Do You Remember The Day Of May 18 In 1980?
By Kim Bo-a, Tribune Reporter
Gwangju citizens brought about a pro-democracy movement, rebelling against martial law, Chun Doo-hwan’s military dictatorship and Kim Dae-jung’s prosecution on May 18, 1980.
A: I want to help the protestors.
B: If necessary, it is entirely at your own discretion.
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C: Here, help yourself to a rice cake and cheer up!!
D: At that time, we all Gwangju citizens were one.
Actually, in spite of the lack of public security, it was hard to find any instances of theft in Gwangju. Against the injustice, they truly stood together as one.
Gwangju Becoming the Mecca of Human Rights and World Peace
By Kim Wan-jin, Guest Reporter
The city of Gwangju, consecrated ground of Korea's democratization movement, is now becoming the hub of human rights and world peace movement. The May 18 Memorial Foundation, established in Gwangju to honor the May 18 Democratization Movement, is conducting a variety of domestic and international activities related to democratization, human rights, and the world peace movement. This May the foundation carried out two important international events, Gwangju International Peace Camp and the Gwangju Award for Human Rights. In June Gwangju city will host a Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and 6.15 Unification Grand Festivities to commemorate the historic 2000 inter-Korean summit anniversary.
The Gwangju International Peace Camp
The Gwangju International Peace Camp is an annual event that aims to strengthen international solidarity between domestic and foreign activists in improving and promoting democracy, human rights and peace. This year's event was held from May 15 to 18 and attended by NGO leaders, human rights advocates, academics and leaders of pro-democracy movements from Australia, East Timor, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, Japan, Rumania, the U.S.A, and Korea. The participants shared and exchanged their experiences and views centering on the theme, "Conflicts in Asian Regions and Peace Making by NGOs." The events also included sessions, presentations and discussions of cases and experiences of activists. The participants jointly prepared and announced "Gwangju International Peace Camp Declaration 2006," which aims for active initiative and engagement on the part of civil society in peace making and peace building activities. They participated in "The Eve-Festival of the May 18th Democratization Uprising" and "Commemorative Ceremony for the 26th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Uprising" where participants visited the National May 18 Cemetery and prayed for the souls of the victims, it also being a gesture of solidarity to bereaved families of the victims. Additionally, participants joined the award ceremony of The 2006 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights and the Second Gwangju Music Festival.
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award
The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is an award given to individuals, groups or institutions in Korea and abroad that have contributed in promoting and advancing human rights, democracy and peace in their work. The award is given by the Gwangju people in the spirit of solidarity and gratitude of those from whom they received help in their struggle for democratization and search for truth. Two women activists received this year’s Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. They are Malalai Joya from Afghanistan and Angkhana Neelaphaijit from Thailand.
Malalai Joya is a 28-year old Afghan activist and parliamentarian who rose to fame when, as an elected delegate to the Constitutional Loya Jirga, she spoke out publicly against the domination of warlords. Since then she has survived four assassination attempts. Malalai Joya’s work as an activist began as a fourteen year-old in her hometown Farah where she set up an NGO to respond to the needs of women neglected and oppressed under Taliban control.
Angkhana Neelaphaijit is the wife of Somchai Neelapajit, a prominent lawyer and human rights defender in Thailand who disappeared in 2004. Since then, Angkhana has been unrelenting in her efforts to obtain justice, unsparing in her criticism of government authorities, and has taken the lead role as an articulate and courageous spokesperson for the families of disappeared persons in Thailand. Angkhana is now an inspiration to large numbers of people internationally as well as in Thailand,
Previous winners of the prize have included: Xanana Gusmao (The president of East Timor)(2000); : Basil Fernando (Executive director of AHRC, Hongkong)(2001); Korean Association of bereaved families for democracy (2002): Dandeniya Gamage Jayanthi (Monument for the disappeared, Sri Lanka) (2003): Aung San Suu Kyi (National League for Democracy, Myanmar)(2004); and Ms. Wardah Hafidz (Coordinator, Urban Poor Consortium, Indonesia) (2005).
Gwangju Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Kim Dae-Jung Presidential Library and Museum co-host 2006 Gwangju Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, entitled the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising and Peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Gwangju Summit will be held from June 15-17, 2006 at the Kim Dae-Jung Convention Center, Gwangju. The Gwangju Summit will feature an opening session with keynote speeches by co-chairs, Kim Dae-Jung, former president of the Republic of Korea and Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, former president of the former Soviet Union, four sessions to discuss topics, and a closing session including the Gwangju Declaration of Nobel Peace. Individuals and group winners of the Nobel Peace Prize will attend the Gwangju Summit as presenters, including Nobel Peace Laureates such as Lech Walesa, former president of Poland, Nelson Rohihlahla Mandela, former president of South Africa, Jimmy Carter, former president of the U.S.A. and other human right and peace movement activists.
6.15 Gwangju Unification Grand Festivities
In commemoration of 6th anniversary of 6.15 inter-Korean summits, Unification Grand Festivities will be held from June 14 to 17 in Gwangju. More than one hundred thousand people are expected to attend the festivities, including more than one thousand delegates from government and civil groups. The festivities will include academic conferences, cultural festivals, and other ancillary events. With the festivities, Gwangju, already known as a city of democracy, human right, and peace, will gain even more positive exposure.
Other Projects by the May 18 Memorial Foundation
-Gwangju International Internship Program on Human Rights provides invited human rights activists with an opportunity to learn the history and experience of Korean democratization and help promote International Solidarity.
-Gwangju Forum on Asian Human Rights is part of the effort to promote Gwangju City as a 'Cultural Hub City of Asia.' Gwangju City being the home of Korean democracy aims to promote its unique contribution to the culture of peace and democracy.
-International Program of Democracy Scenes for Young People aims to let young Koreans and those from both overseas explore the Korean Republic’s historical scenes of separation and development of democracy.
-Asia NGO's Internship Program has since 2001 endeavored to further the cause of Human Rights and Peace in Asia through international solidarity and co-operative networking.
-Gwangju Invitation Program for Democratic Movement Victims in Asia was designed to invite the families of victims who sacrificed their lives seeking democracy in certain Asian countries and to share their experiences with the citizens of Gwangju who suffered during and after our own uprising of May, 1980.
-Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School provides invitees from all over Asia and local Koreans who have been working for human rights and peace organizations in their own countries with an opportunity to learn and experience the history and process of the development of human rights and democracy in South Korea.
Participation and Sense of Community
- Lessons from May 18 Uprising -
By Park Sa-ra, Tribune Reporter
Tribune interviewed Cho Jung-kwan (Prof. and researcher at The May 18 Institute of Democracy and Human Rights) to know more about May 18 and explore the ways to succeed in its spirit for the future. --Ed.
Q: What is the May 18 Institute of Democracy and Human Rights designed for?
A: First of all, we try to explore and publicize the meanings of the May 18th Uprising in 1980 in modern perspectives. Second, we perform a variety of research such as trauma of victims during the May 18 Uprising and the way to enhance democracy in present-day Korea. Third, we hold an annual academic symposium each year around May 18th. Fourth, we produce educational materials on the Uprising which can be used to teach students and we publish a journal about democracy and human rights in a broad sense. We also offer liberal arts classes about May 18th Uprising and the human rights movement. Lastly, we make efforts to spread the message of May 18th and its spirits around the world.
Q: Why do you think the May 18 Uprising has gradually become lost in people’s memories?
A: These days, the May 18 memorial events have changed in their patterns. When the government refused to recognize May 18 as an official pro-democracy movement (exactly, before 1988), most Gwangju citizens marched along Geumnam-ro street, downtown to participate in the May 18 memorial events in spite of the tear bombs. Since the Uprising was recognized as movement for democracy and the government has officially declared that it was not a riot but a democratic uprising and started to sponsor the commemorative events financially, the enthusiasm of Gwangju citizens has cooled down and they have become to the May 18th celebrations.
I think the local politicians of Gwangju are to blame for the disinterest. The triumph of the May 18th Uprising shed a bright light on Gwangju and filled politicians with pride on being citizens of this city in the past, but they only vaguely remember those days at present. In this context, May 18 memorial events have already been reduced to a banquet only for certain people in positions of power, not for all the citizens of Gwangju.
Q: What do you think is the true meaning of May 18?
A: First, we’re living in a competitive society. In this era, there is evidence that people today lack humanity and love of fellow human beings. In fact, if we live together with deep affection for one another, individuals will become less tired of living. In this context, the implications of May 18 Uprising can be summarized as the sense of community, one of the most important values in promising a bright future. Second, we also live in the age of neo-liberalism which implicitly connotes an era of inequality. If we don't care about people around us, especially the poor and distressed, conflicts will become deeper and deeper, and polarization will become more serious and as a result exert a harmful influence on the whole of society. The May 18 Uprising was the cornerstone that put the ideals of humanity into practice. Back then, the Gwangju citizens actively made an escape route for the young to escape from the hands of the riot police on one hand, while on the other they made and served gimbab for those involved in the fighting.
Q: How can we succeed in the spirit/legacy of the Uprising?
A: I can define the spirit of May 18 as participation and sense of community. Firstly, we can practice the spirit in our daily lives. For example, we can reorganize the General Student Council so that all CNU students can come together and discuss current issues when it is necessary to decide upon something. In fact, it is inevitable in terms of efficiency that such happen so that a few designated people can then an agenda toward the fulfillment of an agreed final goal. Secondly, we should establish in our mindsets that the people are the fundamental basis of democracy. It means that we should be concerned with alienated people, keeping in mind that we can't maintain our society without them.
Finally, we should get rid of the idea that other people would do our fighting for us, as if the Gwangju citizens voluntarily participated in the demonstration and protest against military dictatorship on May 18th. I want to emphasize these are the very ways of succeeding in the legacy of May 18 in the future.