Pyeongtaek: A Korean Farming Village vs. the US Empire
For over 50 years, South Korea has been a key military outpost for US ambitions of global influence and control. In order to gain greater strategic flexibility, rapid deployment capability, and military hegemony over the lands and waters of the Asia-Pacific region, plans have been developed to expand the Camp Humphreys military base in Pyeongtaek as a central operations hub. By almost doubling the current base size, hundreds of families will be forceably displaced from the western coast of Korea, in particular, the farming villages of Daechuri and Doduri in Pyeongtaek.
On Saturday, August 12 a group of Korean American activists were able to sneak past the military checkpoints surrounding the village of Daechuri and spend the day learning about the fight to defend Pyeongtaek and what we can do to help. What we saw was the aftermath of destruction and violence after 15,000 police and hired thugs were sent into the village by the South Korean government in May to destroy the primary school built by the villagers own hands; a once peaceful farming community now completely ringed by barbed wire; once lush
rice fields now choking in dust after the government cut off the water supply; a permanent police and military presence installed to create an atmosphere of intimidation.
But the people of Pyeongtaek will not submit. Half of the villagers remain in Daechuri, refusing to leave their homes, their land, their rice fields and crops. And activists and ordinary Koreans have come to help, rebuilding and bringing life and art into the homes that been abandoned. Many have been there over a year to help in the struggle and share the strength and the faith of the villagers. Many villagers have been through this struggle before-- during WWII they were forceably removed from their land to create a Japanese military base, and again in 1953 to create Camp Humphreys. This time, the people of Daechuri do not fight alone.
Key dates:
+ end of August: South Korean government plans to forcibly evict the peace defenders who
now occupy abandoned homes in Daechuri.
+ September 24: International Peace March for Pyeongtaek attended by 100,000 defenders of
peace from around the world in Seoul, South Korea.
+ September 23: Solidarity Candlelight Vigils in the US.
+ Oct/Nov: final eviction of villagers.
This is a struggle to defend peoples homes, communities, and lives, which are more important than the 27 hole golf course and indoor swimming pool that are part of the base expansion plan.
This is a struggle to stop the US imperialism and military hegemony that plagues not only the Korean peninsula, but also the Philippines, Palestine, and Iraq.
Join us in the struggle.
Pan-S.Korean Solution Committee Against U.S. Base Extension in Pyeongtaek (KCPT) and Korean Americans Against War and Neoliberalism (KAWAN) - Pyeongtaek-US Committee. [There are approximately 140 organizations in KCPT, including farmers, labor and other civil society organizations. KCPT organized the 1st
Pyeongtaek Peace March, held on July 10, 2005 and has continued to raise awareness regarding the dangers of the expansion of the U.S. Military Base in Pyeongtaek by highlighting the effects of the plan on the community as well as regional security.]
U.S. Pyeongtaek Committee Coordinator Contact: Kisuk Yom yomkisuk@yahoo.com
But the people of Pyongtaek have taken a stand, to defend their homes in the name of self-determination and peace.
On Saturday, August 12 a group of Korean American activists were able to sneak past the military checkpoints surrounding the village of Daechuri and spend the day learning about the fight to defend Pyeongtaek and what we can do to help. What we saw was the aftermath of destruction and violence after 15,000 police and hired thugs were sent into the village by the South Korean government in May to destroy the primary school built by the villagers own hands; a once peaceful farming community now completely ringed by barbed wire; once lush
rice fields now choking in dust after the government cut off the water supply; a permanent police and military presence installed to create an atmosphere of intimidation.
But the people of Pyeongtaek will not submit. Half of the villagers remain in Daechuri, refusing to leave their homes, their land, their rice fields and crops. And activists and ordinary Koreans have come to help, rebuilding and bringing life and art into the homes that been abandoned. Many have been there over a year to help in the struggle and share the strength and the faith of the villagers. Many villagers have been through this struggle before-- during WWII they were forceably removed from their land to create a Japanese military base, and again in 1953 to create Camp Humphreys. This time, the people of Daechuri do not fight alone.
Key dates:
+ end of August: South Korean government plans to forcibly evict the peace defenders who
now occupy abandoned homes in Daechuri.
+ September 24: International Peace March for Pyeongtaek attended by 100,000 defenders of
peace from around the world in Seoul, South Korea.
+ September 23: Solidarity Candlelight Vigils in the US.
+ Oct/Nov: final eviction of villagers.
This is a struggle to defend peoples homes, communities, and lives, which are more important than the 27 hole golf course and indoor swimming pool that are part of the base expansion plan.
This is a struggle to stop the US imperialism and military hegemony that plagues not only the Korean peninsula, but also the Philippines, Palestine, and Iraq.
Join us in the struggle.
Pan-S.Korean Solution Committee Against U.S. Base Extension in Pyeongtaek (KCPT) and Korean Americans Against War and Neoliberalism (KAWAN) - Pyeongtaek-US Committee. [There are approximately 140 organizations in KCPT, including farmers, labor and other civil society organizations. KCPT organized the 1st
Pyeongtaek Peace March, held on July 10, 2005 and has continued to raise awareness regarding the dangers of the expansion of the U.S. Military Base in Pyeongtaek by highlighting the effects of the plan on the community as well as regional security.]
U.S. Pyeongtaek Committee Coordinator Contact: Kisuk Yom yomkisuk@yahoo.com
posted by downdownfta at 8:06 AM
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