Catherine Christie
The situation in Gangjeong Village in Jeju Island, South Korea is one of my
favourite topics of conversation, so asked to provide a ‘Notebook’ article, I
was delighted.
The week I am writing, the first week of August, Korea is in the midst of a
record-breaking heatwave. This week, in a blistering sun and high humidity,
(even a passing typhoon) many hundreds of people of Gangjeong are on the ‘Grand
Peace March’. On Monday one group started out to the east, another to the west,
walking around the circumference of Jeju Island. Through rural areas and towns,
with waving yellow flags that say “we oppose the naval base”. Meals are prepared
and provided by supportive citizens’ groups in the communities they pass; they
sleep on beaches, in fields or community halls.
Why are they marching? On Saturday they will meet in the capital, Jeju City,
to bring a message of peace, hope and justice to the Island Government. Their
message –“we will not give in to the development of a naval base in our
village”. Gangjeong was a small rural village occupied by fruit farmers and
fishers, and the place the government chose, in 2007, to build a new naval
base. Without legitimate process they made an announcement. Immediately the
people went to court to overturn the decision, but the government, caught up in
the American “Pacific Pivot”, prevailed.
The Grand March is only the most recent action undertaken by the villagers
and their supporters. With great creativity and boldness they have delayed the
building, drawn attention to the rare ecology of the area threatened with
destruction, and built a global peace network of support. And they dance (what
else can I say?) - every night they gather in supportive community.
United Church of Canada is among their supporters as they seek to build,
instead of a place for war, the Gangjeong Peace Institute.