Asian
Human Rights Commission
Basil Fernando of AHRC awarded 2001 Gwangju Prize
for Human Rights Award - About Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
AHRC - Basil Fernando of AHRC awarded 2001 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights - About Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
The Background of the Gwangju Human Rights Award
The 'Yoon Sang-won Award' and the May Citizen's Award have been awarding to those who tool part in furthering the spirit of May 18 Gwangju Uprising (which occurred in May 1980). To express solidarity, the above awards have been given out 9 times since 1991.
The Yoon Sang-won Award was established to revere the memory of Yoon Sang-won, a student leader, the spokesman of students during the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Uprising, and who was killed young at the Chollanamdo Provincial Hall on dawn of the 27 May 1980. His comrades of a night school, into which he poured his passion, his colleagues and their families found the award committee, and every year chose one person who strove to solve the problems that followed May 18 Gwangju Uprising.
Objectives of Establishing Gwangju Human Rights Award
- To enhance the spirit of 5.18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising through awarding an individual at home or abroad who have contributed to improving human rights and peace throughout the world. These are the ultimate goals that the spirit of the 5.18 Gwangju Democractic Uprising has continually tried so hard to reach.
- To reach to individuals at home and abroad and reward them, for the purpose of establishing the goals of 5.18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising as a movement toward re-unification of the Korean peninsula on a non-governmental basis [through people's initiatives].
- To celebrate Gwangju citizen's role during the 5.18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising and to spread the truth about the 5.18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising and to share the spirit of May through enhancing human rights and working towards world peace.
Gwangju Human Rights Award was established to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 5.18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. The establishment of Gwangju Human Rights Award indicated that the spirit of May 1980 is linked to the protection of human rights and peace. It implies the objective to continue the spirit of May 1980 towards future, both in terms of universalizing the spirit of May 1980 and pursuing the struggle for democratization and human rights of the people of Asia and the world.
Selecting process of the 2nd awardee of the Gwangu Prize for Human Rights
Jan. 5. 2001. Forwarded written requests for recommendation to international and domestic groups and individuals in accordance with the Regulations of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights (article 7, organization of recommendation).
Feb. 28. 2001. Closed the period for recommendation of candidates.
Mar. 28. 2001. The Board of Directors made its decision on the composition of the Judging Committee.
Apr. 9. 2001. The Judging Committee confirmed the awardee.
Apr. 10. 2001. Announcement of the selected awardee in a press interview.
May. 18. 2001. The 2nd Awarding Ceremony of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights(provisional).
The Panel of Judges of the 2nd Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
Father Jo Bi-Oh:
Head-Commissioner of the Judging Committee)
Reverend Gang Sin-Seok
Director Bae Da-Ji
Hwang In-Seong: Secretary-general of the Presidential Truth
Commission on
Suspicious Deaths
President Yun Yong-Gyu
About the May 18 Memorial Foundation
The May 18 Memorial Foundation was established on August 30, 1994 in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. After the Korean government compensated the May 18 Democractic Uprising victims in Gwangju, the Activists' Association of the May Uprising suggested to contribute the compensation money to the society. The Foundation was established in response to this suggestion.
Unlike other May 18 related groups, which have campaigned primarily to seek out the truth of May 18 and to punish those responsible, the May 18 Memorial Foundation gives its priority to projects to continue the May 18 spirit.
For this purpose, the foundation has worked on various memorial projects, which include commemorations, memorial ceremonies, academic workshops, and cultural events, as well as funding scholarships to cultivate and support people of ability from this region.
Beginning this year, the foundation has begun to lay more emphasis on a project to continue the May 18 spirit to the younger generation, those born after 1980. In this project are included a historical camp for teenagers, an oratorical contest with the theme of democracy, human rights and the May 18 spirit, and the development of teaching materials and introductory course for teachers of history and social studies.
The foundation is also working on projects for international solidarity to share Korea's experience of democracy and human rights with other Asian countries. Since the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights was established last year, the foundation has been selecting and awarding people, either home and abroad, who have devoted themselves to democracy, human rights and peace. Mr. Xanana Gusmao, the leader of the independence movement of East Timor, was selected as the first awardee in 2000, and Mr. Basil Fernando of AHRC as the second awardee in 2001. The foundation has been inviting the victims' families of Asian democratization and human rights movements to Gwangju over the last three years, in order to form a network among them. Through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Solidarity Work for Human Rights with AHRC of Hong Kong, the foundation will continue to play an active role in promotion and protection of human rights in the Asian region as well as internationalization of the May 18 spirit.
About Gwangju Democratic Uprising
Gwangju Democratic Uprising and Gwangju Massacre which occurred in May 1980 in the southern city of Gwangju in south Korea was the most significant landmark towards democratization of south Korea. The Uprising permanently ended military dictatorship and involvement of military in the politics in south Korea. Many Gwangju citizens paid dearly during the uprising many were brutally killed, made to disappear and tortured. But the defiant spirit of the Gwangju citizens did not die or disappear after the Uprising. The uprising was a unique community experience involving children to the old folks from all backgrounds in Gwangju. Present President Kim Dae-jung was sentenced to death by the military rulers in 1980 accusing him of conspiring and organizing the Gwangju Uprising. With great difficulty, the Gwangju citizens commemorated the Uprising with great difficulty in early 80's and continuously. The Gwangju citizens also continuously fought to bring justice to the victims of Gwangju Democratic Uprising and the massacre. Their biggest success was the prosecution of two former presidents of south Korea, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo in 1997. Chun was sentenced to life Roh for 20 years. Today the victims of Gwangju Uprising are put to rest in a cemetery in Gwangju which has been made a national shrine. There is a gigantic monument in the cemetery in memory of victims of Gwangju Uprising who are referred to as heroes or martyrs. Today, May 18 is a national memorial day in south Korea. Every year family members of these heroes and many other gather at the cemetery, especially during the month of May (notably on the 17 and 18 of May) to commemorate the Gwangju Uprising and to pay respect to the dead. Since 1999 many other family members of the killed and disappeared from Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Aceh (in Indonesia), East Timor, Philippines, Kashmir, Cambodia and Thailand have been attending commemoration activities and drawn inspiration from the spirit of Gwangju to continue their own unended struggles in their homelands. Last year (2000) President Kim Dae-jung attended the 20th anniversary commemoration activities of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising.
For more information about Gwangju Democratic Uprising you may also see following web sites and articles
Basic Information
Gwangju Citizens' Solidarity Web Site
Events in Gwangju
Declaration of the Asian Human Rights Charter - A People's Charter in Gwangju
Articles
Yoon Sang-won The
knowledge in those eyes by Bradley Martin
Gwangju A Flame of Democracy by Sanjeewa Liyanage
Other documents
Gwangju Resolution on Human Rights
President Kim-dae Jung's address during the 20th Anniversay Commemorations
Asian Human Rights
Commission
Email: ahrchk@ahrchk.org
Last updated May 24, 2001 11:47 AM.
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