Statement of the Civil Committee for Honoring the Former President Roh Moohyun

Demand Lee Myungbak Administration
Sincerely Fathom the Bereaved People
and Be Aware of the Public Wrath on its Unilateral Governance

The funeral ceremony for the former president Roh Moohyun was solemnly held on May 29 under the shedding tears and lament of people. We express our deep sorrow and pray for the repose of the deceased.

Since the former president Roh’s demise was told a week ago, people mourned him in tears and deep sorrow. The mourning altars were set up across the country and people did not mind to line up and wait for several hours to pay their respect and grief while honoring ceremonies were held from place to place.

People expressed such a deep grief because the former president Roh touched them by fighting against regional conflicts and fence-sitter’s behaviors of the most politicians as well as always being humble as he showed throughout his lifetime.

It is truly a big misfortune for the Korean society to lose such an honorable figure that did not attempt to reign over people but devoted himself to communicate with people regardless of political, ideological differences.

We, the Civil Society, as one of the parties in arguments and conflicts with the Roh administration over his policies confess that his demise allowed us to have a time to reflect ourselves, whether we did our best to root out outdated political customs of the Korean society and to make the police and the prosecution that exert public power not to be misused but to keep political neutrality.

We also reflect ourselves whether we were hardened to the political retaliation of the prosecution and certain journalists humiliating the former president Roh.

We deeply reflect ourselves whether we were in faint resistances against a comprehensive crisis of the Korean society where democracy was seriously undermined, where economic policies threatened ordinary people’s livelihood, and where tension between South and North Korea was skyrocketing since Lee’s inauguration.

Today, the Civil Committee for Honoring the Former President Roh Moohyun is to wind up as the funeral was concluded and the Committee has completed its missions. As remembering the wills and dreams of the deceased who always tried to stand on democracy and ordinary people’s side, we are to find what we have to do next.

First of all, we shall charge the Lee administration with political and ethical responsibilities for driving the former president Roh to end his life. The president Lee Myungbak should apologize to the bereaved family and the departed people. The Prosecutor General, the Chief investigator and the Minister for Justice have to be dismissed since they were in charge of commanding and supervising political retaliation including such a dragnet investigation and publicizing unproven allegations during the investigation.

Next, we shall urge the Lee administration to fundamentally change its governance towards democracy. That is what people are demanding in one voice. Lee should do it before he urges people be calm for national integration or reconciliation. The Lee administration has to cease its arbitrary policy-making process and oppressive governance with mobilizing the police force and the prosecution. Otherwise, it is just a political rhetoric. Without a fundamental change, national integration never be achieved.

The Lee Myung Bak administration should face up to the reality that people have turned their back on it. Before it is too late, the government should determine to change toward democratization, national integration and peace on the Korean Peninsular. We shall aggregate the power of people to make the Lee administration promise in front of the people to conduct the demands.

For this, a comprehensive solidarity between whoever agrees on democracy, peace on the Korean Peninsular and revitalization of economy for ordinary citizens is substantial. We, the civil society, shall fulfill our responsibilities and missions to bring the wide-ranging solidarity as overcoming minor differences for meeting people’s demands.

Reminding our responsibilities and missions as being departed, we express our deep sorrow and wish the former president Roh Moohyun rest in peace.