▶ Cracking down the resident community and their rights to survive by enlarging the US bases

Due to the new enlargement plan, about 523 acres of Seotan area in Pyeongtaek (near the air base), 2328 acres of Paengseong area (near the army base), will be included to the new bases. There are 535 households and totally 1,372 residents in the planned areas. Also the rice from Pyeongtaek is one of the most famous one in Korea.

In particular, the land in Pyeongtaek was reclaimed by the residents of Paengseong themselves so that they truly believe their lands are their lives. That is why we really have to reconsider that whether the new bases are worth enough to demolish the resident’s rights and own communities as well as their homes and lands. Not only about the enlargement, we also have to carefully access the bases returning plan, which will finally be rebuilt in other areas of the peninsula.

Since 2002 when Pyeongtaek was indicated as the new bases area by LPP, the residents have started to fight against the US forces to protect their lands. Additionally, after the FOTA meeting that had agreed to the relocation of Yongsan bases and the Second Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek, the protest has been expanded to the total fight to protect its community. Even though they struggle hard against the power, their lives have been devastated miserably. 7 residents have passed away in the middle of the fights for four months in Daechuri, and many of residents often drown their grie! ves in drink.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Special Commission of USFK Affairs are preceding disgracefully against the residents objections. Recently unidentified rumors and fabrications were disseminated and it also includes backbiting of civil activists as well as staff residents of the Resident Commission against the US Bases Enlargement in Pyeongtaek.

They sometimes induce residents by giving more incentives if they agree to their works and sometimes bully residents into agreeing the plan of USFK. It is a great ironic that the leader of the purchase of site in the Ministry is a native of Pyeongtaek, and the police detective of the area also have lived in the area for a long time. It shows that how money and power have been devastating one village that has been continued in the basis of humanity. We are sure that the reason why the Ministry and the Commission are inciting residents into the conflictions is that they are intending to destruct the community and united residents, and wear them out to give up its fight.