May 18 Memorial Foundation and Gwangju Civil Society Groups Support People Power in Burma

Burmese Military Junta, Stop Repression of Peoples' Demand for Democracy!

The Burmese military government continues to repress its citizen's since ever since it started its democracy movement in 1988. It continues to indulge in suppressing the people’s clamor for democracy. The Burmese military government should release innocent prisoners and allow its people to do peaceful protests. Also we urge for the release of all political prisoners and immediately stop the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.


Chun Doohwan military junta, which robs citizens of democracy and massacred Gwangju citizens, met with punishment under the rule of law. Chun Doohwan military regime had perverted the truth of the May 18 democratic uprising; had deceived citizens and had suppressed democracy in Korea. We all knew that the military government’s bloodletting and repressing the citizens perverted the truth and deceived the people. Therefore all crimes committed against the people should be met with a just punishment.


We fully support Burmese democracy movement that is pushing an end to military dictatorship that has been in power for the last 45 years. We admire Burmese patriots who laid down their life for democracy in 1980 and today and those that continue to struggle for democracy.


We call on the Korean government to take a stand of urging the Burmese military government to step down. We believe that Korea should take on an active international role because it is the government's responsibility to help and support developing economy and democracy in Asia.


The Gwangju citizens are calling the Burmese military junta to take heed to the clamor of its people for democracy and stop immediately its carnage on its own people.

October 1, 2007. Gwangju, Korea Republic

Gwangju International Center, The Korean People's Artists Federation of Gwangju, Gwangju Council of Citizens Movement, Gwangju Migrant Worker's Center, Gwangju-Jeonnam United Women's Association, Gwangju-Jeonnam Progress Solidarity, Gwangju Religion Peace Forum, Archdiocese of Gwangju Justice and Peace Committee, The May 18 Memorial Foundation

Burmese Military Junta Should Stop the Massacre of its Burmese Citizens:

A Call for Burmese Democratization and Peaceful Protests

We, the representatives and officials of various organizations related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, are strongly condemning the Burmese military junta for suppressing its citizens peaceful struggle for democratization; for disallowing the conduct of peaceful protests lead by monks and nuns and the massacre of its people should be immediately investigated.

We will not forget the brutal acts of the Burmese Military Junta in putring down the demonstration during the Burmese democracy struggle in 1988. However, the military government repressed its citizens to maintain its rule. We cannot tolerate this anymore. We are fully supporting Burmese democracy movement that wants to put an end to military dictatorship that has been maintaining its rule for the last 45 years. We call on the Burmese military junta to heed people’s demand for democratization.

We, the representatives and officials of various organizations related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, realized that supporting the Burmese Democracy Movement is the same spirit that inspired the ideals of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. After the May 18 democratic uprising in 1980, we are still remembering its legacy and contribution to the development of democracy in Korea. So we are taking on the role to support and encourage democracy, peace and human rights throughout the world. We are in solidarity to the cause of Burmese citizens, in their suffering and pain from repression of the Burmese military junta.

We hope that the Burmese military junta realizes that justice and truth will have its own time and will prevail. And that their misdeeds and wrongdoings will meet punishment and justice will be won by the people in the end.

October 2. 2007

The May 18 Bereaved Families Association

The May 18 Victims Association

The May 18 Resistance Association

The May 18 Memorial Foundation

SUPPORT PEOPLE POWER IN BURMA

Enough to military junta rule! Free Burma! Democracy Now! Release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners! No to oil price increase!

These are the few slogans that reverberate in the street of Burma today. They are now being silenced by gunshots and obscured by tear gasses as the military junta continues to suppress the will of the people for democracy.

Protests triggered by the 500% fuel price increase, have escalated to people’s power lead by Burmese monks and nuns. Recent reports show that several people are being massacred to repress popular clamor for a free and democratic Burma.

We appeal for you to support People Power in Burma. Let us show to the military government that their time is now over. Let us be in solidarity with the citizens of Burma in their claim for peace, freedom, human rights and democracy.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation awarded Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the 2004 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights in support for her peaceful protest against the military junta of Burma. This recognition is extended to the people of Burma for their patience and peaceful ways of resolving their conflict.

But today, we call for your solidarity with the people’s power in Burma. It is the voice of the people that must prevail. Gwangju, Korea, as a nation who won its freedom from military dictatorship let us help the Burmese people win back their lost freedom. As a peace loving country let us give our support to regain back peace in Burma.

Let us be one with them shouting: Stop the killing! No to Military Junta! Release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners! No to oil price increase! Free Burma ! Democracy Now!