Statement Announced by Korean NGOs 2

Action Should Come before Worlds

About 5000 demonstrators from about 600 NGO’s and civic groups gathered in central Seoul in front of the main gate of Jongmyo Park, the cemetery of the royal family and a UNESCO cultural heritage, to raise their voices against the visit of US President George W. Bush on February 20th.

Their major concerns constitute five points. First, the demonstrators feared that the US might be looking for an armed conflict with North Korea. Second, they demanded that America stop its extremely war-driven policy towards the Korean peninsula and, instead, seek a dialogue with North Korea on a respectful and honest basis. Third, they wanted America to stop its unjustified interference in the realization of the Joint Declaration, which was signed between North and South Korea on June 15th, 2000. In order to create a peaceful atmosphere on the Korean peninsula and build a basis for unification, the demonstrators demanded that America should cooperate with the efforts made by North and South Korea. Fourth, they requested that the Kim government represent the firm will of the Korean people to deter war on the Korean peninsula. The governmental representatives of North and South Korea were asked to commit themselves with unprecedented devotion to war prevention and peace. Finally, the demonstrators called for the continuation of the Joint Declaration and realization of a peaceful unification.

In addition, the demonstrators complained that US economic interests, through the IMF, have negatively influenced the South Korean economy. They called President Kim a puppet of the US government. Furthermore, they criticized the ambivalence of the US attitude in its demands for the demilitarization of North Korea on the one hand and arms proliferation in South Korea on the other hand. Other demands made during the demonstration were a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) revision, cessation of US interference in domestic policies, rejection of MD plans, and withdrawal of Korean troops from Afghanistan.

Some of the concerns that the demonstrators voiced might seem outdated, considering Bush’s reassurance of full support to Korea’s Engagement Policy towards North Korea during his stay in South Korea. However, the PSPD (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy), one of the participating groups at the demonstration, is skeptical about his sincerity: it is not about words but about actions. US actions in the future will prove how serious he really was.