Posted July. 31, 2003 21:46,
Residents from Buan county, North Jeolla province, waged a protest against the construction of a nuclear waste site in the region Thursday in the sea between Kyeogpo port and Wido. 500 residents from 13 port areas in Buan county, including Kyeogpo port, held a demonstration on 200 fishing boats and small boats within Kyeogpo port from 9 a.m. They then waged a protest by going between the port and Wido, 14.5 kilometers away from the port, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During the protest on the sea, 1000 residents also waged a demonstration on Kyeogpo`s port, calling for the scrapping of the construction plan. Placards and banners could be seen on boats that read Buan county residents should join forces to stop the construction of the nuclear waste storage facility.
For 20 minutes after arriving at Wido, protesters sailed around the island and urged the residents not to be deceived by the promise of compensation and to try hard for the cancellation of the construction plan.
Members from environmental groups who were participating in the protest on the sea dumped a yellow drum with the words nuclear waste written on it into the sea in front of Pajangeum port. The protesters were welcomed by 20 Wido residents who are opposed to the construction at Pajangeum port. The protesters disbanded after leading another protest at Kyeogpo port again around 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Buan Residents` Committee for the Cancellation of the Construction of a Nuclear Waste Site plans to hold a candlelight protest with 10.000 people in front of Buan Fisheries Cooperative at 8 p.m. Friday. The committee is also planning a demonstration in the Byeonsan beach resort area at 2 p.m. this coming Saturday.