ADDRESS OF GENERAL SECRETARY AT
PEACE FOR LIFE FORUM
GANGJEONG VILLAGE
Oct. 25, 2013
장소 : 제주도 4.3 기념관
일시 : 2013 년 10 월 25 일
I bring you warm greetings and express my pleasure at the invitation to speak to this Forum. My name is Bae Tae Jin. I am a Minister of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, elected to be General Secretary of the PROK General Assembly in 2008, and delegate of my church at the coming WCC 10thGeneral Assembly in Busan.
Our church has long stood for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. With this as our value, we stand in strong solidarity with the people of Gangjeong Village. We see the situation at Gangjeong Village as a part of a dangerous pattern carried out by our South Korean government in its partnership with the American aggressor in SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement). This pattern destroys our rural villages and our peoples’ way of life, for instance in Pyongtaek, where the rural village was taken over to build a huge new American military base; it leads to hostile relations with our sisters and brothers of North Korea, when ROK and US carry out aggressive military exercises including simulating invasion and takeover of DPRK; and it leads to a disasterous and dangerous arms race in North East Asia. PROK has long called for our government to do its best to stop large-scale military exercises which continue to escalate the crisis in the Korean Peninsula, and to start dialogue and negotiation, build trust and be committed to the realization of a peace regime in the Korean Peninsula.
PROK seeks a just and peaceful reunification of Korea. In 2010, the 60thanniversary of the beginning of our civilwar, PROK began a global signature campaign calling for there sumption of the 6-party talks with a view to development of a Peace Treaty, which will shape the Korean future. At the WCC General Assembly in Busan, PROK Justice and Peace Committee will be holding a Madang display asking for signatures from people around the world, to press the government toward a new future. We urge the government to engage in unconditional dialogue with the government of North Korea. Our present government has framed many requirements, saying, ‘We will talk when…’ We reject this and want talk to happen.
In addition, of course, because the UN sanctions against North Korea come in response to their account of successful nuclear weapon testing, we hasten to make our demand that denuclearization be mutual. Until nuclear weapons are gone from South Korean soil, and from the arsenals of the Americans, we cannot expect North Korea to lay down its defense system. A peace treaty must contain the principles of the independence and sovereignty of the Korean people, the preservation of its territory, and its ultimate reunification.
In relation to Gangjeong Village, PROK has joined the call of other Christians in a statement from Oct., 2011, for the Government of South Korea to:
1. Immediately stop construction of the naval base;
2. Immediately release from detention imprisoned Gangjeong villagers and peace activists; and
3. Resume (actually initiate) democratic dialogue with Gangjeong villagers. Unfortunately this situation continues, and so does our denunciation of this destruction to life and nature.
We denounce the attitude which has led to the discarding of the Absolute Nature Preserve of this part of the coastline, and is willing to let this beautiful and unique area be destroyed. We are shocked that our government would so disregard the will of its people and trample on the rights of the people of Gangjeong Village, destroying the community and the livelihood of farmers and fishers who have long made this their home in harmony and peace. We call for Jeju Island to be truly designated an Island of Peace, which means that this naval base project must be rejected and the life of this community be allowed to reassert itself. We understand that the people of Gangjeong Village should join their struggle with other peoples’ movements around the world that struggle for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
We rejoice that this Peace for Life Third Peoples’ Forum is being held here, so that the truth about this situation will be spread throughout the membership. Please share the truth of what you have learned widely in your own countries.
There is a song written by Korean songwriter 김문환 – 혼자로는. The English translation – “with my voice alone, there is little I can do. Add your voice to mine, what more can two voices do? If we gather more and more, we become a mighty roar, our voices loud and strong, speaking out against all wrong.” Let us as people of the world stand in solidarity against the Empire of death.
Thank you
[이 게시물은 관리자님에 의해 2016-11-03 21:36:25 총무 칼럼에서 이동 됨]
