[1562] in peace2
Fwd: KOREAN WOMEN STATEMENTS ON BUSH VISIT - A must read!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Farnaz Haghseta)
Tue Mar 12 00:35:30 2002
Message-Id: <5.0.2.1.2.20020312002330.00a62150@hesiod>
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 00:33:32 -5300
To: peace-announce@mit.edu
From: Farnaz Haghseta <farnaz@MIT.EDU>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="=====================_4830325==_.ALT"
--=====================_4830325==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> From: Gyung-Lan Jung <jglan21@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Women Making Peace
>
> March 5, 2002
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> Greetings from Seoul!
>
> I would like to inform you of what happended to some activists during a
> street demonstration against Bush policies at the time of his visit to
> South
> Korea. Many friends abroad have been wondering what is going on in
> South
> Korea and especially about the activities of Women Making Peace(WMP)
> with
> respect to our campaign for peace at this time of heightened war
> tension
> caused by Bush.
>
> I put some outline of events during Bush's visit and Ms. Hyun-Sook
> Lee's
> injury and so on. Ms. Hyun-Sook Lee is a co-representative of Women
> Making
> Peace.
>
> In Solidarity,
>
> Gyung-Lan Jung
> Women Making Peace
> jglan21@yahoo.com
>
> 1. An outline of events
>
> The members of WMP have carried on a variety of demonstrations and
> programs
> against war and violence since 911. We have raised the people's
> awareness of
> issues, their conviction against war, and
> their desire for lasting peace. We have promoted sending messages of
> this
> stand to President Bush and President Kim.
>
> After Bush declared North Korea to be part of an "axis of evil" and
> used
> other inflammatory rhetoric
> interpreted by North Korea as insulting, we, South Koreans, have felt
> uneasy
> about the increased possibility of war on the Korean peninsula. The
> general
> level of anger and frustration with Bush and his
> administration is on the rise because of Washington's disregard for the
> hazards thrust upon us. WMP has declared its position and carried out
> daily
> one-person demonstrations prior to Bush's visit. (Korean
> regulations prohibit mass demonstrations near foreign embassies and
> other
> locations.) We also joined in
> planning and holding a mass open-air demonstration held with other
> NGOs,
> civic leaders, and church people during the Bush visit.
>
> On February 20, 2002, Chongno-4ga (the name of a street) was filled
> with
> over 6,000 citizens including women, laborers, farmers and students.
> (Some
> students were prevented from joining by police.)
> People from environmental, reunification, religious, and other
> organizations
> from all over the country were there. The participants proclaimed
> themselves
> adamantly against war and in favor of a permanent peace. They called on
> Bush
> to revoke his hostile stance toward the North. They declared opposition
> to
> an unequal world order based on neoliberalism and globalization. They
> objected to Bush's very visit to
> South Korea. This public gathering proceeded peacefully as a lawful
> demonstration permitted by the
> government. Women especially elevated the peaceful mood by sitting at
> the
> front of the stage with colorful dove-shaped pickets. (It was so
> beautiful!)
>
> However, all of a sudden, the police came into the crowd of
> demonstrators
> when farmers were about to burn a small American flag made of paper.
> This
> action by the farmers was not part of the planned
> program, but the problem was the aggressive and violent action of the
> police. They hit participants with their shields and billy clubs. A few
> excited participants began to resist them, and the meeting
> fell into disorder.
>
> 2. On the injury of Hyun-sook Lee
>
> Due to the violent and excessive action of the police, some
> participants
> were injured and bleeding. One of them was Hyun-sook Lee, a
> co-representative of WMP. She was beaten by police. Her glasses were
> broken,
> and she was bruised. Furthermore, she was seriously hurt on the left
> side of
> her face by something unknown. Members of WMP were very shocked by the
> blood
> that followed and took her to the
> emergency ward of a general hospital. She had over 50 stitches taken in
> the
> wound, a procedure
> lasting 40 minutes.
>
> 3. Following events
>
> Reports on Lee's injury were carried by MBC (a major broadcaster in
> Korea)
> and Ohmynews (a web-based newspaper, www.ohmynews.com) among others.
> The
> press criticized the violent action of
> the police.
>
> Women Making Peace declaimed this violent action by those responsible
> for
> the well-being and safety of the people. They have called for just
> punishment of the guilty given the breach of security due peaceful and
> lawful demonstrators. WMP and other organizations visited Seoul police
> headquarters to meet the Seoul Chief of Police, but were denied access.
>
> We, Women Making Peace, deplore the handling of this incident. We don't
> want
> any violence. We will continue to press for redress, and we will
> continue
> our efforts for peace through campaigns,
> statements, and nonviolent representation of our views.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by Women Making Peace and Women's Peace
Action against War
following U.S. President Bush's hard-line rhetoric
directed at North Korea
February 7, 2002
Seoul, Korea
We absolutely cannot accept words threatening war on
the Korean peninsula.
Last year when President Bush declared war on
Afghanistan, he demanded that every nation stand on
his side. President Bush has now announced the second
stage of the war on terrorism. In doing so he has
called North Korea, Iran and Iraq an axis of evil with
an implied threat of war on the Korean peninsula. A
sensation of fear and anxiety is upon us.
The U.S administrations hard-line rhetoric directed at
North Korea is a threat to Koreans who have worked so
hard for peace and peaceful reunification on the
Korean peninsula.
Bush's pronouncement has come at a point in time when
many active non-governmental exchanges have been
revived among South Koreans and North Koreans,
building again a spirit of trust between the South and
the North. This also occurs just ahead of the South
KoreaU.S Summit in February. Bush's words mean that
South Korea-North Korea and North Korea-U.S relations
are not going to be easy. Furthermore, dividing the
world into two parts of good and evil and increasing
the likelihood of military arms deployment throw the
world into a semi-war state. We women, who have
suffered militarism, are greatly worried that physical
and mental violence coming from militarism can
devastate the world and humankind. Therefore, we women
for the sake of peace and security on the Korean
peninsula and moreover for a peaceful world, make
known our demands as follows:
First, we strongly protest Bush's promotion of an
atmosphere of war and creation of a pervasive sense of
terror while seeking to gain hegemony. We demand that
Bush renounce his bellicose words.
Second, we reject any kind of military action that
increases tension and conflict on the Korean
peninsula. We women know from experience that military
action brings violence around the world and amplifies
it towards women, children and innocent civilians.
Also growing tension and military action will surely
ruin the whole economy on the Korean peninsula. There
have been talks between North Korea and the U.S. about restraining the
spread of weapons of mass destruction. We women urge the U.S to solve
problems by continuing to talk and negotiate with North Korea, not
through military action.
Third, we insist that the U.S stop forcing arms
purchases and cease using alleged threats from North
Korea as an excuse to justify Missile Defence(M.D.)
program. We are deeply concerned about the U.S. M.D.
U.S. talk of M.D. has built up tension in Northeast
Asia and also made an arms race a near certainty.
North Korea has expressed its moratorium on missile
tests until 2003. In the wake of 9/11, North Korea
condemned the terrorist attacks and signed several key
UN antiterrorism pacts. We women sincerely urge that
advanced science, technology, and huge material
resources rather than being used to hasten hostile
military confrontations be employed to improve the
welfare, human rights, and environmental conditions of
the weak.
Fourth, we request that the Kim Dae Jung
administration protest and clearly draw back from
hostile U.S. policy targeting North Korea. South
Korea, which has maintained a military alliance with
the U.S., requires skillful political leadership in
carrying out a peaceful reunification process with
North Korea. How can South Korea now accept seeing
North Korea become a target of war in U.S. sights?
This is an issue entwined in our livelihoods and our
very lives. We women insist that the South Korean
Government be the driving force behind a
Reconciliation and Cooperation Policy and that it
carry out the Policy with positive action and wisdom.
Fifth, the press must realize that this crisis is
directly connected with the fate of our nation and the
people. We plead that this matter be carefully dealt
with in order to serve the national interest and to
promote peace on the Korean peninsula.
Lastly, we fervently hope that students, politicians,
religious leaders, Women's Organizations, and Peace Organizations in
the
U.S. will take steps to halt the spread of war rhetoric and the threat
of military action. With them and all the peace-loving women and
people
in the world we may strongly oppose war together. We promise to
continue our efforts to uphold and keep peace. We also declare that
sustaining peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential to maintaining
and
advancing the peace of the world.
Living together in harmony is the imperative choice
for our world.
Women Making Peace
Women's Peace Action against War.
Korea Women's Associations United
Kyungki Korea Women's Associations United, Kwangju and
Chonnam Korea Women's Associations United, Taegu and
Kyungbuk Korea Women's Associations United, Pusan
Korea Women's Associations United, Chonbuk Korea
Women's Associations United, Kyungnam Women United,
Christian Women Minjung Association, Taegu Women's
Association, Taejon Women's Association, Pusan Sexual
Violence Counseling Center, Pusan Women's Social
Institute, Korean Catholic Women Association,
Aaewoomtuh, Suwon Women's Association, Korean Women's
Center For Social Research, Ulsan Women's Association,
Korean Women Farmers Association, Cheju Women's
Association, Chonbuk Women's Association, Pohang
Women's Association, Korea Daycare Center Teacher's Association, Korea
Sexual Violence Relief Center, Korea Women Worker Association, Women
Link, Korean Women's Studies Institute, Korean Women Theologian
Association, Korean Women's Hot Line, Korean Differently Abled Women's
United, Taegu Housewives Association For Environment Korean Catholic
Women's Community for a New World My Sister's Place Peace Mother The
Korean Council For the Women Drafed for Military Sexual Slavery by
Japan
Korean Church Women United Committee of Women, Korean Federation for
Environment Movement
Contact Point: Gyung-Lan Jung(jglan21@yahoo.com)
--=====================_4830325==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
<html>
> From: Gyung-Lan Jung
<<font color="#0000FF"><u>jglan21@yahoo.com</u></font>> <br>
> Subject: Re: Women Making Peace <br>
> <br>
> March 5, 2002<br>
> <br>
> Dear Friends,<br>
> <br>
> Greetings from Seoul!<br>
> <br>
> I would like to inform you of what happended to some activists
during a<br>
> street demonstration against Bush policies at the time of his visit
to <br>
> South<br>
> Korea. Many friends abroad have been wondering what is going on in
<br>
> South<br>
> Korea and especially about the activities of Women Making Peace(WMP)
<br>
> with<br>
> respect to our campaign for peace at this time of heightened war
<br>
> tension<br>
> caused by Bush. <br>
> <br>
> I put some outline of events during Bush's visit and Ms. Hyun-Sook
<br>
> Lee's<br>
> injury and so on. Ms. Hyun-Sook Lee is a co-representative of Women
<br>
> Making<br>
> Peace.<br>
> <br>
> In Solidarity,<br>
> <br>
> Gyung-Lan Jung<br>
> Women Making Peace<br>
> jglan21@yahoo.com<br>
> <br>
> 1. An outline of events<br>
> <br>
> The members of WMP have carried on a variety of demonstrations and
<br>
> programs<br>
> against war and violence since 911. We have raised the people's
<br>
> awareness of<br>
> issues, their conviction against war, and<br>
> their desire for lasting peace. We have promoted sending messages of
<br>
> this<br>
> stand to President Bush and President Kim.<br>
> <br>
> After Bush declared North Korea to be part of an "axis of
evil" and <br>
> used<br>
> other inflammatory rhetoric<br>
> interpreted by North Korea as insulting, we, South Koreans, have
felt <br>
> uneasy<br>
> about the increased possibility of war on the Korean peninsula. The
<br>
> general<br>
> level of anger and frustration with Bush and his<br>
> administration is on the rise because of Washington's disregard for
the<br>
> hazards thrust upon us. WMP has declared its position and carried
out <br>
> daily<br>
> one-person demonstrations prior to Bush's visit. (Korean<br>
> regulations prohibit mass demonstrations near foreign embassies and
<br>
> other<br>
> locations.) We also joined in <br>
> planning and holding a mass open-air demonstration held with other
<br>
> NGOs,<br>
> civic leaders, and church people during the Bush visit.<br>
> <br>
> On February 20, 2002, Chongno-4ga (the name of a street) was filled
<br>
> with<br>
> over 6,000 citizens including women, laborers, farmers and students.
<br>
> (Some<br>
> students were prevented from joining by police.)<br>
> People from environmental, reunification, religious, and other
<br>
> organizations<br>
> from all over the country were there. The participants proclaimed
<br>
> themselves<br>
> adamantly against war and in favor of a permanent peace. They called
on <br>
> Bush<br>
> to revoke his hostile stance toward the North. They declared
opposition <br>
> to<br>
> an unequal world order based on neoliberalism and globalization.
They<br>
> objected to Bush's very visit to<br>
> South Korea. This public gathering proceeded peacefully as a
lawful<br>
> demonstration permitted by the <br>
> government. Women especially elevated the peaceful mood by sitting
at <br>
> the<br>
> front of the stage with colorful dove-shaped pickets. (It was so
<br>
> beautiful!)<br>
> <br>
> However, all of a sudden, the police came into the crowd of <br>
> demonstrators<br>
> when farmers were about to burn a small American flag made of paper.
<br>
> This<br>
> action by the farmers was not part of the planned<br>
> program, but the problem was the aggressive and violent action of
the<br>
> police. They hit participants with their shields and billy clubs. A
few<br>
> excited participants began to resist them, and the meeting<br>
> fell into disorder.<br>
> <br>
> 2. On the injury of Hyun-sook Lee<br>
> <br>
> Due to the violent and excessive action of the police, some <br>
> participants<br>
> were injured and bleeding. One of them was Hyun-sook Lee, a<br>
> co-representative of WMP. She was beaten by police. Her glasses were
<br>
> broken,<br>
> and she was bruised. Furthermore, she was seriously hurt on the left
<br>
> side of<br>
> her face by something unknown. Members of WMP were very shocked by
the <br>
> blood<br>
> that followed and took her to the<br>
> emergency ward of a general hospital. She had over 50 stitches taken
in <br>
> the<br>
> wound, a procedure <br>
> lasting 40 minutes.<br>
> <br>
> 3. Following events<br>
> <br>
> Reports on Lee's injury were carried by MBC (a major broadcaster in
<br>
> Korea)<br>
> and Ohmynews (a web-based newspaper, www.ohmynews.com) among others.
<br>
> The<br>
> press criticized the violent action of<br>
> the police.<br>
> <br>
> Women Making Peace declaimed this violent action by those
responsible <br>
> for<br>
> the well-being and safety of the people. They have called for
just<br>
> punishment of the guilty given the breach of security due peaceful
and<br>
> lawful demonstrators. WMP and other organizations visited Seoul
police<br>
> headquarters to meet the Seoul Chief of Police, but were denied
access.<br>
> <br>
> We, Women Making Peace, deplore the handling of this incident. We
don't <br>
> want<br>
> any violence. We will continue to press for redress, and we will
<br>
> continue<br>
> our efforts for peace through campaigns,<br>
> statements, and nonviolent representation of our views.<br>
<br>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>
Statement by Women Making Peace and Women's Peace<br>
Action against War<br>
following U.S. President Bush's hard-line rhetoric<br>
directed at North Korea<br>
<br>
February 7, 2002<br>
Seoul, Korea<br>
<br>
We absolutely cannot accept words threatening war on<br>
the Korean peninsula.<br>
<br>
Last year when President Bush declared war on<br>
Afghanistan, he demanded that every nation stand on<br>
his side. President Bush has now announced the second<br>
stage of the war on terrorism. In doing so he has<br>
called North Korea, Iran and Iraq an axis of evil with<br>
an implied threat of war on the Korean peninsula. A<br>
sensation of fear and anxiety is upon us.<br>
<br>
The U.S administrations hard-line rhetoric directed at<br>
North Korea is a threat to Koreans who have worked so<br>
hard for peace and peaceful reunification on the<br>
Korean peninsula.<br>
<br>
Bush's pronouncement has come at a point in time when<br>
many active non-governmental exchanges have been<br>
revived among South Koreans and North Koreans,<br>
building again a spirit of trust between the South and<br>
the North. This also occurs just ahead of the South<br>
KoreaU.S Summit in February. Bush's words mean that<br>
South Korea-North Korea and North Korea-U.S relations<br>
are not going to be easy. Furthermore, dividing the<br>
world into two parts of good and evil and increasing<br>
the likelihood of military arms deployment throw the<br>
world into a semi-war state. We women, who have<br>
suffered militarism, are greatly worried that physical<br>
and mental violence coming from militarism can<br>
devastate the world and humankind. Therefore, we women<br>
for the sake of peace and security on the Korean<br>
peninsula and moreover for a peaceful world, make<br>
known our demands as follows:<br>
<br>
First, we strongly protest Bush's promotion of an<br>
atmosphere of war and creation of a pervasive sense of<br>
terror while seeking to gain hegemony. We demand that<br>
Bush renounce his bellicose words.<br>
<br>
Second, we reject any kind of military action that<br>
increases tension and conflict on the Korean<br>
peninsula. We women know from experience that military<br>
action brings violence around the world and amplifies<br>
it towards women, children and innocent civilians.<br>
Also growing tension and military action will surely<br>
ruin the whole economy on the Korean peninsula. There<br>
have been talks between North Korea and the U.S. about restraining
the<br>
spread of weapons of mass destruction. We women urge the U.S to
solve<br>
problems by continuing to talk and negotiate with North Korea, not<br>
through military action.<br>
<br>
Third, we insist that the U.S stop forcing arms<br>
purchases and cease using alleged threats from North<br>
Korea as an excuse to justify Missile Defence(M.D.)<br>
program. We are deeply concerned about the U.S. M.D.<br>
U.S. talk of M.D. has built up tension in Northeast<br>
Asia and also made an arms race a near certainty.<br>
North Korea has expressed its moratorium on missile<br>
tests until 2003. In the wake of 9/11, North Korea<br>
condemned the terrorist attacks and signed several key<br>
UN antiterrorism pacts. We women sincerely urge that<br>
advanced science, technology, and huge material<br>
resources rather than being used to hasten hostile<br>
military confrontations be employed to improve the<br>
welfare, human rights, and environmental conditions of<br>
the weak.<br>
<br>
Fourth, we request that the Kim Dae Jung<br>
administration protest and clearly draw back from<br>
hostile U.S. policy targeting North Korea. South<br>
Korea, which has maintained a military alliance with<br>
the U.S., requires skillful political leadership in<br>
carrying out a peaceful reunification process with<br>
North Korea. How can South Korea now accept seeing<br>
North Korea become a target of war in U.S. sights?<br>
This is an issue entwined in our livelihoods and our<br>
very lives. We women insist that the South Korean<br>
Government be the driving force behind a<br>
Reconciliation and Cooperation Policy and that it<br>
carry out the Policy with positive action and wisdom.<br>
<br>
Fifth, the press must realize that this crisis is<br>
directly connected with the fate of our nation and the<br>
people. We plead that this matter be carefully dealt<br>
with in order to serve the national interest and to<br>
promote peace on the Korean peninsula.<br>
<br>
Lastly, we fervently hope that students, politicians,<br>
religious leaders, Women's Organizations, and Peace Organizations in
<br>
the<br>
U.S. will take steps to halt the spread of war rhetoric and the
threat<br>
of military action. With them and all the peace-loving women and
<br>
people<br>
in the world we may strongly oppose war together. We promise
to<br>
continue our efforts to uphold and keep peace. We also declare
that<br>
sustaining peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential to maintaining
<br>
and<br>
advancing the peace of the world.<br>
Living together in harmony is the imperative choice<br>
for our world.<br>
<br>
<br>
Women Making Peace<br>
Women's Peace Action against War.<br>
Korea Women's Associations United<br>
Kyungki Korea Women's Associations United, Kwangju and<br>
Chonnam Korea Women's Associations United, Taegu and<br>
Kyungbuk Korea Women's Associations United, Pusan<br>
Korea Women's Associations United, Chonbuk Korea<br>
Women's Associations United, Kyungnam Women United,<br>
Christian Women Minjung Association, Taegu Women's<br>
Association, Taejon Women's Association, Pusan Sexual<br>
Violence Counseling Center, Pusan Women's Social<br>
Institute, Korean Catholic Women Association,<br>
Aaewoomtuh, Suwon Women's Association, Korean Women's<br>
Center For Social Research, Ulsan Women's Association,<br>
Korean Women Farmers Association, Cheju Women's<br>
Association, Chonbuk Women's Association, Pohang<br>
Women's Association, Korea Daycare Center Teacher's Association,
Korea<br>
Sexual Violence Relief Center, Korea Women Worker Association,
Women<br>
Link, Korean Women's Studies Institute, Korean Women Theologian<br>
Association, Korean Women's Hot Line, Korean Differently Abled
Women's<br>
United, Taegu Housewives Association For Environment Korean
Catholic<br>
Women's Community for a New World My Sister's Place Peace Mother
The<br>
Korean Council For the Women Drafed for Military Sexual Slavery by <br>
Japan<br>
Korean Church Women United Committee of Women, Korean Federation
for<br>
Environment Movement<br>
<br>
Contact Point: Gyung-Lan Jung(jglan21@yahoo.com)<br>
<br>
</html>
--=====================_4830325==_.ALT--
