Murrilo: Another Victim of Enforced Disappearance Abducted by Alleged CIDG Agents

Press Release
October 30, 2008
FOR URGENT RELEASE


Another Victim of Enforced Disappearance Abducted by Alleged CIDG Agents


A technical consultant for the farmers’ organization Life and Food for Leyte Evacuees (LFLE) Norberto Murillo was forcibly abducted this morning outside the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) building by three men who identified themselves as operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Murillo was abducted after having a meeting at the DAR to follow up on the papers regarding LFLE’s land claim for alienable and disposal land in Leyte. According to Murillo’s companion, LFLE Chairperson Paulo Dellosa the three men showed Murillo a warrant of arrest and introduced themselves as CIDG operatives after which they forcibly dragged Murillo to a waiting FX vehicle.

Dellosa immediately reported the case to human rights group Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). As of the time of writing the identity of Murillo’s abductors and the detention area to which he was brought to remains unknown.

Murillo joins the long list of victims of enforced disappearance documented under Gloria Arroyo’s government. He was an active member of the progressive movement during the 80’s and early 90’s but has since left the mainstream to work with farmers organizations as a technical consultant helping them with their land issues.

LFLE which Murillo is currently working with represents farmers who were displaced from their farmlands in Leyte during the late 80’s due to the effect of former President Corazon Aquino’s “Total War Policy”; after being displaced from Leyte these farmers sought temporary refuge at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines under then University President Nemesio Prudente.

518 Call for Application - International Internship Program

APPLY NOW !

The May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded by Gwangju citizens, sympathetic overseas Koreans, and from individuals who sacrificed and got indemnification from the government. It was created on August 30, 1994 by people who believe it's important to keep the ideas and memories of the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising alive and remembered.

The International Internship Program is a program of the Foundation created in 2005 to contribute in the development of democracy and human rights throughout Asia. It is also an opportunity for interns to learn and experience the history and process of the development of human rights and democracy in South Korea. Specifically the purpose and aim of the program are the following: 1) To improve international solidarity and networking and 2) To promote Gwangju as Asia's Hub for Human Rights Movement.

The Foundation is looking for two interns who will serve for 10 months from March-December 2009. Applicants female or male should not be more than 30 years of age, with a minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience on the issues of human rights, democracy and peace. Must be proficient in English and working knowledge of Korean is an advantage. Must be computer literate (email/internet, blog/web page, lay-out/design, etc).

Living allowance will be provided to successful interns. Housing will be provided but utilities (telephone/internet, electricity, and gas) will be paid for by interns. The Foundation will pay for the round trip airfare of interns.

Please download the application form if you are interested to apply from this links/site:

http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=299&page=1

Deadline of application is on 28 November 2008. Short listed applicants will be emailed for an online/webcam interview through Skype or Yahoo messenger.

Link:

www.518.org/eng

518 Documentary

This video was taken from this source: http://www.thirdtype.net/1285

Recognition of The May 18 Memorial Foundation by California State Senate and City of Los Angeles, USA

Recognition of The May 18 Memorial Foundation by California State Senate

February 23, 2008

Recognition of The May 18 Memorial Foundation by the City of LA, USA

18 May 2008

Eleanor Roosevelt speech at United Nations GA plenary meeting, 1948

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (U.S.A., 1884 - 1962) Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and assumed a role as an advocate for civil rights. In the 1940s, she was one of the co-founders of Freedom and founded the UN Association of the United States in 1943 to advance support for the formation of the UN. She was a delegate to the UN General Assembly from 1945 and 1952. During her time at the UN she chaired the committee that drafted and approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. source : http://html.knowyourrights2008.org/en/un-archives.html

Fund Raising Initiative of PPDD (Thailand)

Dear Mr. Chanho,

Greetings!

Please see attached file for the pictures of some of the art works of Burmese artist activists working with Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy. This is in line with our fund raising initiative scheme for our school project here in the Thai-Burma border which actually the foundation has been helping.

Nest time we will be sending sample pictures of the art works of kids in the form of greetings cards. We would like to introduce this fund raising scheme to our network and partner organizations. I hope the foundation can help us on this and can promote this fund raising initiative. This is a product of our regular art workshops to develop the artistic abilities of the kids. We really want to make this fundraising successful to provide for the increasing needs of our school and of the kids at the school as well. We really need the support of our partners in this endeavor. Hopefully the people and the foundation as an organization will help us out on this as well.

We will be selling art works of our kids in the form of greetings cards and paintings. Also, we will be selling art works or paintings of Burmese artist activist. Sample pictures of their art works are provided. If in any case some people from the foundation, or the foundation itself and its network organizations based in Korea and abroad are interested to buy these art works, we are more than willing to send them to whoever will help us and will buy these art goods from us. This is also one way of raising awareness and campaign on the different issues that Burma as a country is facing.

We are re-building our website these days, in a matter of time, we will be uploading all these and people can refer to our website, maybe next month or in the next two months we will have our website redesigned and rebuilt. Anyway, hope to hear from you on this and thank you for all the support.

Warm regards,

Anna Malindog
Executive Director
Peoples Partner for Development and Democracy

The following art works are for sale. Please email Ms. Anna Malindog for prices (armalindog@gmail.com):

The artist and his art works with prices:

Convention On Violence of the Invisible 9/11: Reflections on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958

On 22nd of May 1958, the Government of India promulgated an ordinance called the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance to meet the challenges of an extraordinary situation arising out of the assertions of the Naga tribes in the then Naga Hills of Assam and parts of the then North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA). This ordinance was a copy from a similar ordinance promulgated by the colonial British on 15 August 1942 to suppress the uprising of Quit India Movement. It gave extraordinary powers to the members of the armed forces, such as arrest without warrant and shoot to kill on the basis of suspicion. The Parliament subsequently converted this ordinance, which was brought in as a temporary measure, into an Act on 18 August 1958, and the President gave his assent on 11 September 1958.

Thus, the unlashing of state’s violent power, or as some called State terrorism, that began on 22^nd May 1958 was retrospectively reaffirmed on that fateful 9/11 as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act began its journey as a permanent instrument to treat the people of North East differently and violently. While the people of Punjab had the taste of the Act very briefly in 1980s, the people of Kashmir have been subjected under the same Act since 1990. But its first and real target, the people of the North East have been reeling under the violence and impunity of the Act continuously for the last 50 years.

While the two MPs from Manipur opposed the Act in the Parliament in 1958 itself, various organizations and individual persons had also challenged the legal and constitutional validity of the Act since the 1980s. However, after sitting over those petitions for almost 15 years, the Supreme Court took up a litigation by NPMHR, and after suggesting that the disturbed condition where the Act has been enforced is not due to arm rebellion and that it does not constitute a threat to the national security, it upheld the constitutional validity of the Act in 1997.

The numerous acts of human rights abuses under the Act came into the fore again in the gruesome murder of a young woman, Manorama by the security forces operating under the Act in 2004. The people of Manipur rose up not only against the murder but also against the Act, which was joined by various civil liberty organizations and concerned citizens from across the country and world. Ultimately, the PMO was compelled to institute the Reddy Committee to look into the matter and explore the possibility of substituting the AFSPA with a “more humane” Act. The Committee submitted its report on 6 June 2005 and recommended that the Act be repealed. Similarly the Administrative Reform Committee headed by Veerapan Molly also recommended the Act to be repealed on 25 June 2007. In February 2007 the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called upon the Indian Government to ensure an immediate repeal of AFSPA. So far, leave alone repealing the Act, the Government has not even made the Jeevan Committee report public, though the Hindu has already leaked out the report.

Providing lip service to democracy and displaying deep rooted prejudices, many continue to encourage and defend the violence of the Act. As a result the people continue to suffer under it. While the struggle, including that of Sharmila who has been on fast for years, against the Act also continues, it is pertinent for us to reflect on what and why of this Armed Forces Special Powers Act in order to strengthen the struggle against this Act and its politics.

Thus, we are organizing a Peace Protest rally from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on the violence of the Invisible 9/11 at 11 am on 11^th Sept 2008 as a way to remind ourselves of the 50^th year of its becoming a law on 11^th Sept’ 1958 when the President of India gave his assent. As part of the memorandum we will be delivering 50 coffins addressed to the President of India.

50 years of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act

Convention

On

Violence of the Invisible 9/11

Reflections on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act

11 September 2008

At

Hotel Tampha, Imphal (Manipur)

Organized by

Just Peace Foundation

PROGRAMME

Inaugural Session (9:30hrs – 10:00hrs)

Welcome by Mr. Irom Singhjit, Managing Trustee, Just Peace Foundation (3 minutes)

Key Note Address: Dr. A. Bimol Akoijam

Chief Guest: Mr. Aribam Syam or Ratan Thiyam (8 minutes)

Guest of Honor: Mr. Elangbam Binoy Singh, President of the Manipur Olympic Association, (8 minutes)

President: Prof. Sadanand, The President of the Senior Citizens (8 minutes)

Vote of Thanks: Mr. Montu Ahenthem (3 minutes)

Tea (10:00hrs – 10:10hrs)

Session 1 (10:10hrs – 11:30hrs)

Constitutionality and Legality of AFSPA

Chair: Justice W.A. Shishak (retd.)

Speakers: Justice RK Manisana (retd.), Mr. R. Daniel, Ms. Nandita Haksar (36 minutes)

Discussant: Mr. Babloo Loitongbam (9 minutes)

Open Discussion (25 minutes)

Concluding Remark by the Chair (10 minutes)

Tea (11:30hrs – 11:40hrs)

Session 2 (11:40hrs – 13:00hrs)

Politico-juridical Foundations of AFSPA

Chair: Dr. A Bimol Akoijam

Speakers: Prof. K M Chenoy, Prof. Arambam Lokendra Pro. Ksh. Bimola (36 minutes)

Discussant: Mr. Pradeep Phanjoubam (9 minutes)

Open Discussion (25 minutes)

Concluding Remark by the Chair (10 minutes)

Lunch (13:00hrs-14:00hrs)

Session 3 (14:00hrs – 15:20hrs)

Civil Society Response to AFSPA

Chair: Prof. Arambam Loken

Speakers: Dr. Dhanibir Laishram, Mr. N. Krome, Mr. Lachit Bordoloi (36 minutes)

Discussant: Mr. Irengbam Arun (9 minutes)

Open Discussion (25 minutes)

Concluding Remark by the Chair (10 minutes)

Tea (15:20hrs – 15:30hrs)

Session 4 (15:30hrs – 16:40hrs)

Open Forum: Way Ahead

Chair: Prof Nabakanta

Lead Discussants: Dr. Lenin Raghuvarshi, Mr. Hijam Rajesh, R.K. Anand (36 minutes)

Observations from the participants (24 minutes)

Concluding Remark by the Chair (10 minutes)

Vote of Thanks: (16:40hrs – 16:45hrs)

Please Join our Final Protest Rally

On

Violence of the Invisible 9/11

50 years of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act

11 September 2008

At

11:00 am

From

Mandi House to Jantar Mantar

Organized by

AISA, Asha Parivar, The Othermedia, NAPM, Jagrati Mahila Sangathan, INSAF, Reachout,
Human Right Alert and JMI

RSVP: Sreeprakash - +91-9871880686
Jyotilal - +91 – 981877688
Surjit - +91-9971842187
Rojio - +91-9990157785
Faisal - +91-9313106745
Onil - +91-9818781767

foto source - http://www.e-pao.net/features/images/Irom_Sharmila_4.jpg

Remembering Munir…

There is an old adage that says "those who are brave enough to speak out in the face of death inspire the courage of others," This is how Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers its former Chairperson, Munir Said Thalid in the commemoration of his fourth death anniversary as it joins hands in solidarity with his family, friends and colleagues in the human rights community in Asia and in other continents in the pursuit for justice against all forms of human rights abuses and impunity.


In its third book entitled, "Reclaiming Stolen Lives" launched on 29 August 2008, the eve of International Day of the Disappeared, AFAD revisited Munir's life and work through an article written by Mr. Chang Chiu. The article provides accounts of Munir's exemplary contribution to human rights and to the demand for accountability as part of the democratic transition of Indonesia.

Munir as he is popularly known, was the most fearless and outspoken critic of Indonesia's armed forces which committed gross human rights violations in Papua, Aceh and East Timor during the 32-year authoritarian of former Indonesian president Haji Mohammad Suharto. He became the powerful voice of the voiceless victims of human rights abuses as he championed their cause in and out-of-the-courtroom even in the face of intimidation and coercion, including death threats. After the fall of the Suharto government, Munir co-founded the Commission for Disappearance and Victims of Violence (Kontras) to help the families of democratic activists who were kidnapped and murdered by the military to know the truth and to seek justice. He also served as a member of IMPARSIAL, a commission created by the government to investigate the human rights violations in East Timor. It was during this period when he was elected Chairperson of AFAD, a Federation of human rights organizations working directly on the issue of enforced disappearances in Asia.

Read more here: http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=201&page=1&key=&keyword=



Source:

Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Rms. 310-311 Philippine Social Science Center Building
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1103 Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: 00-63-2-4546759; Telephone: 00-63-9170792-4958
Website: http://www.afad-online.org

Korean Candlelights in History

“The people make history,” often an empty rhetorical device in the mouths of politicians, helps highlight the meaning of recent protests. Looking at the “candlelight revolution,” I observe basic elements of the same form of direct-democracy that emerged in the 1960s. Apparently leaderless gatherings with open mikes bring participants from all walks of life rather than monologues from “prominent” individuals. Rotation of events’ organizers encourages the participation of many different groups rather than the stifling control of one “key” group. New sectors of the populace (from middle school girls to religious leaders to workers) have continually emerged to join in. Diverging tactics and multifarious slogans reveal inner tensions in the movement. Far from being reflective of weakness, these differences spring from diversity—and hence strength—a vibrant inner dialectic which motivates development and progress. The new form of protests empowers people directly.

I also detect the enacting of an “eros effect” in which apparently minor protests set off national crisis. The cyber activism of H-generation (Hyperspace) quickly mobilized the entire nation, transforming despondency with 2MB’s election into energetic struggle against him. Dozens of ordinary people were overnight turned into veteran activists. They criticize old-time activists who seek to frame their protests. Like all autonomous movements, they are independent of political parties and guard their precious autonomy by refusing to join any central organization. Rather than merging into old activist (undongkwon) circles, they use cyberspace to synthesize a new form of collective intelligence.

Read more here: http://eng.518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=200&page=1

A Decade of Struggle Towards A World Without Desaparecidos…

AFAD Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
by Daisy Valerio


On June 4, 2008, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) celebrated its 10th anniversary in Manila, Philippines. The day was, indeed, a red-letter day for the federation which is presently composed of 8 organizations for the disappeared from Indonesia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. For this special day, delegates of the member-organizations along with partners from Latin America and Eastern Europe gathered together with families of the disappeared and surfaced desaparecidos, victims of other human rights violations, members of the human rights community, non-governmental organizations and peoples' organizations, some representatives of the diplomatic community and from government agencies, people from the academe and the church as well as friends from other sectors. Although not physically present, more friends and partners made their presence felt through their very warm solidarity statements that helped mark this important juncture in AFAD's history.


Looking far back, it took almost a year of conception which started in May 1997 before the federation's core group composed of three organizations for the disappeared in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Kashmir was launched on June 4, 1998 in Manila. The Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared-Detainees (FEDEFAM), which then already had years of rich experiences in terms of federation-building, greatly contributed to AFAD's conception and birth. Right from its early beginnings, AFAD envisioned to serve as an Asia-wide response to the regional phenomena of enforced disappearances. At that time, Asian governments could easily project that involuntary disappearance was solely a Latin American phenomenon. Ten years after AFAD was born, these Asian governments cannot anymore do the same as the federation's very existence speaks to the contrary.


The Filipino saying, "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa patutunguhan…" (One who does not know how to look back will never reach one's destination…), is very much entrenched in AFAD's 10th anniversary celebration. On the day itself, two separate but interrelated activities were held. In the morning, AFAD's WEBOPAC (WEB Online Public Access Catalog) was launched at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City and a Solidarity Dinner was held in the evening in Jade Valley also in Quezon City.


Prior to the presentation of AFAD's WEBOPAC during the morning activity, the highlights of the federation's history which included its conception, birth and growth were presented. The presentation was able to capture the AFAD realities, an important part of which is the fact that although regional federation-building on the involuntary disappearance issue was a pioneering initiative in Asia, AFAD was certain with what it wanted to do and where it was leading to right from its early beginning. As presented in the power point, AFAD's clarity of purpose and direction was confirmed by its concrete achievements in the years after its birth particularly its capacity to build itself into an Asian-wide federation of organizations for the disappeared in essence and in form and link up with the international movement against involuntary disappearance which greatly helped pave the way for the unanimous adoption by the UN General Assembly of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on the 20th of December 2006.


The music video that followed complemented the power point presentation of AFAD's history. The powerful theme song of the federation which was composed a couple of years ago was given more flesh through the very expressive photos of individual members of AFAD's member-organizations from the different Asian countries during the series of psychosocial processing and self-healing facilitated by the federation over the past years. Indeed, time cannot automatically heal all wounds. Certainly though, people who went through similar experiences although they come from different countries and cultures like that of the families of the disappeared gain strength from one another in their mere togetherness and in their collective efforts to campaign for justice for their loved ones.


The WEBOPAC launching came towards the middle of the activity. To recall, the AFAD Resource Center was established in May 2006 in honor of two human rights defenders, Aasia Jeelani of Kashmir and Munir of Indonesia and dedicated to all desaparecidos particularly in Asia. Being a computerized online catalog of all the resource center's current materials, the OPAC greatly contributes to the advancement of the federation's resource center. Generally, web-based OPACS are also known as iPAC (Internet/Intranet Public Access Catalog). The OPAC will greatly help researchers of the AFAD library as they get information on its contents through the internet. This is another venue for AFAD to go public in order to project the involuntary disappearance issue and gather support to the cause of the disappeared in a much wider manner.


In the evening of June 4, a solidarity dinner was held among AFAD's member-organizations and partners as well as families and relatives of the disappeared and other friends of the federation. The mood that prevailed that night was light, joyful and strengthening as AFAD's council members along with officers and delegates from member-organizations and visitors came up with their unique musical and other presentations. In the main, the warm togetherness on that night serves as a symbol of the unending hope that someday, tears could be wiped away, justice will be achieved for the disappeared and their families and the phenomenon of involuntary disappearance will gradually be eradicated from this planet.


" A Decade of Struggle Towards A World Without Desaparecidos, " the theme of AFAD's 10th anniversary apply captures its accomplishments and its vision of eradicating this most cruel form of human rights violation from the face of the earth.



Related activities


In time for the International Day of the Disappeared, AFAD held a Public forum in cooperation with the Human Rights Center at the Ateneo Law School in Makati City on May 30, 2008. The theme for the forum was: Enforced Disappearance is Anti-life! Sign and Ratify the United Nations Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance." The Invocation was offered by Catholic priest, Fr. John Leydon. Starting from the opening remarks given by former House Rep. Hon. Loretta Ann Rosales and all throughout the forum, focus was given on the calling of all governments especially the Philippine government to sign and ratify said Convention. In line with this, Ms. Aileen D. Bacalso, AFAD's Secretary General, presented the status of the Convention. Her presentation speaks that indeed, much remains to be done prior to its signing and ratification by Asian governments and its eventual entry into force. The gravity of involuntary disappearance in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe were gleaned from the concrete presentations of the AFAD delegates and friends from these countries. Dr. Edita Burgos of the Free Jonas Movement in the Philippines shared her family's experience in searching for her recently-disappeared son, Jonas Burgos, while Jun Lozada, the ZTE Deal star witness, shared his experience as a surfaced desaparecido. Atty. Byron Bocar, the Legislative officer of the office of House Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, spoke on the present status of the bill dealing with enforced disappearances. Chair of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, Atty. Carlos P. Medina shared the concrete experiences of lawyers and judges in the course of their defense of the families of victims of enforced disappearances. The Open Forum after the presentations was very enriching.


Prior to the 10th anniversary celebration, AFAD's Council officers and members, the other delegates, the Secretariat and three guests went through a three-day training from June 1-3. This was titled, "Advocacy and Protection: Maximizing the UN Human Rights Council and its Mechanisms to Attain AFAD's Goal in Fighting Involuntary Disappearances. The training was facilitated by Atty. Cecilia Jimenez, a Filipina lawyer based in Geneva who is well-versed on the UN mechanisms and international lobbying in general. The training is a part of AFAD's bracing up for the tasks and challenges ahead vis-à-vis continuing human rights violations in Asia.

It is also important to note that as soon as representatives of AFAD member-organizations returned to their respective countries, local activities to commemorate the event were conducted at the national level to ensure the participation of families of the disappeared in the commemoration of a Federation that they belong.

Indeed, AFAD's 10th anniversary celebration is a very important milestone in the history of the federation. Strengthened by its experiences over the past years, the 10-year old federation braces itself for greater challenges and tasks ahead.

518 Ourdates (May 2008)

Dear friends,

Greetings!

Celebration is almost over for the May 18 Commemorative Events. Still, there are few ongoing activities. It was a pleasure to have old and new faces and friends to join us here in Gwangju. For all the rest we hope to meet you some other time again. But for now let us meet online through 518 OURDATES (Update) to you.

1) Mr. Muneer Malik is the 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights winner. You can read the text of his valedictory speech from this link:

http://twurl.nl/lwfzum

2) We are now accepting application for the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School. One of the perks of successful participants of the folk school is the chance to be endorsed for a year scholarship to MA in Inter-Asia NGO Studies of Sungkonghoe University. This year is the second year of the conduct of this scholarship. So apply now and find out more from this link:

518 web site: http://twurl.nl/ocwqae

518 Google Group: http://twurl.nl/f73cfn

3) We are updating and creating a directory of Asian NGOs that work on peace, human rights and democracy (we plan to make it available online as well). Please visit this link to submit the form and be linked with us.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3131938/directory-form

4) Please visit our new English website and tell us what you think we should further improve. This is the link

http://518.org/eng/

Our best regards,

Culture and Solidarity Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation

AFAD - INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DISAPPEARED STATEMENT

Enforced Disappearance is Anti-Life…

No to Untold Sufferings….

Sign and Ratify the UN Convention

for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance!


The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances joins all families of the disappeared persons around the world in the commemoration of the International Week of the Disappeared from May 26 to June 1. This week of the desaparecidos was first commemorated by the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared-Detainees (FEDEFAM) more than a couple of decades ago.

In the observance of this occasion, AFAD affirms the right of every person to life, liberty and dignity and therefore, the right not to be subjected to enforced disappearance. The essential value of one's existence is to live freely without discrimination, prejudices and harm. Enforced disappearance does not only violate these basic human rights by physically removing a person from the protection of the law but it also denies the families of the disappeared persons the right to know the truth and to seek justice.

Enforced disappearance is a global phenomenon. It has been occurring everywhere - down the street, in the barrios, in the upland, on the highway, in the woods, in the desert, at the border, and even in the household. In many points of the globe, there are people who are made to disappear for exercising their rights and for opposing against human rights violations. It is done mostly in the context of widespread and systematic way under a climate of impunity where the perpetrators are free to do what they want without accountability. Asia is now considered the graveyard of the desaparecidos for having submitted the most number of cases to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in recent years.

The disappearance of every person brings terrible sorrows and sufferings to his or her family. The long and agonizing search for the victims' whereabouts usually ends in fruitless undertaking. The normal life that their families used to have is now shattered by emotional and psychological devastation, economic dislocation, uncertainty… Their lives are even at risk for having to undergo the same fate that their loved ones succumbed for seeking truth, justice, redress and reparation.

But the families of the disappeared refuse to give in to fear. They know that their disappeared loved ones' only hope to return alive and to find truth and justice is for them to be strong and united. Their faith is as clear as the light at the end of the tunnel and as bright as the rainbow after every rain.

The adoption of International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced or Disappearance by the United Nations General Assembly on the 20th of December 2006 sparked a ray of hope for the families of the disappeared. To date, however, only four countries in Asia have affixed their signatures to the Convention. Asia, being the continent which submitted a huge number of cases to the United Nations needs the ratification by its governments of this new treaty and to pass domestic laws criminalizing enforced disappearance.

The International Week of the Disappeared is an expression of solidarity of all families of desaparecidos of the world. It is a celebration of life to honor the historical memory of those who have given their lives for the ransom of many. It is a renewal of commitment of the families of the disappeared and all human rights advocates to keep on the struggle against enforced disappearances and impunity until the dawning of the day when there are no more desaparecidos.

On this occasion, families of the disappeared call for an end to their untold sufferings brought about by this anti-life instrument used to silence their beloved desaparecidos. Despite their physical absence, the desaparecidos refuse to be silenced. For indeed, the perpetrators have miserably failed to silence them by physically eliminating their victims. As we commemorate the International Week of the Disappeared, we reiterate that the desaparecidos remain ever present in our minds and hearts.

Enforced disappearance is anti-life… No to untold sufferings… Ratify the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance!

Signed:



MUGIYANTO MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO
Chairperson Secretary-General


ASIAN FEDERATION AGAINST INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES (AFAD)
Rooms 31-=311 Philippine Social Science Center Bldg.
Commonwealth Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: 00-63-2-4546759; Telephone: 00-63-2-9274594
Website: http://www.afad-online.org

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE on the 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF AFAD

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE on the
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF AFAD
(Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances)

In behalf of the people of Gwangju, The May 18 Memorial Foundation congratulates the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, AFAD on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary. Your first decade ought to be celebrated with the distinction and achievement you have tirelessly work to attain the status you now enjoy among human rights defenders and the civil society movements in general.

AFAD have come a long way in the collective global struggle against involuntary Disappearances. The success of the organization is attributed to its able leadership and persistent pursuant of preventing involuntary disappearance through various creative ways. Equally important to recognize is your success in persuading the UN Human Rights Council in adopting a UN Draft Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation is one with your aim and aspirations of remembering those who forcibly and involuntarily disappeared and continue to remain missing. Victims and families continue to suffer on what befell to their missing loved ones after the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising of 1980. For this reason it is but fitting to commemorate them, those who died and sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy and the rest who are desaparecidos. Memorial programs and activities is our way of giving honor and respect to their spirits and memory.

Our solidarity with your organization is our show of gratitude to nations, groups and individuals who have helped us in times of our need. It is also our commitment to our heroes and patriots to promote and memorialize their enduring legacy for the freedom and democracy that we now enjoy. For this we would want to share and offer our partnership with you so we may collectively work together and live in a world where no one is forced to disappeared, human rights are respected and everyone truly enjoys a liberal and democratic governance.

We laud and congratulate you on your 10th Anniversary and we wish you more success!

In Solidarity,

Yun Gwang Jang
Chairman of the Board The May 18 Memorial Foundation

Valedictory Speech of Munir Malik

May 18 known as 518, is one of Gwangju's most significant dates. The annual commemoration is a tradition that has been observed by the families of the victims which the government only instituted in 1995. So for this year, President Lee Myungbak came to The May 18 National Cemetery to lead and address this event to pay respect to the spirits of the heroes and victims of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. It is also an important date for Gwangju citizens and the Korean public in bestowing honor and recognition to group or individuals by awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

For 2008 this award is given to Mr. Muneer Malik for his role in protecting the independence of Pakistan's judiciary, defending its constitution and promoting human rights. Mr. Malik was the former President of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association. He led the struggle in fighting against the attempt made by President Musharraf to oust the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in order to protect human rights and the independence of the judiciary.

So on May 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM, Mr. Malik was awarded the 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. The ceremony was graced by Mr. Kwangjang Yoon, Chairman of The May 18 Memorial Foundation; Mr. Youngmin Noh, a member of the Korean Parliament who read the citation of Mr. Malik; Mr. Kyunghwan An, Chairperson of the National human Rights Commission of Korea; and representative of Mr. Gwangtae Park, Mayor of Gwangju who read his congratulatory message. It was witnessed by the participants of the 2008 Gwangju International Peace Forum and the citizens of Gwangju. The event was widely covered by the media. Korean musical artists and KBS Children’s Choir serenaded Mr. Malik for their congratulation.

Munir Malik
Valedictory Speech
Winner, 2008 Gwanngju Prize for Human Rights

Good evening ladies and gentlemen:

I am deeply humbled that The 518 Memorial Foundation has chosen me to receive the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2008. On a personal level I do not consider myself worthy of the prize. It is in fact the community of lawyers of Pakistan, who dared to challenge the status quo that is collectively deserving of this honour. What is an even greater honour for the lawyers of Pakistan is that you have remembered their movement in the same breath that you commemorate the great Gwangju Uprising of May Eighteen, 1980 popularly known throughout the world as the Gwangju Democratization Movement.



The democratic Republic of Korea that we see today was born from the boundless courage demonstrated by the citizens of Gwangju, the students and members of civil society who dared to challenge the authoritarian order of the day at the supreme sacrifice of their lives. Although on the morning of 27th May 1980 army troops occupied the downtown area of Gwangju they failed to extinguish the fire that had been lit at the gates of Chonnam National University. This flame continued to burn ever so brightly giving birth to a new and modern Republic of Korea, democratic in orientation, obedient to rule of law and watched over by an independent judiciary. Permit me to ask all of us to rise and observe a one minute’s silence to pay tribute to the martyrs of democratic movement. This is not to say that your republic is utopia or nirvana; you still have human rights issues, concerns persists over laws relating to migrant workers, restrictions of the freedom of assembly and the continued news of the national security council. But with the rule of law firmly established you can look forward to a brighter future.

The concepts of human rights and peace are intertwined and indivisible. What happens in one part of the world is in this global age relevant to what happens in the rest of the world. For over 60 years Pakistan was struggling to overcome the mind set inherited from its colonial past and to break the shackles of military and authoritarian rule. In this respect the lawyers’ movement of Pakistan draws many parallels with the Gwangju Democratization Movement.



On 9th March 2007 a General in uniform also wearing the hat of president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan launched a frontal assault on the judiciary by suspending and detaining the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry was summoned by General Musharraf and in the presence of 5 Generals and the Prime Minister asked to submit his resignation or to face trumped up charges of misconduct. In reality he was being taken to task for asserting judicial independence from the executive in a number of decisions that he had rendered, including but not limited to the privatization of state assets to favorites at throw-away prices and asking the state to account for forced disappearances. The Chief Justice held firm and preferred to defend the charges. Almost immediately, the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan of which I had been then President vowed to resist this frontal assault on the third organ of the State, the legislature having already been rendered in to a rubber stamp.

All of a sudden, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, the Chief Justice’s defiant “No” changed the dynamics of the power game. Since 9th March, the Black Coats of Pakistan waged a relentless struggle to change mindsets. We had to teach the common man what justice really meant, who was the oppressor and who could deliver them from oppression. We preached that the realization of their fundamental rights was inextricably intertwined with the existence of an independent judiciary in which every judge across the land is pro-people with the courage to say that enough is enough - that all men and women, no matter howsoever high or howsoever low, are equal in the eyes of the law; that it is no longer acceptable that the weaker sections of society should remain in bondage as if they were subjects of some colonial power; that the people were sovereign masters of their destiny and captains of their fate and that the rulers were there to serve them and not to lord over them.. Our fight was to change mindsets within the judiciary so that they may liberate themselves from the reviled and thoroughly discredited doctrines of the past that were used time and again to justify the militarization of the institutions of the state. We had to change the mindsets of our politicians – that political power emanates from the people and not from foreign capitols; that they turn anti-people when they welcome military takeovers or share the crumbs of power with usurpers; that democracy and tolerance are inseparable twins and that they must strive to strengthen institutions and not men. We wanted our armed forces to know that we honour the soldier who has laid down his life for the defence of the country but that we are bounden to resist when the watchman forcibly takes over the master’s house and that their guns should be pointed outwards to defend the frontiers of our lands rather than facing inwards at the people they have sworn to protect.


And indeed what an incredible movement it has been. Putting personal interest aside, the overwhelming majority of lawyers galvanized the masses and paved the way for the political leadership to assert the supremacy of civilian institutions. We did not rest with the restoration of the Chief Justice to his rightful position but went to root out the cause of the injustice that pervades our society. It is our position that this injustice rests on the foundations of arbitrary and dictatorial rule and in order to establish a just society we must uproot the old foundations.

On 3rd November 2007 acting in his capacity as Chief of Army Staff, General Musharraf proclaimed state of emergency, troops stormed into the Supreme Court and arrested 12 out of 17 judges of the Supreme Court and the majority of the judges of the High Courts and packed the superior courts with plaint judges. During the movement innumerous sacrifices were rendered. In the carnage at Karachi on May 12, 2007, almost 50 lives were lost in the bomb blast at Islamabad outside the premises of the Islamabad Bar Association 16 peoples were blown to death. Hundreds of activists were physically beaten and tortured. Almost 2000 lawyers were arrested. I had the privileged of being detained in solitary at the notorious Attock Prison where I almost lost my life.



On 18th February 2008 the nation went to the polls. Although the election was not completely fair and transparent nor were all the players provided with a level playing field, the results showed that the people had massively rejected General Musharraf and, the party that his intelligence agencies had formed and backed since the last 5 years. The results were indeed a referendum on Pervez Musharraf himself. The democratic forces had finally prevailed but the legal fraternity is short of its goals- the reinstatement of the sacked judges and the establishment of a society based on justice and equality before law.

We feel vindicated that our struggle has borne some fruit and we expect that the democratic forces shall forever close the door to military intervention in the body politic by strengthening all the institutions of the state to perform the functions assigned to them under the Constitution, We feel that we have woken up the slumbering giant – the people of Pakistan- to take charge of its own destiny. Our movement does not end with the reinstatement of the deposed judges. It continues and is in fact a never ending journey during the course of which we shall continue to strive for an independent judiciary, for maintaining the supremacy of the Rule of Law, the Constitution and the establishment of civilian supremacy in running the affairs of the Pakistan. And we shall continue to draw inspiration from the Gwangju Democratization Movement of May 1980. Thank you.

2008 GIPF Keynote Address

Century of crisis: Loss of Relationship and Prospect of its Recovery


by Seoktae Lee
Former President of
Lawyers for a Democratic Society

It is a great honor to participate in this international event to memorize the Gwangju Peoples Movement in Gwangju that has the meaning of "Light Village” and is the cradle and holy ground of democratic development and human rights movement in Korea.
On the November 3rd, 1929, a large event was happened here, in Gwangju. Anti-Japanese students’ movement was started here by the students who could not endure such misbehavior that Japanese students bantered Chosun schoolgirls and the movement was dispersed to neighboring cities spreading the injustice of Japanese colonial administration. The students shouted “Hurrah for Chosun’s independence” and asked for abolition colonial slave education. Numerous students of the country hailed to each other and stood up to awakening the Chosun people. This event became the axis of Chosun students' movement as well as 3.1 Independence Movement in 1919 and is recorded one of the most important events resisting Japanese Empire.
Gwangju, through the resistance to Japanese Empire, fought against the despotic government that had been continued since liberation. After the death of President Jung-Hee Park who creamed permanent seizure of power, the military retained the power again and continued brutal oppression with trampling on the peoples’ desire for democratization. Therefore, Gwangju peoples stood up again on May 18th, 1980. Nelson Mandela said, “The real courage is not fearlessness but to overcome the fear.”Gwangju peoples did so. They feared possible loss of democracy but did not intend to avoid the cruel guns and swords of the army that threatened the democracy in front of them. Gwangju peoples overcame the feat and, as a result, won a victory. Their blood has become a no-drying spring for the democratic movement since that time. Gwangju peoples’ desire for human rights and peace is the ideal aimed by today’s Korean society. Such valuable sacrifice is the mirror to look at whether Korean society, Asia to which Korea belongs to, and the world go to the direction to really respect the dignity and value of man.

Last century was a tragic time stained with two times of world wars and numerous disputes and troubles. The mankind is full of hope for the new millennium with remaining such distressed days. It seemed that a new way of science and advance would be opened in front of ours.

However, in contrast to such expectation, an incredible event was happened in the U.S.A. in 2001. That was the September 11 Terror. Two airplanes of the U.S.A. collided with the twin buildings of World Trace Center in New York due to the menace by terrorists they rode in the airplanes disguising themselves as passengers. In case of two other airplanes hijacked at that time, one collided with the Pentagon building and the other crashed in a near place. Due to this event, many persons in the airplanes and numerous persons from many countries as well as the American persons worked in the buildings were dead.

This astonishing event happened soon after opening of the new century gave a great impact to the mankind. The September 11 attacks was a traditional suicide terror but exceeded the concept of common terror; firs of all, indescribable sorrow and anger is felt due to the valuable lives of the persons sacrificed due to the terror. On every September 11, the wave of condolence gathers around the buildings of such attacks.

In sharing such sorrow, I have a question why such incredible event was happened. First of all, what beats my heart is the expression of a large hatred to the September 11 attacks. Suicide terror is a tragic action to give up the own lives of terrorists as well as the objects of the terror.

If the specific features of September 11 attacks are summarized, the purpose was the attack of the heart of New York, the U.S.A., and a mean to maximize the rage of damage was selected. Airplanes were hijacked and they were used as the tool to attack the symbol of the capitalism of the U.S.A. Terrorists did not consider who were in the airplanes and which countries’ persons were working in the buildings collapsed with collisions. The persons worked in and around the trade center met a sudden calamity with no expectation of unhappy matter. Such a harmful act seems to be intended to show their extreme antipathy to the U.S.A. as an impact to the persons of the world. It seems to cry, “See! We punished the U.S.A.”

As well known, terror is the action with no purpose. They intend to accomplish the punishment type goal by attacking the other party. There is also the case that has some purposes. The action to damage the body of other people are prohibited in any country. It is permitted to the minimum level in the exceptional cases such as self-defense. In this case also, the guilty is accepted but the responsibility is exempted. This principle is the same over the border.



Therefore, although a person has a grudge against another person, the person cannot personally punish the other person and should commit the matter to the decision by governmental authority. Meanwhile, when such decision by governmental authority cannot be expected, a terror is determined. In a word, the core structure of a terror is generated in i) the retribution relationship for terrorism and 2) the case that legal method other than terrorism is not found. In this respect, September 11 attacks seem to be the extreme case of hopeless violence caused by the thought that there was no mean but to personally attach the U.S.A.

It would be better for the U.S.A. to examine itself why some persons or groups hate the U.S.A. to such a high level rather than searching for terrorists as the measure against terrorism. This method cannot restore September 11attacks but will prevent the second and third terrors. However, the U.S.A. did not do so. The U.S.A. attacked two Islamic countries in Asia in turn with useof mighty military power in the reasons that terrorists were protected and that WMD for terrorism are possessed. Two countries are under the occupation by the U.S.A., in fact. Differently from the declaration by the U.S.A. and England to build democracy in the two countries, the establishment in the two countries looks far. The two countries met with lots of calamities including the damage in the lives of citizens and the damage in properties when the U.S.A. attached them but the security is extremely unstable at present time also. Large and small terrors are frequent. If September 11 attacks are localized in terms of property, the two countries was attacked in the whole countries. Nobody can assert that the hatred newly generated by attack of the two countries is a mitigated one compared to what expressed in September 11 attacks.

At the second half of 11th Century, the beginning of the last millennium, Europe went to the Crusade War and attacked Islamic territory. And then, the Crusade War, which was continued for 200 years, resulted in huge sale of damages in lives and properties in both parties. September 11 attacks, followed attack of two Asian countries by the U.S.A., and related unstable world's situation do not guarantee of peace to mankind in the new century but results in a dark forecast that more tensions may be required.

In practice, human rights were largely retrograded since 911 attacks. Guantanamo bunkhouse has many detained persons locked up with the suspicion of terrorism with no legal procedure. The survey of them by UN Human Rights Committee was rejected and they are in the blind spot of human rights.

As described, the unhappy sign given to use by September 11 attacks and the related successive events seems to be unfortunately clear. The mankind did not succeed in resolving troubles or disputes by the method of rationality, persuasion, concession, and amicable settlement when they were generated in the last century. Therefore, we experienced in unprecedented disasters. However, although we entered into a new century, we are placed in the situation that there is no way but to give priority to power. Small countries and weak persons have nothing to depend on and become more anxious. The inspection ports of airports become stricter day by day and entry is not permitted without taking fingerprints in some countries. In case of light tourism also, I have the feeling that I am treated as a potential terror suspect in the airport. In such a situation, it would be difficult to everybody to say that the mankind developed in the real meaning.

An event was created in the U.S.A. to show that the world becomes more unstable. This time, it was the crisis of financial collapse. Bear Stearns Bank, one of the largest 5 financial institutions in the U.S.A., which had the pride of 85 years of history on the Wall Street in New York, the U.S.A. that experienced September 11 attacks, was dishonored in March. This is a kind of financial panic called sub-prime mortgage. This is not suddenly happened on a day but is related with the unreasonable financial and consuming system of the U.S.A. The U.S.A. had had the special right to use dollars as the key currency of the world since World War II. As a result, all the matters were done if the U.S.A. issued dollars and distributed them in the world by the necessity by the U.S.A.In contrast, other countries had to produce and sell products and store U.S. dollars paid for such products. The U.S. Wall Street made various kinds of financial techniques as the financial center of the world and accumulated the wealth with use of such techniques with no production of commodities. Due to such reason, the U.S.A. became the kingdom of consumption and the conspicuous consumption of Americans became the common matter. Due to the influence of conspicuous consumption, Americans purchased the houses exceeding their income levels competitively asking for loans. Various financial institutions including banks formed a new financial high interest network by the method such as permitting loans with the mortgage of receivables of such loans. Meanwhile, when the bubble prices of real estates declined heavily, the persons purchased the houses could not repay the loans and chain reactions were caused. Most of professionals expect long term recession and confusion in relation to the crisis of credibility of the U.S.A.

This financial event created in the U.S.A. has the serious point in the respect that direct influences are given to other countries besides the high possibility of recurrence. For example, Island, which was appointed as one of the good countries to live in, excessively depended upon overseas finance and is faced on the bankruptcy of the country now. The financial crisis started in the U.S.A. may result in sudden unhappiness in any country.



The financial system of the Wall Street of the U.S.A. is the advance guard point of new liberalism. The faceless speculation capital moves over boundaries and time to enlarge the size of profit attached to the capital. The lump of capital is cultivated to create larger profit. The blind desire of men is integrated in the speculation capital. It does not contain the common virtue of the mankind such as understanding, concern, and friendship. Sub-prime mortgage event symbolically exposed the crisis of global lives occupied by new liberalism. Matrix, a worldwide hit movie showing that a computer is placed on the head of a man, is not a simple imagination. It means that the man is governed by virtual network not by the sweat of labor in the actual world and may penetrate deep into our actual world.

The specific feature of new liberalism is, in a word, maximization of competition. It drives out the individuals to continuous egoistical relationship rather than reasonable cooperative relationship. As the competition is very hot, individuals should make efforts to the utmost of their power not to drop out of the line. The man may easily be treated as an consuming object rather than the subject of personality. As efficiency is the best data to make judgments, flexibility of labor is highlighted for easy dismissal and irregular job is preferred for easy replacement. The increased irregular jobs in Korea are related with new liberalism.

Meanwhile, the man is the entity of “relationship.” The man is born and grows in the relationship and forms the relationship through social activities. The sense of security and fulfillment is felt only when a conviction that good relationships are maintained with family, office, or surroundings is felt. However, it is not easy to form proper relationships under new liberalism that winning in the competition is highlighted. Also, I occasionally feel that I am also separated from the relationships and pushed out to the circumstance part. However, I am surprised looking at me standing at a cliff. It is thought to me that each of individuals isolated from the society governed by enterprises are usually in such a risky-feeling situation. Actually, many persons under new liberalism are placed in almost defenseless naked status in front of the endless competition system. Since the both world wars, they had extreme uneasiness in their everyday lives due to the situation of that times that it was unclear when a war might be started. At that time, Heidegger, a German existentialism philosopher, expressed the time, “Persons are thrown in the world.” Today, we are thrown in the critical situation that all the persons become the enemies.

As the man is the entity of relationship, the enterprise cannot exist apart from relationship, too. When saying with use of the hint of Aristotle, “The man is asocial animal,” “The enterprise is a social entity.” The enterprise is made by the man, is operated by the man, provides products and services to the man, and receives the price. Therefore, the enterprise should value the man. The laborers working in the enterprises are not less important than the persons invested money in the enterprises. However, the laborers provided time and sweat, i.e., a part of their lives, in stead of money. The laborers may feel the worth when the price of work is balanced. Such delight should be shared by businessmen also.

The enterprise should respect the persons out of the enterprise. Appropriate roles and responsibilities should be played and executed to meet the essence of the enterprise that is a social entity. Social operation and social responsibilities of the enterprise, which is recently discussed, are very natural ones. Now, highlighting the social responsibilities of the enterprise is a worldwide trend and Korea should also go to such direction. However, the enterprise should not stop. As amazing imaginative power is used in making commodities, the enterprise should gather creativity for social relationship.

When the enterprise respects the inside and outside persons and fulfills the social responsibilities, the enterprise will have no way but to succeed. If such belief and faith is not available, what the ideal and hope of lives may be depended on. Like the wish of Martin Luther King, a nonviolent human rights activist of the U.S.A., who said, “I have a dream,” we may also have a dream to jump over it in the society that competition and differentiation became common. Although Koran businessmen have made lots of contributions in economical growth, they has been distrusted. They have lots of money but live like hermits apart from the masses. However, it’s the time that wealthy persons are also accepted for their making their wealth through their own endeavors rather than illegality or chance luck. It’s the time that they expose their bodies to the masses with no hesitation and share the everyday lives.

This year is 60th anniversary of UN’s Human Right Declaration. The UN’s Human Rights Declaration starting with the words, “Where as recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,” says , “it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to be rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.”

Two events were recently created in Asia in relation to Buddhist priests. The one was created in the country called Myanmar by military government which was Burma in past. The country has been governed by the military authority since 60’s like the past Korea. Aung San Suu Kyi, a daughter of General Aung San called the father of foundation of Burma, received absolute popular support when the party led by her obtained 392 seats among 485 seats in the Parliament in the election in 1990. According to the result, Aung San Suu Kyi had to be the head of the government but, in contrast, she has spent most of her days confined in her house by the military authority since that time. Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded with Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and was awarded with Gwangju Prize for Human Rights in 2001 by the May 18 Memorial Foundation that holds this event today. Buddhist priests demonstrated in September last year in Myanmar and the police fired at such demonstration team killing or damaging the Buddhist priests.

Meanwhile, two months ago, a demonstration was held by Buddhist priests in Tibet in China. By the same way, Chinese government fired at them and the Buddhist priests were died or injured. A refugee government was founded in Dharamsala in 1959 by Dalai Lama, the religious leader of Tibet. He consistently asked Chinese government dialogue by nonviolent method like Gandhi. Dalai Lama was also awarded with Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. On 30th April, Chinese court sentenced 17 citizens participated in the demonstration team to severe punishment ranging from imprisonment for life to three year’s imprisonment. The books written by Dalai Lamar have wide range of readers in Korea. His teaching is not significantly different from Korean Buddhism thought and his consistent pacifism line gives impression like those of Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Korean readers and peace movement activities wish to meet Dalai Lamar. However, unfortunately, his entry is not yet permitted by Korean government.

Former President Dae-Jung Kim was detained and sentenced to death by military authority at the time of Gwangju mass resistance. Nobel Committee awarded Nobel Peace Prize to him in 2000 and stated the reason for being awarded, “His commitment in favor of democracy in Burma and against repression in East Timor has been considerable.” We need to remember the deep interest in the Asian democracy and human rights of former President Kim Daejung.

What worried about in the measures taken by Myanmar and Chinese governments to the demonstration by Buddhist priests is that firing was done at citizens in both cases. The right or wrong and feature of demonstration at that time is not clear due to limit of press. It is not clear what type of event was held during demonstration. Article 19 of UN’s Human Rights Declaration guarantees the freedom of expression and Article 20 states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” Also, Article 2of UN's Human Rights Declaration states, “no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.” According to this article, the Buddhist priests of Burma and Tibet have the rights to express their intended words in the form of peaceful meeting and demonstration.

In 1929, the students asked, in the Gwangju Anti-Japanese Student Movement, the government the freedom of press, publication, meeting, and association. In1980, the masses rose because the freedom of meeting and association to express their political will by violent method by soldiers. Nothing is more essential freedom than the freedom of expression and peaceful expression with gathering of many persons. It is not the one that is given by a mighty person to weak persons or is given by a group or government to citizens in the form of benefits. Freedom is the rights naturally assigned to the man. Such natural freedom was limited in Burma and China.

Eastern Asia recently attracts attention from the world. China, holding Olympic Game in August, intends to make the Olympic Game the motive to elevate the national prestige as Japan and Korea did in past. Olympic is the symbol of peace and harmonization. However, unfortunately, Eastern Asian area does not form a stable situation yet. Han Peninsula is in divided situation, fairly large scales of U.S. Army are stationed in Korea and Japan, and both countries intend to strengthen the alliance with the U.S.A. Such a trend indicates that the possibility that military tension is relieved in Eastern Asia is not large yet. Also, on the other hand, '6 Party Talks' is held in relation to the nuclear problem of North Korea. Amity with the U.S.A. and Japan is important to North Korea that is economically difficult but there is no progress due to kidnapping problem in the relationship with Japan as well as the nuclear problem.

Such many problems indicate that inter-government dialog and, furthermore, the solidarity and cooperation by Asian citizen societies is needed.

After World War II, the press had an interview with Doctor Schweitzer called the saint of African jungle. At that time, a reporter asked him which view of life he had, pessimistic or optimistic. Schweitzer answered in the meaning that he experienced the tragedies of two times of large wars. However, lots of weapons including nuclear weapons were produced and disputes were not discontinued. When he saw such situation, he had no way but to have pessimistic thought in relation to the future of the mankind. However, if he could participate for contribution in some improvement of such situation although his ability was insufficient, he might be optimistic in such respect.

A fairly long time elapsed in this new millennium but the future of the mankind is not bright yet. There is no large difference in Asia, too. Stable peaceful situation is not yet constructed and there is the omen of resurrection of nationalism appealing to mass psychology. However, in harder situations, the masses of Asia overcame. Human rights and peace are gradually considered to be the common value. We still have the works to perform and have the hands to take each other. In this respect, it will possible to have optimistic prospect like the hope of Doctor Schweitzer.

Thank you.