The South Korea government must
withdraw its plan for the forcible displacement of the residents of Dachuri and
Doduri and immediately reopen negotiations with them to settle the matter of
the U. S military base expansion.
At the end of August
the South Korean government publicly announced its plan for the forcible
displacement of the residents of the farming towns of Dachuri and Doduri. It has been confirmed that the government has
selected demolition agencies and is in the process of securing resources and
equipment for the destruction of homes and for laying the foundation for the
base over the fields. The militaristic operations
planned by the government will leave these villages in ruins and gravely
threaten to throw villagers and peacekeepers into a state of violence and
bloodshed.
On May 4th,
tens of thousands of riot police and soldiers swarmed into Dachuri and Doduri under
government orders, wrecking havoc on fields once alive with crops by erecting barbed
wires and digging trenches. The same
government responsible for this tragedy publicly swore that it would, under any
and all conditions, carry out the forcible displacement of residents and the
destruction of their villages within this year, in accordance with the plan for
the U.S. military base
expansion, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008. In July it filed an eviction suit and has planned
to destroy vacant houses by the end of August. The upcoming destruction of vacant houses is
designed to maximize villagers' psychological distress.
However, it has been
confirmed recently that the U.S. will
significantly reduce the number of its troops stationed in Korea. One American media source has even reported
that the troops will be completely withdrawn by the middle of 2010. In addition, President Roh, while acknowledged
the relationship between the U.S. repositioning
plan and the expansion of the base in Pyongtaek, has made reference to the
reduction of U. S military forces.
Furthermore, it was reported by one Korean media source that the U.S. will review the
initial plan for the base expansion in Pyeongtaek in relation to its plan for
troop reductions. These situations prove
that the South Korea government is stubbornly
and wrongly persisting on the course it originally set out on at a time when it
should instead be reopening negotiations. That the Roh administration can only
think about how to evict its own people when even the U.S. is beginning to
reconsider its plans is completely ridiculous.
We have continuously
pointed out that the past agreement between the U.S. and South Korea is a
humiliating breach of common sense and the Constitution and even goes against
the Mutual Defense Agreement between Seoul and Washington, and that it
was made with a clumsy budget and suspicious Congressional ratification. If we
review the U.S. army sources, we
see that the site for the expansion of the base in Dachuri and Doduri measures
2.85 million pyoung. However, the Yongsan
base currently takes up only 0.38 million pyoung. Another 0.28 million pyoung is allotted for
golf courses. The remaining 2.47 million pyoung is allotted for the second army
division; however this division will be substantially reduced under the U.S.¡¯s new plan.
As shown above,
the size of the land for the base expansion is greatly overestimated. In addition, a large amount of it is planned
to be used for a leisure complex and residences for the U. S soldiers and their
families.
Witnessing that
the rich farms that Dachuri and Doduri residents have cultivated for decades
will be destroyed to make way for an extravagant leisure complex and residence
for American soldiers in accordance with a humiliating and corrupt negotiation,
the people of Korea can only but demand renegotiations. It is simply insane to
offer up rich farmland that gives life so that the U. S can advance its base made
only for war. We can't help but ask: who the hell does this government exists
for?
The violent
destruction of villages and forcible displacement represent a grave infringement
on the residents¡¯ human rights, not the least of which is the devastating
psychological impact of this process. In fact, the UN human rights commission
has called for an immediate end to the infamous forcible displacements in
redevelopment zones due to these kinds of consequences. There are many cases of
displacement in which gangsters are employed and use abuse, sexual harassment
and physical violence to drive residents into a state of utter fear and
desperation. Looking at these instances it is clear that very lives of the
residents of Dachuri and Doduri, a great number of whom are elderly, are in
jeopardy.
Forcible
displacement violates not only housing rights specified in the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Culture Rights, but also freedom of body, of residence
and transfer, of expression and of association as specified in the International
Covenant on Civil and Politic Rights.
The Korean government is party to both of these agreements. In addition, it is villagers¡¯ right to
cultivate their farms their whole lives as they which, according to the Korean
Constitution which guarantees the right to live peacefully. And yet, it is the government¡¯s plan to forcibly
evict these farmers in order to support the U.S.¡¯s base
expansion and its ability to make war.
Although the
Ministry of National Defense claims it is making an effort to solve the
conflict through democratic dialogue, it is in fact busily working to break
apart this peaceful community and has even arrested Kim Ji Tae, the headman of
villages, keeping him in prison irrespective of his willingness to return to
negotiations. The MND has shown now real desire to solve the matter peacefully
and is likely to take all measures necessary to complete the base expansion
plan by 2008. It is clear that this country has brought death to the principles
of human rights and democracy.
We, peace-loving
people, make the following appeal to the South Korean government sincerely and
will all our hearts:
The government
should reverse its agreement with the U.S. plan for ¡°strategic
flexibility¡±, which is likely to bring about the crisis of war in East Asia, and review and
renegotiate the plan for base expansion, which allows the U.S. to strengthen
its ability to threaten peace.
In addition, the
government should immediately withdrawal all military troops from Dachuri and
Doduri and retract its cruel plan for the destruction of houses and villages.
As we wish
ardently for peace, we will continue our struggle against the upcoming forcible
displacement, the destruction of Dachuri and Doduri and the destruction of the
residents¡¯ lives. As part of our
efforts, we will carry out a great peace march, in which 100 thousand people will
participate, on September 24th. In the name of human rights and peace- in Korea and
internationally- we will stop the U. S military base expansion.
We join in
solidarity with other peace-loving people around the world to forcefully
denounce the South Korean government for abusing peace and human rights. We will come forward in a nation-wide
struggle to pass judgment on the Roh's administration.
August 18th, 2006
Pan-S.
Korea Solution
Committee against U.S. Base Expansion
in Pyeongtaek.
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