By Jun Tae-il Labor Movement Institute

“Play, play, Gangjeong -- Peace Concert” on 3 September with 'Airplane of Peace' and 'Buses of Peace'

On 3 September, an ‘Airplane of Peace’ carrying 300 people from the mainland and 22 ‘Buses of Peace’ from other villages of Jeju Island gathered in the Gangjeong Stream Stadium for “Play, play, Gangjeong -- Peace Concert” and kept the peace in Gangjeong Village through non-violent, peaceful actions. Around 2,000 people urged cessation of construction of the base by holding cultural events.

All participants from all over the country from all parts of the society flew to Gangjeong Village in Seogwipo city by plane and bus cried out in chorus for peace.

The police that had raided the village at the dawn of 2 September 2011 to fence around the Jungdeok Junction in order prevent people from accessing the coast sealed the village during the event as if it had been under martial law. Nevertheless, the Gangjeong villagers, the other villagers in Jeju Island and the Peace Plane participants successfully completed the event.

Politicians who joined the event made a promise to conduct parliamentary inspection about the construction of the naval base at Gangjeong. Although the Gureombi Coast symbolic of Gangjeong village was blocked by the fence, it remained in the hearts of Gangjeong villagers.

Below are pictures of Gangjeong village and “Play, play, Gangjeong -- Peace Concert”.

Participants to the event “Play, play, Gangjeong -- Peace Concert”, confronting policemen who blocked people from marching around the entrance of the Gangjeong Stream Stadium.

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