Korean bishop rips government over naval base
March 09, 2012
The president of the Korean bishops’ conference is strongly criticizing South Korea’s decision to proceed with the construction of a naval base on the island of Jeju over the objections of local government officials.
“The government is acting like it hasn’t heard and going ahead with what it‘s calling a ‘national project’ but the argument that a project is justified simply because the state is carrying it out is something you would have expected in the era of totalitarianism,” said Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Cheju (Jeju). “In a democratic government, you can even stop or turn back on a national project you’ve started if there is resistance from citizens or objections from a lot of people.”
“It is essential that the naval base plan be abandoned, for the sake of Jeju residents and the whole of the Republic of Korea,” he added.
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Further information:
- Catholic bishop reflects on the tumultuous story of Jeju (Hankyoreh)
- Protests continue against building of South Korean naval base (CNN)
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