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It was reported that last Saturday(2.24) the final candlelight vigil was held in Daechuri. So it seems that the struggle to save the villages of Daechuri and Doduri is "over"...

But finally, in my opinion, I think that the govt's decision to relocate the USFK base, the decission to force the inhabitans of Daechuri and Doduri out off their homes and field, is - simply said - complete nonsense. You just should read following: Doug Bandow, a former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, wrote few days ago that "Even if GNP wins, U.S. should pull troops out". Read it and you will find out how stupid it was/is to tear down the two villages!!

BTW.. in my opinion the decision to kick out the inhabitans of Daechuri.. was/is an CRIMINAL ACT!!

Ha, and I would not wonder when - at the very end, perhaps in five years or so - the area will be used to build a new finance center or expensive appartment skyscrapers..

Here two reports about the final candlelight vigil in Daechuri:

Daechuri and Doduri, Forever! (VoP, 3.27)

The final candlelights in Daechuri were held up last weekend.

The residents in Daechri and Doduri have had a meeting every day, demanding to stop the Pyeongtaek U.S. base extention, with candlelight since Sep. 1st, 2004.

However, the Korean government kept them in submission by the policemen and soldiers.
The residents in both villages concluded to give up and leave their houses, farms and memories before April at all.

About 400 village keepers and activists who fought with the residents also joined the final candlelight meeting.
They held others' hands and tried to make a smile. But Their eyes were filled with tears.

The minister Han Sangyeol said that he was so sorry that all of the activists failed to stop the U.S. base extention and keep the residents to live in their home.

However, Sin Jongwon the delegation of residents in Daechuri village answered that they could come back to their home because the U.S. troops couldn't stay longer than 10 years.

People put their most valuable things in one big pot would be buried in somewhere in Daechuri village. It means that they would never forget those villages, residents and their struggle. And it also means that they will recover those villages and lands.

http://www.vop.co.kr/english/news_view_eng.html?serial=67568

Last candlelight vigil in Daechuri, but the fight against base expansion goes on (Days in Daechuri, 3.27)

Daechuri residents held their last candlelight vigil on March 24. Saturday's vigil was the 935th since the villagers began the nightly gathering to protest their expulsion from their land. Last month, villagers were forced into an “agreement” to leave their land by the end of March. (see previous articles).

 
Several hundred supporters came to Daechuri for the last vigil, to honor the residents' struggle and continue the fight against the base expansion. During the vigil, residents celebrated and remembered their village and the amazing community that has grown to fight alongside them, and denounced and mourned the impending destruction of their homes. The mood was not the satisfaction and peaceful resolution that has been presented in the mass media. When the vigil ended with a long wordless shout, as it has every night for two and a half years, the shout lasted much longer than usual, and some residents and supporters cried when it finally ended.

Residents expect to actually leave sometime in April. They will stay in temporary housing until their new homes, in a new village, are ready. One of the villagers' main demands, once they accepted the governments' final ultimatum to leave or be forced out with nothing, was to be able to live together in a new village.

Some activists who have made Daechuri and neighboring Doduri their homes will continue to live in the villages. These activists have the support of Daechuri villagers and will continue their fight against the base expansion. The activists, and supporters from around Korea, will hold their third meeting in Daechuri on Saturday, April 7. The KCPT coalition of Korean social movements will also continue to oppose the base expansion.

http://saveptfarmers.org/blog/2007/03/last_candlelight_vigil_in_daec.html