Dear Renaissance Network, It is kind of fun to deride the Bush administration as I did with the "Patriotic Stupor" message of March 8. And fun will help keep us going. But, of course, this war is not fun at all. The messages below will help us feel what it would be like to live in or near to one of the countries that has been labeled "evil" and therefore is a likely target for U$ attack. May our empathy for our sisters and brothers who are being attacked with weapons our taxes have purchased spur us to success. ...May we find ways to dry up the resource-flows that allow this war to continue. May we find ways to get the truth out, to stop the killing. May we make our communities stronger and stronger so that we need no longer rely on this criminal economic system for essentials like food, energy supplies, etc. all the best, Jan (and thanks to all of you, who contribute to these efforts!) *********************************************** From: "Carolyn Langdon" <•••@••.•••> Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:31:50 -0500 Subject: [VOWBoard] KOREAN WOMEN STATEMENT ON BUSH VISIT - A must read! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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(•••@••.•••) ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carolyn Langdon STLC Forum 27 Front St. E. Toronto, ON (416)366-1656 x274 www.stlc.com/forums.htm ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> From: "Bruna Nota" <•••@••.•••> Subject: What Happened during Bush visit in Seul Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 10:21:51 -0500 2002-03-05 Friends, Gyung-Lan Jung just sent me this note. I am forwarding it to all of you for your information and possible action to express sympathy and support to Hyun-Sook Lee and Women Making Peace. You can send your notes to Gyung-Lan Jung <•••@••.•••> Peace, Bruna 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 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. Bruna If you want peace, live peace, prepare for peace and work for justice NOTE from Jan: Here is the reply (to my message of support) that Gyung-Lan Jung sent me: From: Gyung-Lan Jung <•••@••.•••> Subject: Re: Women Making Peace To: Jan Slakov <•••@••.•••> Cc: •••@••.•••, •••@••.••• Dear Jan Slakov, Thank you for your message. I will send your sympathy to Hyun-Sook Lee. Yours in Peace, Gyung-Lan Jung --- Jan Slakov <•••@••.•••> wrote: > Greetings, > > I was saddened to learn of the injuries inflicted on > those demonstrating for > an end to this idiotic war and especially of the > terrible injury inflicted > on Hyun-Sook Lee. > > I wish to extend my sympathy to her and my gratitude > for the work you and > your group do. I hope that we will succeed soon in > bringing and end to this > terrible violence. I hope we will succeed in our > efforts to bring about > peace and justice. > > With gratitude, love, respect and best wishes, Jan > Slakov
