STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
14 March 2012 at 18:03
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
WITH THE PEOPLE OF JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
From Philippine Women Network for Peace and Security (PWNPS)
The Philippine Women’s Network for Peace and Security (PWNPS), a network of non-profit human rights and feminist organizations in the Philippines, stands in solidarity with the people of Jeju Island, South Korea, who are struggling to keep their island free from the ongoing efforts to establish a U.S. Naval Base in their beautiful and peaceful island. It has been reported in South Korean media that the proposed Navy base will be a port-of-call for U.S. warships including Aegis destroyers (outfitted with "missile defense" systems), aircraft carriers, and nuclear submarines. The Navy base would be 300 miles from the Chinese mainland.
We stand in solidarity with the Veterans for Peace who will be sending a delegation on March 13, 2012, as announced by the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space and with all movements from many parts of the world who continue to take on the struggle of the Gangjeong Village as their own. Many. The courageous non-violent resistance of the people of Gangjeong Village people and their supporters is indeed an inspiration to many of us who have similar struggles and campaigns.
The continuing struggle of the Jeju island people that is now growing in strength with international support, serves as an inspiration for all peace-loving peoples of the world, as the PWNPS finds a common ground on which to link arms the Filipino people’s struggle to banish the presence of U.S. military in our country. Recent reports have confirmed the plan of the U.S. government in consonance with the Philippine government, to expand its “bases access” as part of the ongoing expansion of the U.S. in the Asia Pacific region.
Glan, General Santos province in Mindanao, is one of the sites in Mindanao with a Coast Watch Station, a facility equipped with radars and communication gadgets, among others, meant for intelligence gathering against threat groups both at sea and in land. There are three Coast Watch Stations now in Sarangani through the towns of Glan, Kiamba and Maitum. (Source: http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/02/29/sarangani-agrees-to-host-mid-year-ph-us-naval-exercises/#.T07ogh36RnA.facebook)
The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) has allowed the continuing presence of U.S. military personnel and the constant “visits” and “exercises” in Philippine soil after the formal departure of the U.S. bases in the country. This is in flagrant violation of the Philippine Constitution which prohibits the presence of foreign bases in the country and nuclear facilities. The quibbling over “access” versus “basing” continues to be a doublespeak.
The presence of U.S. military in the country has spawned numerous social, economic, political and even environmental issues. The legacy of toxic wastes in the former Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base continues to haunt communities where illnesses and deaths directly traced to the contamination are borne by the people. The US presence in our shores for almost a century have also deep implications in the lives and future of children who suffer the consequences of sexual abuse, violence and short term/casual sexual encounters that has become so much a part of the military environment and culture. Fifty thousand Filipino Amerasian children remains a demonstration of blatant neglect and injustice that continues till today.
The PWNPS stand firmly on the principles of non-aggression and sovereignty of democratic nations. We stand for the people of Jeju Island, and oppose any plans for any military intrusion of any form in the island and elsewhere in the entire Asia Pacific.
Ref: PWNPS
Email address:admin@wedprophils.org (Secretariat)
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