Report from Dae-Han Song who is reporting at Save Jeju Island- Twitter/Facebook:
Within the concert in which all the major opposition parties (Korean Democratic Labor Party, Democratic Party, People's Participation Pary, New Progressive Pary, the Creative Korea Party) were present and stated that they will do an indefinite hunger strike. After the concert about 3000 police commandos had arrived from all over the country for an audience of about more than 1000 people. The encampment area was on complete lockdown and people had to sneak in...More from Paco Michelson:
Joyful pungmul (Korean traditional drumming) filled the streets with rows of police and police buses along the road to the concert area. As the pungmul troupe reached the concert area, with awaiting people, the police engaged in a struggle with the troupe, over the use of giant puppet heads representing the traditional characters in Korean drumming that contained bamboo sticks to hold them up...
There was a tussle with the police as the police tried to take away the bamboo sticks. The bamboo stick was shattered and people carried only the mask. However, from a distance I could hear the drumming getting louder as people had managed to get the rest of the puppet heads in. The pangut (involving drummers and audience members) filled the stadium. The halmonee (grandmother) in the middle of the spiral sang Korean songs calling that the village of Gangjung become one of peace, that we respect life and peace. The silver crowns of a halmonee glittered as she grasped for air through a joyful smile....
4:24 PM. The cultural event has started. Most of the sectors of society, farmers, workers, migrant workers, women, youth, students are represented at the event. The assemblymembers of the Korean Democratic Labor Party, the Democratic Party, the People's Participatory Party, and the New Progressive Party were also present at the event. As more people start trailing in to the encampment, parents with children in hand, students, artists, the encampment takes on the spirit of the village.
Jeju fact: had a conversation with a Jeju farmer, he spoke of how Gangjung village resides in some of the best farmland in Jeju. Water is limited in Jeju Island, and Gangjung village is lucky enough to have a stream running through it, which makes its land very good for farming. In Gurombi, the volcanic rock formation next to the sea and also a UNESCO selected site, there is fresh water that emerges from its rock and ecosystems within its holes, crevices, and at sea along its coast. The waters by the coast will be dredged destroying precious sea ecosystems. Farmland and Gurombi will be cemented over to lay the foundation for a naval base putting this village in the middle of a larger geopolitical struggle for power that does not involve it.
I'm too tired to post any details now but the Nolja Nolja Gangjeong Nolja festival was amazing.
It was a complete success and there were so many people both from the village and from everywhere. Even a lot of international people joined. It was really amazing and really what everyone needed...
I almost cried several times when I saw how much the ajumonis (older village women) where enjoying everything and having a good time. We all could have a good time for once. Amazing. Thanks everyone and I wish you could all have been there!
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