attachment(partly English while mostly in Korean) in the site:

"The Commission ascertained that the residents in Wolmi island (Wolmi-do) were killed on September 10, 1950, by U.S. bombing of the area. At least 10 victims were verified by the Commission to have been killed, but it is believe there were more victims killed. The bombing was executed by U.S. marine aircrafts of Carrier Division 15 led by Rear Admiral Richard W. Ruble.

The objective was to saturate the eastern half of Wolmi-do. The marine aircrafts (VMF-214, VMF-323) that launched from the USS SICILY and USS Badoeng Strait dropped 95 napalm bombs, rocketed and strafed the east side of Wolmi-do and thoroughly destroyed the area. Wolmi-do was a strategically important area for the Operation of Incheon Landing."

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* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Sept. 13, 2010

Press interview upon the visit by Bosworth, a special envoy for North Korea policy of the United States:
Stop the sanction & oppression on North Korea and resume the NK-US talks & six party meetings!
-Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Sept. 13, 2010
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* Image source: Incheon regional branch of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Sept. 11, 2010
평화와 통일을 여는 사람들 인천 지부, 2010년 9월 11일

2010 Wolmi Peace Festival/ Concert and Peace March, “What is Peace?”

No War Exercise

Stop War!

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Korea Times
Naval vessels, aircraft and marines from South Korea, ...
Sept. 15, 2010
Reenactment of 1950 Incheon Landing: Naval vessels, aircraft and marines from South Korea, the U.S. and Australia reenact the Sept. 15 1950 Incheon Landing operation that helped change the course of the 1950-53 Korean War and two weeks later liberated Seoul from North Korean occupation, in waters near Wolmi Island, Wednesday. Seoul has annually reenacted the battle scene since 2008, but this year’s reenactment was the largest in terms of size as it marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the war. / Korea Times photo by Cho Young-ho

[Incheon]Visiting the Wolmi Island and Legacy of War

* Image source: Hankyoreh, July 16, 2010
The 'Bereaved family members of [Wolmi Island] civilians killed during the U.S. air raids during the Korean War hold signboards requesting compensation from South Korean and U.S. governments, July 15. ' According to the article, the Bereaved families have continued more than 2000 day sit-in on Wolmi Island and have 'remained uncompensated for eviction during the war while a $23M park project is underway.' (For a related blog, click HERE)

The signboards say:
The City of Incheon that has robbed of the Wolmi Island should be responsible.
The US military should open all the materials (on the bombing), openly apologize about the civilian massacre incident and make reparation for it
-Civic Committee for the Wolmi Island Natives’ Returning Back to Hometown-

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1. Not well Known Story of the US Napalm Bombing on a Village During the Incheon Landing Operation, Sept. 15, 1950

The Wolmi Island is famous for the Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Incheon Landing operation on Sept. 15, 1950, upon the outbreak of the Korean War. The three landing points of red, green, and blue have now become the ports and recreation sites.

More recently, the native villagers who had to fled their hometown due to the U. S. napalm bombing during the landing operation have been having vigil in their makeshift house for seven years to demand the examination of the truth on the day and compensation for the loss of their hometown. As of Sept. 3, their vigil date met 2171 days.

Visiting with Mr. Lee Haeng-Woo, we happened to see a villager who was 16 years old at the time and an activist who was with him.

The old man said there were about 64 households in their hometown and many were killed by napalm bomb at the time. The activist told us that the reason that the US bombed the villagers’ hometown that had been nothing to do with the DPRK soldiers who had been staying in the landing sites next to the hill where the village was also located on the other side of it but because the US military wanted to use it as their base by expanding the existing Japanese base then.

Even after the US base became not to be used any more, the Ministry of National Defense, ROK and City of Incheon have not consulted the villagers and replaced their land with a city park without the native’s agreement. The villagers have been doing the vigil at the very front of the park, for more than 2171 days by yesterday.

They have also demanded to examine the truth on the US massacre by napalm bombing on the day. It is told that their demand was now some officially acknowledged and they could take the official memorial service for the dead for three years now inside the park.

Still the tasks are being remained for further US & ROK government examination of truth and compensation for the bereaved families of the victims on the day.


The banner on the makeshift vigil house says,'The City of Incheon and Ministry of National Defense should establish a prompt compensation and measure for the returning to ones’ home for the Wolmi-Island natives.'

The natives and activists are doing a rotational vigil at the very site of the natives' hometown now changed to a city park as you can see behind them.
From the natives’ protest site, by climbing up and crossing the hill, you can reach to one of the US Incheon landing sites, called Green beach point, during the Korean War. The site is now a city recreation park.

From the top of the hill, one can see the other landing site in ones’ eastern side.
The old U.S. base has now returned to the City. Statues of the dogs have been set up in the site for the commemoration of the deaths of the dogs that the US military have kept. The natives spit the words that their lives are less worthy than those of dogs in satire.

A stone that says about the history of the Wolmi-Island.

Before going to the Wolmi Island, we have visited Rev. Hong Keun-Soo, a co-executive Chairperson of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK), and who is now in a nursing home for the Parkinson disease. Thanks to Agatha Haun and Marion Kennedy Kim, his book was recently translated and published in English. You may order the book from the SPARK(spark946@hanmail.net)
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* Related articles

Wikipedia
Incheon Landing Operation

Hankyoreh
Wolmido residents demand joint investigation into Korean War massacre
: Surviving family members petition Obama for his support to resolve situation surrounding Incheon landing
Posted on : Sep.16,2009 12:35 KST

New York Times
Korean War survivors tell of carnage inflicted by U.S.
By Choe Sang-Hun
Published: Monday, July 21, 2008

Photos Fwd: Koreans Protest against the ROK-US '2+2 Meeting' and War Exercise

End the Invasive ROK-US Alliance!
Stop the ROK-US War Exercise!
No Sanction against North Korea!
Peace Treaty Now!
Recover the OPCON Now!

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* Related:
Click Here: [Three International Petitions]
to End the Korean War and Peace Treaty! (or resolution)
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* Image source: Hankyoreh, July 22, 2010

'Members of civic organizations hold a signboard that reads, “‘Invincible Spirit’ for the destruction of peace on the Korean Peninsula?” during demonstration against the South Korea-U.S. ‘2 plus 2 talks’ in front of the government complex buildings at Sejongro, July 21, 2010.'
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* All the image sources of the below: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, July 21, 2010. The contents are translated summary from the original and other source sites.

1. In front of the War Memorial Hall, Seoul, 1pm on July 21, 2010


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2. In front of the government complex bldg., Seoul, 1: 30pm on July 21, 2010

About Eight organizations including the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Veterans for Peace (ROK), Korean Alliance of Progressive Movement, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), South Korean branch, Association of the Bereaved Families of the Massacred Civilians Around the Korean War (tentative translation), Association of the Families for the Democracy Practice - Sponsoring Group for the Political Prisoners (tentative translation), and Solidarity for the Practice of June 15 Joint Statement (? tentative translation) joined the press interview in front of the government complex bldg. on July 21, 2010. The bereaved family members of the Civic Committee for the Return of the Wolmi-Island Native people to Home (tentative translation), who have lost their families and homes by the U.S. air raids during the Incheon landing Operation in September, 1950 and have held a ‘sit-in strike for 2,025 days since Oct. 7, 2004, demanding the U.S. apology and responsibility from the City of Incheon, could not attend the press interview because of the intentional interruption by the Incheon police agency who had not wanted their struggle known to the world. But the bereaved families could join the press interview that was held in front of the bldg. of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs and Trade at 4:30pm, same day. See the NO. 3.

The banner says:
'Joint Press Interview to Denounce the 'ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting'
We denounce the ROK-US '2+2 meeting' that makes the invasive ROK-US alliance perpetual!
Date: 1:30pm, July 21, 2010 (Wed.)/ Place: Front gate of the government complex bldg.'

“‘Invincible Spirit’ for the destruction of peace on the Korean Peninsula?” (Korean Alliance of the Progressive Movement:KAPM)

'Recover Operational Control [Right] Now!' (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea: SPARK)

'Recover Operational Control [Right] Now!' ( SPARK)

'Stop the ROK-US maritime drill that threatens the peace in the Korean peninsula!' (SPARK)
'ROK-US joint war exercise - as the follow-up measure of the Cheonan ship incident?
Examine the truth first!' (KAPM)

'Stop the ROK-US war drill and resume the six party talks!'(SPARK)

'United States, take responsibility for the massacre of the civilians in the Wolmi-Island!!' (SPARK)

‘2+2 meeting that deepens the subordination into the U.S.’(SPARK)

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3. In front of the bldg. of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Seoul, 4: 30pm
on July 21, 2010 (photos are not available yet)

While the two U. S. Secretaries passed through inside the building, the civil organizations, seeing through them through the building glass, shouted, 'No Sanction [against North Korea],' and 'Peace Treaty Now' in English. The police were heavily blocking the protesters from the sight of the passengers and cars. Some bereaved family members of the massacred Wolmi-Island civilians who were killed by the US air raids during the Incheon landing operation during the Korean War could join the press interview this time and appealed the investigation of the truth, apology and compensation from the United States.


* Image source: Hankyoreh, July 16, 2010
The 'Bereaved family members of [Wolmi Island] civilians killed during the U.S. air raids during the Korean War hold signboards requesting compensation from South Korean and U.S. governments, July 15. ' According to the article, the Bereaved families have continued more than 2000 day sit-in on Wolmi Island and have 'remained uncompensated for eviction during the war while a $23M park project is underway.' According to the SPARK site, the families want the investigation of truth more than compensation.


Related blog: Text Fwd: TRCK relaxes U.S. bombing investigation criterion under new president

Text Fwd: TRCK relaxes U.S. bombing investigation criterion under new president

* Image source: Same as the link
'Visitors wait to meet with officials of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea (TRCK) in Seoul.'

Hankyroreh
TRCK relaxes U.S. bombing investigation criterion under new president
Observers say the organization has dropped a greater number of investigation petitions under the new conservative president
By Kim Min-kyeong
Posted on : Jul.16,2010 12:23 KST

Excerpt:

'After receiving 157 petitions over the past four years by civilians claiming damages from U.S. military bombings, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Korea, under President Lee Young-jo, made the decision to investigate 56 of the cases, or 35.6 percent. This number is conspicuously lower than the overall 85.2 percent investigation rate for received cases.
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* Related article 1

* Image source: same as the link
'Bereaved family members of civilians killed during the U.S. air raids during the Korean War hold signboards requesting compensation from South Korean and U.S. governments, July 15.'

Hankyoreh
Bereaved families continue 2,017-day sit-in on Wolmi Island
: The families remain uncompensated for eviction during the war while a $23M park project is underway
By Kim Min-kyeong
Posted on : Jul.16,2010 12:09 KST

Excerpts

‘The residents of Wolmi Island, who were forced from their home with just the clothes on their back, have been demanding to be allowed to return home since 1952, but have only been told by the government that Wolmi Island was being used as a military facility. Recently, the Defense Ministry and Incheon City government have been trying to pass off responsibility, saying the land was not theirs, and that they were not responsible for the residents being forced out.’

‘A sit-in strike by bereaved families demanding an investigation and compensation for their losses, which began on Oct. 7, 2004, continued for its 2,017th day Thursday. The bereaved family members continue the strike two at a time in a building constructed using wood planks taken from the homes removed from Wolmi Island. Six of the 30 people that began the strike have since died, while those that survive are frequently ill.’

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* Related article 2

* Image source: same as the link
'Downtown Seoul after being destroyed by a U.S.bombing operation during the Korean War in 1950.'

Hankyoreh　
U.S.’s Yongsan bombing of 1950 caused 1,587 civilian deaths U.S. air raids accounted for 25 percent of civilian deaths in the first 3 months of the war
Posted on : Jul.16,2010 12:05 KST
By Gil Yoon-hyeong

'How bad was the damage from the Yongsan bombing? According to statistics on Seoul resident casualties during the first three months of the war, drawn up by the government statistics office in 1950, one fourth of the 17,127 deaths were caused by air raids. In particular, of the 2,709 total deaths suffered in the Yongsan district, the direct target of the Yongsan bombing 1,587, or 58.6 percent, were due to bombings.'

Text Fwd: Wolmido residents demand joint investigation into Korean War massacre

Image Source/ Caption: Same as article below:
'Surviving family members petition Obama for his support to resolve situation surrounding Incheon landing'

Hankyoreh
Wolmido residents demand joint investigation into Korean War massacre
Posted on : Sep.16,2009 12:35 KST

Wolmido island residents hold a memorial service at Wolmi Park for the victims who died as a result of U.S. Air Force bombing during the Korean War, Sept. 9, 2008.

Former residents of Wolmido island, located near Incheon City, read a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama during a memorial service for victims who were killed during the Incheon landing led by General MacArthur 59 years ago.

In the letter, they are asking Obama for South Korea and the U.S. to conduct a joint investigation and to offer proper compensation for the families’ relatives. The former Wolmido residents plan to deliver the letter to the U.S. embassy in Seoul on September 16.

The letter says, “We lost our family members due to U.S. bombing on September 10, five days ahead of the Incheon landing, and we were expelled from the island without being able to bury their corpses.” It also says, “We are writing this letter with the hope that President Obama will be able to address our heartbreak.”

At dawn on September 10, 1950, the U.S. Army started to bomb Wolmido island with 93 napalm bombs in an effort to annihilate the North Korean army staying on the island. Several hundred civilians were killed as a result of the five days of bombing.

South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has confirmed facts surrounding this incident and is recommending that both South Korea and the U.S. government conduct a joint investigation in order to resolve the matter, however, both governments have not yet responded.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company.