From: INEB Secretariat <secretariat@inebnetwork.org
The International Network of Engaged Buddhists
A Plea to the Buddhists Worldwide!
Please help protect the
Peace of Gangjung Village on Jeju Island, South Korea
by stopping the village from being a military base
March 25, 2012
We,
the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), along with other
Buddhists in the world who practice the Buddha's golden teaching
against any killing, demand in unity to immediately discontinue the
destruction at Gurumbi Rocks in the Gangjung Village of Jeju, South
Korea, and the indiscreet administrative moves to build a naval base
that started on March 19th 2012.
The Gurumbi
Rocks of Gangjung Village on South Korea's southernmost island of Jeju
are volcanic rocks in a unique coastal region. They form an exceptional
rocky swamp where fresh water comes from deep inside the volcanic
mountain island. Housing numerous rare species, the area has been
renowned worldwide for its supreme ecological value, and thus has won
the triple crown of the world's three most prestigious titles endowed by
UNESCO and one more space: a World Natural Heritage, a World Geological
Park, and a Human and Biosphere Reserve. It was also designated in 2004
as an Absolute Preservation Zone, a title given to the area with the
most extraordinary scenic beauty on Jeju Island.
However,
the South Korean government has decided to build a naval base in this
highly prized ecological region, ignoring due procedures such as
residential agreements and mandatory environmental analysis, while also
illegitimately depriving the region of the pretigous title of Absolute
Preservation Zone. Moreover, when 94% of the residents resisted having
the naval base built in the area, the government forcefully expropriated
their land and started construction with blasting on March 19th.
During
the process, the government broke up the residential community,
disrupted peaceful family gatherings, and arrested hundreds of
dissidents indiscriminately. What is more shocking about the Lee
Myungbak Administration is that they have not given a second thought to
using violent measures to stop non-violent peace activists from
supporting residential efforts to preserve this area.
The
naval base, which is being thrust upon the people under the pretext
that it is a military base against China's advancement, cannot help but
become an outpost of the United States military. Thus, we are heeding
and supporting the opposing stance of Buddhist leaders and lay believers
belonging to Jogye-jong, South Korea's largest Buddhist order, which
has convincingly asserted that the government should not go to war
against the residents of Jeju Island in the present only to prevent
possible conflict in the far future between China and the United States.
In
this interconnected and interdependent world where every being relies
on every other being for existence, as symbolized in Indra's Web from
the Avatamsaka Sutra, the pain of many others will
ultimately become ours. Peace, eventually, should guarantee the
sustenance of life now and in the future. We cannot side with the South
Korean government's stand for building a military base to make an island
of peace, as peace can never be achieved through violent measures. We
strongly call to immediately suspend the construction of the naval base
in Gangjung Village and the destruction of Gurumbi Rocks, a precious
ecological preservation zone.
Ø Please send your appeals to the South Korean government and navy:
South Korean Navy : http://navy.mil.kr/english/main/main.jsp
Prime Minister’s Office: http://eng.pmo.go.kr/pmo_eng/main/
Ø Please send supporting mail to the protesters at: peacefly@hanmail.net
Ø For further inquiries and support, contact INEB’s local South Korean members at:
Ø List & Signature of Surpport Person or Group
Secretariat Office:
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
666 Charoen Nakorn Road, Banglumpoo Lang,
Klongsan, Bangkok 10600 Siam (Thailand)
Mobile : (+66 8) 1803 6442
secretariat@inebnetwork.org
www.inebnetwork.org
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