Maehyang-ri and Vieques

Korea International War Crimes Tribunal, June 23, 2001, New York
Report on US Crimes in Korea 1945-2001

23. Maehyang-ri and Vieques

Korea Koonni

Korea Progressive Network (jinbonet)

The May 8 incident in Maehyang-ri brought the U.S. military bombing range into Korean society's and international attention, just as the April 19, 1999 "incident" in Vieques, Puerto Rico, drew attention of the U.S. society and international media to the suffering of the over 9,400 residents of Vieques.

There are many similarities between Maehyang-ri and Vieques. At the same time there are some important differences. They are both dramatic examples of plight of local people under the devastating impact of the endless bombing and firing. They are where the military prowess of the U.S. is horned to maintain its supreme preeminent status in the world. In the process, the U.S. Armed Forces -- Navy in Vieques and Air Force in Maehyang-ri -- the rights and livelihood of the village people living near the bombing and firing training range are just ignored. The impunity with which the U.S. continues to ignore the rights and livelihood of the people have, in both Maehyang-ri and Vieques, given rise to a clear perception and understanding of the dominating status the U.S. has in each country.

Maehyang-ri and Vieques - A Comparison

	Maehyang-ri	Vieques
Area Size	23.7 sq. kilometers	3.55 sq. kilometers
Residents	3,200	9,400
Casualties	12 dead, 13 injured, 32 committed suicide	1 dead, 4 injured
Method of Appropriation	U.S. Air Force is using the land and facilities of the range for free, without any rent, since1952, on the basis of the SOFA agreement which obligate the Korean government to "grant" 'areas' and 'facilities' to the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea for free.	U.S. "purchased" the land in a compulsory expropriation on the basis of a special law.
Residents' Demands	Immediate closure of the range and reparation of and compensation for the damages to livelihood, violation of human rights, and destruction of environment and ecology.	Immediate closure of the range and reparation of and compensation for the damages to livelihood, violation of human rights, and destruction of environment ecology.
US Response	Rejects the residents' claims and demands, and asserts that, even if there is liability, it is exempted from it by the SOFA agreement, and that it is a matter for the Korean government.	President Clinton "offered" -- on the basis of the recommendation of a Special Panel -- to provide 40 million dollar economic assistance, resume bombing at a reduced rate, allow the residents to hold a referendum to decide whether to call for the closure of the range by 2003. If the residents vote to maintain the range, Vieques will be offered additional 50 million dollars in economic aid.

Unlike Vieques, where the U.S. government responded -- even if in a deceitful and manipulating way -- promptly to the demands and actions of the village people and other groups involved in the issue, the U.S. continues to reject even to consider the situation. The U.S. President Clinton himself made statements about the situation, a body was set up to review the situation, and a proposal to remove the range by 2003 and offer of a compensation of 40 million dollars is being aired. The Vieques people rejected this "offer" claiming that it is merely a stalling tactic and overt bribe which may pave the way for the U.S. Navy to resume its usual habit of flouting agreements (as it did with the 1983 "memorandum of understanding").

In Korea, however, the U.S. continues a campaign of silence, disregard, and arrogance. It denies that there are any damages, or that people have legitimate claim, or that it has any responsibility. The truth is that, even if some damages are caused by the U.S. Armed Forces, it is not liable to provide compensation or reparation, because the "agreement" between the U.S. and Korea defining the status of the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea, relieves the U.S. of any responsibility or liability. In both Maehyang-ri and Vieques, the U.S. military refuses to recognise its liability and responsibility to restore the damages to and destruction of environment and ecology.

Second class citizens: colonial treatment

One significant difference lies in that people of Vieques is, as a part of Puerto Rico, regarded as citizens of equal right under the U.S. law and institutions. As a result, the U.S. laws concerning environment and other issues can be applied to the U.S. Navy practices. The problem lies in that the people of Vieques and Puerto Rico as a whole are treated as second class citizens. On the other hand, people of Maehyang-ri are deprived of the recourse to the Korean laws and institutions to assert their rights, because the behaviour of the U.S. military is off limits for the Korean laws on the basis of the circumvention of the Korean authority under the special arrangement of the Status of Forces Agreement.

The similarity in the difference, however, is the “old” tactic of presenting a "plan" to do something by some date in future. People in Maehyang-ri and Vieques know very well that "future date" does not ever come. Another tactic, of course, is to present a proposal that divides the people, and use the division as an excuse for not doing anything, and continuing on with the bombing.

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