Feb 04, 2012 from 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Save Jeju Island Action Committee Meeting
, , New York, NY
Place and time tbd – for more information, visit www.savejeju.org
In Jeju Island, South Korea, villagers have struggled for more than five years to shut down the planned construction of a naval base. Ostensibly a South Korean base, at heart it is an extension of US empire in East Asia, a base to dock US destroyers and nuclear submarines and from which access to China’s critical oil supply lines is guaranteed. Therefore, the people of Jeju and their supporters have staunchly stopped the bulldozers with their bodies, been battered and bruised by riot forces from the mainland and privately hired thugs from the construction companies, thrown in jail and fined heavily by the government for their daily resistance. They have succeeded in delaying construction for years, and last year, only 25% of the planned budget for construction was used due to their efforts. However, it is critical to let the South Korean government know that the world is watching – and that we will support the struggle for peace on Jeju in any way we can.
Timing is critical, and so we as a committee hope to carry out creative actions within the next several months that bring US and South Korean media attention to the struggle and build grassroots support here in the US. We also see this as a way of strengthening the local anti-war movement and to highlight the ways in which the continuing US war machine is oppressing people and communities overseas.
As part of a movement struggling against militarism and war, and committed to solidarity with global people’s struggles, we invite you to participate as an ally organization and to outreach to your members about the NYC Save Jeju Action Committee. The Save Jeju Action Committee is an open working group dedicated to planning and implementing actions to stop the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island in South Korea. We see this work as part of a larger struggle that is taking place everywhere, especially where US troops are occupying territories, to build societies based on peace and justice.