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pm.9:43, Tuesday ( 2217hit ) |
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Base Expansion in Pyongtaek Equals Forced Removal from the Land! |
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Base Expansion in Pyongtaek Equals Forced Removal from the Land!
The Paengseung farmers will fight till the end!
On Nov. 23rd 2005, the Central Land Expropriation Committee decided that the theft of a people's homeland was legal.
On Dec. 22 the process of imminent domain began. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) now has legal right to send riot police to drive out the residents, level the houses, and destroy the rice paddies.
The residents of Daechuri and Doduri live in fear of eminent displacement in the name of national security. But national security really means giving away their land for the expansion of the US military base.
“The government says that the process is being done according to the law, however, as farmers we will protect this land, the growth and harvest of the land, following the law of nature,” said the head of the resident's committee in Paenseung. "Even though the MND threatens the villagers by saying it will forcefully drive out all the people the farmers will not leave their land because to farm the land is the will of heaven and is the last wish of our elders who have lived here for so long. Therefore, we cannot accept the expansion of the military base, we will fight until the end."
The expansion of the US military base in Pyongtaek. What it really means and what the problems are.
- The expansion of US military bases in Pyongtaek is for strategic flexibility.
The meaning of strategic flexibility of the US military is:
To transform the US military in Korea into a rapid deployment center that encompasses the whole region in Asia. This will enhance their ability to deploy soldiers and attack their target, so that the US military can go to war at anytime they want in Asia and the Pacific region.
It prepares for the containment of China and preemptive attack against North Korea.
Through the transformation of the US forces in Korea (USFK) the US military can contain China and establish a hegemony in North East Asia. North Korea has many long range artillery in the DMZ area. The US military bases will move outside the range so that they can avoid the potential attack that they themselves provoke.
Arms Race = A More Dangerous World
This realignment of US forces in Korea will increase tensions between N. Korea and the US and escalate the arms race.
The expansion and realignment strategy may likely result in pitting S. Korea Japan and Taiwan against N. Korea and China. The peace and reunification of the Korean peninsula will be endangered, as will diplomatic relations with China.
Peace Pilgrimage
From Jan. 3rd to 14th 20 farmers and 7 tractors toured the S. Korea to raise awareness of their plight and build support. It was a long road, more than a thousand miles (1200 km), but the farmers sought to protect their land and their lives, to stop war and keep the peace. On March 17th, 700+ tractors from every corner of the country are expected in Paenseung in an action of solidarity to demand that the government halt the process of land takeover.
Land to the Farmers, and Jobs to the Poor!!!
Stop the invasion of the U.S. military!!!
We will farm again this year!!!
Appeal by Father Mun:
“The expansion of the US military base in Pyongtaek threatens our lives. The free market policy imposed by the US destroys Korea's farming industry and drives farmers into debt and death. The farmers are being deprived of their homes by big corporations and the military, becoming rootless and jobless they must wander around big cities. Look at Pyongtaek, where thousands of farmers will be deprived of their land legally, their families and their village will be broken into pieces. However, the farmers say they will not leave their land no matter what happens, because if they leave they will become beggars. That is why there has been now five hundred days of candle light vigils.
The government is going to take the land away. The government says they will complete the process legally, but the laws are essentially legal murder. The rights of the farmers are being crushed. The expansion of the US military base in Pyongtaek and the importing of advanced weapons technology deepen poverty while enriching corporations. It will destroy the environment. It will increase the price of water, gas, and electricity, making it more difficult for the poor to get by. This is how Korea is embracing the military, which will only lead to terror, and will end in war. We are not safe at all, the base expansion threatens our lives. That is why we demand the US military give up its base expansion plan and leave Korea. We also demand the Korean government stop pushing out farmers and return the land to its owners and give jobs to the poor. Dismantle all the weapons. We appeal to the citizens, please oppose the expansion of the US military base in Pyongtaek. Please join the movement to protect the farmer's land, community, and right to their way of life. Lets organize Pyongtaek peace keepers from every corner of the country. Lets make Pyongtaek our shared homeland. Lets build a strong grassroots citizen's union, and fight for a better world, and then we will be able to stop the military expansion in Pyongtaek.”
This is how Paengseung farmers are struggling.
They hold candle light vigils every night. The vigils started Sept 1, 2004, when the MND arrested Paengseung residents for resisting the expansion plan. The 70 and 80 yr.old elders have not missed one day of vigils since that day.
The local struggle in Pyongtaek grew into a national struggle of solidarity in the form of The Pan-S.Korea solution committee against US base extension in Pyeongtaek (KPCT). A large peace march occurred three times in '05 and '06, many Koreans from around the country, as well as peace activists from France, Brazil, the US, and Okinawa attended the marches.
The communities under threat of destruction transformed into peace villages. People from all over came to the villages to join the struggle, set up tents, repaired abandoned houses, and acted as human shield. The Daechuri elementary school became the center of the struggle, where residents hold the candlelight vigils and conduct cultural activities in the village.
They are organizing a campaign asking for sponsors to take care of one pyong, or 3 sq. meters.
Interview with the commander of camp Humphreys (K-6).
“We will build American bases to last over a hundred years. We will put 2.5 meters thick of dirt in the rice paddies, and construct the base’s buildings on top of that foundation. Not only will we build military facilities but we will build lodging, country clubs with golf courses, and other non-military buildings for recreation and other purposes.”
The idea of their land and livelihood being sacrificed for foreign recreational facilities causes the farmers to shed tears of blood.
Future Action
March 17th, 700 tractors and thousands of people will unite in Paengseung to announce the start of the new planting season. Rice is a labor intensive crop, so every month farmers and citizens will return to aid in the cultivation of this year’s harvest.
This campaign to protect the land of Pyeongtaek.
People can protect one pyong (1 square yard) to raise money to sustain the community. |
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| No |
Subject |
Name |
Date |
Hit |
| |
| |
| 26 |
|
dope |
06-04-05 |
739 |
|
| 25 |
|
nobasept |
06-03-21 |
2295 |
|
| 24 |
|
savePTfarmers |
06-03-20 |
740 |
|
| 23 |
|
save PT farmers |
06-03-19 |
719 |
|
| 22 |
|
save PT farmers |
06-03-18 |
1466 |
|
| 21 |
|
dope |
06-03-16 |
1571 |
|
| 20 |
|
jepu |
06-03-16 |
595 |
|
| 19 |
|
save pt farmers |
06-03-14 |
580 |
|
| 18 |
|
dope |
06-03-14 |
657 |
|
| 17 |
|
greenkorea |
06-03-06 |
595 |
|
| 16 |
|
nobasept |
06-03-03 |
577 |
|
 |
|
dope |
06-02-28 |
2217 |
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