Blogsite of The May 18 Memorial Foundation's Culture and Solidarity Team. A platform to highlight the team's and its networks/partners campaigns, activities, announcements, exchanges, and updates.
2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia
Background
The May 18 Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization established on August 30, 1994 by the surviving victims of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the victims, families, and the citizens of Gwangju. The Foundation aims to commemorate and continue the spirit of struggle and solidarity of the May 18 Uprising, contribute to the peaceful reunification of Korea, and work towards peace and human rights throughout the world. Since its establishment, the Foundation has carried out numerous projects in varying fields, including organizing memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research, disseminating public information, publishing relevant materials, dispensing charity and welfare benefits, building international solidarity, and awarding Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. The Culture and Solidarity Team is in charge of the Foundation's international solidarity work throughout Asia and implements this project.
Description
The 2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA) supports work that contributes to promoting Democracy and Human Rights and building of international solidarity. This grant shall be awarded to non-government organizations in Asia who continually play a significant role in strengthening people’s participation and empowerment in creating a civil society that respect human rights and protect democracy and peace and encourages international solidarity.
Funding scheme available: (US$ 1 = KRW 1,423.00, as of 24 October 2008)
Schemes
Description
Amount
Short-term grant
2 organizations will be supported for one year project
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.
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:
Deadline of application is on 28 November 2008. Short listed applicants will be emailed for an online/webcam interview through Skype or Yahoo messenger.
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
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 thisfundraising 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):
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 22nd 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 at11 am on 11th Sept 2008 as a way to remind ourselves of the 50th year of its becoming a law on 11th 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 andJMI
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.
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
“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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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 (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
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.
Irom Sharmila is a young woman of Manipur who has been on a fast-to-death for nearly 7 years now. She has been demanding the removal of a brutal law from her land. Manipur is a north-east Indian state (bordering Myanmar), riven for decades by insurgency and armed separatist movements. The Government of India has attempted to control the situation militarily, granting drastic powers to the security forces. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act enforced in the region lets people be arrested, shot and even killed - on suspicion alone. But Sharmila is willing to stake everything -- even her life -- to restore justice and dignity to her people.
The contrast between Gwangju and Manipur experience is indeed striking! At a time when the people of Gwangju was breaking away from the shackles of an oppressive regime in 1980, Manipur was sliding down towards a nightmarish experiences in the shadows of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
By 2000, a certain stability was achieved in Korean democratization process and the spirit of democracy started spreading across Asia through the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. The same year in Manipur, having exhausted all judicial and international remedies available with the UN, Sharmila resorted to indefinite hunger-strike demanding the repeal of the draconian Act. Seven years later in 2007, the Foundation took notice of Sharmila's struggles and awarded her the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
From Manipur perspective, in awarding this prestigious prize to Sharmila, the International Community is not only taking notice of the relentless struggle of the people of Manipur for a dignified life but also extending a fraternal solidarity.
- Babloo Loitongbam Executive Director Human Rights Alert
