International support and solidarity to the struggle for checking the expansion

of the US military base in Pyeongtaek called for

Now the struggle for checking the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek is intensified in south Korea.

The south Korean protestors attached handkerchiefs written “Opposition to the expansion of the US military base” to wire entanglement, saying this entanglement must be installed in White House to confine Bush not here while staging anti-US and anti-war demonstration in front of the US military base in Pyeongtaek. In addition, the protestors set fire to the paddy field around the military base in token of protest. Thus, fire trucks were busy to extinguish fire.

Prominent figures from all walks of life including the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification, the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and many civic organizations stressed through their statements that the US military base is the cancer cells and is real axis of evil and go to the US as the south Koreans cannot offer even one pyeong (3.3 square meters) of land in Pyeongtaek. Religionists from four religious organizations including Protestantism and Buddhism declared that they would launch 1,000-day prayer campaign for peace to prevent war from November 27, 2005.

The All-People Measure Committee for Checking the Expansion of the US Military Base in Pyeongtaek composed of 115 civic organizations made public a statement, noting that any US threat and appeasement do not work on with the south Korean people and they would make do-or-die resistance to defend the land. The second grand march for peace was held in Pyeongtaek on December 11 last year with the participation of 5, 000 people from across south Korea and peace activists from several countries. The participators chanted slogans such as “Let us defend land of life,” “Let us till the land here,” “Let us respond the expansion of the US military base that disturbs peace on the Korean Peninsula and forced offering of the land that threatens the people’s right to live with intensive struggle,” and “Let us drive out the Us troops.” They clarified that they would make efforts to achieve victory in checking the expansion of the US military base in Pyeongtaek by successfully opening the third grand march for peace on forthcoming February 12.

Saying that January 14, 2006 will be 500 days since Pyeongtaek residents staged candlelight demonstration against the expansion of the US military base, peace activists from several countries proclaimed that they would set the day as world joint action day and would stage demonstrations in front of the US and south Korean embassies to protest against the expansion of the US military base in their residential countries. In addition, they would call for the peace organizations of the world to turn out in the struggle.

“Strong opposition to the expansion of the US military bases in south Korea!”

It is quite natural that the south Korean and world progressive people chant the righteous slogan. This is the way of securing peace on the Korean Peninsula and world.