PSPD in English Int. Solidarity 2005-05-18   750

[PSPD Statement] 25th Anniversary of ‘Gwangju May 18 Democratization Movements’

Toward the First Step for Democratization of Burma

25th Anniversary of ‘Gwangju May 18 Democratization Movements’ and Democracy in Asia: Toward the First Step for Democratization of Burma

18 May 2005

1. Today, we meet the 25th anniversary of ‘Gwangju May 18 Democratization Movements,’ which marked a historical milestone in Korean democratization movements. The Gwangju peoples’ resistance against military dictatorship in 1980 has been the ground on which we could stand for democracy, human rights and peace in this country. The Movements gives a profound significance to civil society in the world, especially those in Asian countries who are currently suffering under military dictatorships. Burmese peoples regard the Korean democratization experience as being be shared to promote democracy in Burma and they are desperately seeking for solidarity from Korea. As thus, we are now facing with the historical requirements, in upholding of the Gwangju’s spirit, to respond to the concerns of neighbering countries

2. Korean government however does show little concerns on the matters relating to democracy and human rights in the other Asian countries. Recently, the government rejected the refugee status application of those Burmese who are resident in Korea to bring forth democracy to their country. It is expected that Korean government to protect and promote the Burmese lives and performances in its territory according to international standards, but the government asked the applicants to depart from Korea within 5 days since its decision was given. The applicants are now, under 3 months’ suspension of deportation, painfully preparing a suit to withdraw the government’s rejection. It is clear that the applicants will not be welcomed if they are returned to Burma.

3. Korean government and the National Assembly have been maintaining a friendly economic relationship with Burmese military dictatorship, while the parliaments in the other Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia spontaneously organized an assembly to support the democratization movement in Burma and they are collectively rejecting Burma to take chair in ASEAN meetings. International society since 1990 has put pressures on Burma to stop military dictatorship and economic exploitation, in ways of reducing or cutting off economic aids and investments in the country. However, Korean government, ignoring the requirement of international society, strengthened the measures to economically cooperate with Burma because Burma promises favorable treatment for foreign investments into the country. Furthermore, Korean government abstained from voting for the ILO draft to put a sanction on forced labour in Burma.

4. We strongly ask Korean government and the National Assembly to review and assess if its past and current policies for Asian countries are to develop its own economy, regarding neighbering Asian countries as economic targets rather than as the members of international society to coexist. We could achieve current democracy at expenses of Gwangju peoples and other thousands of peoples scarified under depressive government. Now, it is called for us to provide abiding and sincere concerns and solidarity on those in the other Asian countries who are hardly moving forward democracy as we did. What Asian friends including Burma expect is the solidarity from Korea who has experience to achieve an institutional democracy through active civil society movements, though its democracy does not reach substantial context yet. We should not forsake the expectation. The PSPD will devote itself sincerely to the democratization and human rights protection in Asian countries.

International Solidarity Committee



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