Kangjung village in Cheju province was the fourth selected because the
three earlier selections refused the naval base. The Cheju provincial
government announced in the media that through a 1,500-person survey—out
of the total population of 50,000 on the island—Cheju wanted the
base.
Although Noh Moo Hyun, president of South Korea, named the island an
“Island of Peace,” the government nevertheless had plans to build
the military base on it, and the provincial government forced the inconsistent
policies on the people.
There was a press conference and later that
evening there was a town meeting of about
300
people where Harris’s statements were
received with great enthusiasm.
|
As a member of KDLP [Korean Democratic Labor Party], which has been struggling
against war, I was willing to struggle against the government’s military
plan.
Recently public opinion against the base is showing a sharp increase,
particularly from the Kangjung villagers, but the provincial governor is still
strongly insisting on the base. Unofficially, I received information that the
South Korean government and Ministry of National Defense have expressed a
withdrawal opinion, but they are in a dilemma because the provincial
governor’s pro-base position is so firm.
Since the FTAs [Free Trade Agreements with the U.S.], the economy of the island
has been suffering. The provincial government argues that the military base
will bring increasing benefits to the economy and some people agree.
It is true that a lot of difficulties exist. However, while the ministry has
advanced the base plan and pushed a plan to build an air base there as well,
the National Assembly has reduced the budget in 2006 and 2007.
During the investigation by the Assembly, it was discovered that the provincial
government had rejected public opinion and hadn’t completed the basic
investigation, which was to include an environmental assessment. As a result,
it won’t be easy to pass the plan through the Assembly.
The people on Cheju Island inherited the spirit of the April 3, 1948, uprising,
so that their sentiments against war are firm. We won heroic victories in both
the 1988 and 2002 struggles for the withdrawal of military bases.
Now a provincial task force committee, composed of 50-60 social and civic
organizations, has been formed; and the city task force committee, consisting
of about 10 social and civic organizations, has also been created and is
playing an important role. More than 50 percent of Kangjung villagers have
already signed a petition against the base.
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