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It’s as if war is being declared on the people of Jeju Island. The day before a hearing on a stoppage to naval base construction on the island, the blasting of Gureombi Rocks began. Intense blasting continued yesterday before the delayed secondary hearing. The national government has disregarded the thoughts of the people and government of Jeju, as well as the law and common sense.
To local residents, such a government and military are no more than oppressive, pillaging occupiers. They are reminiscent of the military authorities at the time of the April 3 struggle, a massacre that took place in 1948 in Jeju.
Two points of contention exist between Jeju Island and the navy. The first is whether two 150,000-tonne-class cruise ships can berth simultaneously at the base, and the second is whether the decision to change the jetty from a fixed type to a movable type will be approved. If Jeju had undergone the technical investigation by the Prime Minister’s Office and had a request for re-investigation accepted, this dispute could have been avoided. Since the government conducted the investigation as it pleased, and the military is forcibly proceeding with construction as it pleases, Jeju Island is now exercising the little authority it has by ordering a halt to construction.
According to the original plans for the base, two cruise ships cannot safely berth at the same time. This is not an issue that can be resolved just by changing the fixed water breaker to a movable one. This is probably why the government and the military are destroying Gureombi Rocks and avoiding a reinvestigation.
Jeju Island’s provincial government holds local maritime legal authority, as mandated by the national government. As such, Jeju authorities can approve or halt construction taking place on these waters. The construction of a combined civilian-military port at Gangjeong was agreed on by both the central and Jeju provincial governments.
It is therefore absurd for the investigation to be carried out solely by the national government. If the Jeju provincial government’s requests for an investigation were denied, it is natural that it has ordered a halt to construction.
The central government has responded crudely and naively. It is trying to avoid a legal battle by destroying the planned construction beyond recognition. If Jeju provincial government issues an order to halt the construction, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs will cancel Jeju’s authority. If Jeju files a lawsuit, the military will destroy Gureombi Rocks completely. Exactly the same thing happened with the Four Rivers project.
It is unclear whether such illegal acts and dirty tricks will be accepted this time. The objects of the government‘s actions are the people of Jeju, who have deep historical scars and sorrows. Let us hope that the government stops construction and consents to a reinvestigation before an order to halt work is issued. |