Meeting with great people

I. November 27, 2008 -- MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society

MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society established on May 28, 1988. MINBYUN aims at the development of a systematic and organizational structure in response to human rights violations with the goal of becoming a valuable participant in the entire democratization movement. In addition, MINBYUN provides legal advice and cooperation to non-governmental organizations working for social progress. It consists of more than 500 lawyers from all parts of South Korea. The headquarters is located in Seoul, and there are seven other branch offices in Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Gwangju-Jeonnam, Daejon-Chungcheong, Jeonju-Jeonbuk and Gyungnam.

I arrived at 1 PM and read some articles. At 2 PM I had meeting with Ms. Seo Seon-Young (an Attorney at Law) and Ms. Lee Chaeyoung (a Volunteer in MINBYUN as an Interpreter) questioned about generally situation of the court and law, the role of freedom assembly and demonstration, and around of candle demonstration in South Korea. Our meeting was around 2 hours. I got copies of articles and the Korean Law ‘ADA’ (Assembly and Demonstration Act).

II. November 28, 2008 -- PSPD (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy)

It is a civil organization dedicated to promoting justice and human rights in Korean society through the participation of the people. PSPD founded in 1994 by more than 200 members. PSPD had been serving as a watchdog against the abuse of power, developed various activities to bring justice and democracy to many areas in the society.

I had meeting at around 10 AM with Ms. Cha Eunha (International Solidarity Committee). She explained about her organizations and gave a copy article related with the condition of freedom of assembly and democratization in South Korea.

She also asked me to write an article about my self and Indonesia and she will put it on her organization’s website. Our meeting finished at around 11.30 AM

III. November 29, 2008 -- Koh Jae Youl (A Reporter in SISA-IN)

I had meeting with Mr. Koh Jae Youl as a Staff Writer in SISA-IN Newspaper. SISA-IN is an independent newspaper in South Korea that established on September 2007.

I met him in Central City of Seoul at around 1 PM and finished at 4 PM. While he explained about his experiences as a reporter for around 9 years, we around the area where candle demonstrations were organize for the first time and nowadays. He explained about when, where, and why of candle demonstration. During my interview, there were 2 Korean students of Yonsei University who also interview him.

IV. December 2, 2008 -- Kim Sabong (A Professor of Philosophy Department in Chonnam University, Gwangju)

Professor Kim Sabong is a professor in Chonnam University of Philosophy Department. I met him at around 7 PM. He explained about the histories of democratic movements in South Korea. Our meeting was around 2 hours.

Unfortunately, organizations that I visited do not have books or other resources in English and also for their website.

I am thankful for the May 18 Memorial Foundation for the chance visited organizations in Seoul and Gwangju: meeting, interview with some people, and share histories, democratic movements, and law in South Korea. I learn and experienced lot of things.

By. Gregoria Barbarica K.R.
International Intern – The May 18 Memorial Foundation

December 3, 2008

Link:

www.518.org

Indonesian in Korea: My Story

As an International Intern at the May 18 Memorial Foundation, I already passed my time in South Korea especially in Gwangju around 9 months. I arrived in South Korea on March 2008. First time I didn’t know much about the country even Gwangju. Day by day, I learned and experienced a lot of things.

In Indonesia, I work for an NGO as a Program Coordinator. The name is SOLIDARITAS NUSA BANGSA-SNB (Homeland Solidarity). SNB is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) that focuses on society’s values such as dignity, equality, and freedom. Established on June 5, 1998 after The May Riot 98, SNB spontaneously has been a shelter for the riot’s victims and their relatives. Our vision is an Indonesia that is democratic, which appreciates friendship, pluralism values and honors equality. Our mission is to empower communities to be more aware of the values of pluralism and equality.

Before I went to South Korea, I worked around a year and a half in SNB. Most of my works were related with victim’s family of May Riot 98. We work with the association of victim’s family in Klender, East Jakarta. It is called FKKM (Forum Keluarga Korban Mei 1998) – Forum of Victim’s Family of May Riot 98.


What is May Riot 98?
It started on May 12, 1998 when more than a thousand people especially university students gathered at Trisakti University, Jakarta. They were against the government of former President Mr. Soeharto (RIP) who lead Indonesia since 1967-1998. There were clashes between demonstrators and the police, four university students died and many people got hurt.

The Trisakti Tragedy followed by May Riot on May 13-15, that made a lot of ordinary people angry. They made vandalism and burning of cars, stores, buildings, etc in some areas in Jakarta. The tragedy and riot also happened in some cities in Indonesia, like Palembang, Solo, Surabaya, and Lampung.

The tragedy and Riot were big moments for Indonesian society. It made a big change. Mr. Soeharto (RIP) deposed from his position as a president of Indonesia on May 21, 1998 and Mr. B.J.Habibie as a Vice President replaced him. After the tenure of Mr. Soeharto (RIP), many organizations were established. Most of them were NGO (Non Government Organization). Their aims, goal, vision, and mission were various but most were concerned on democracy, human rights, and peace. Democratization started from then on.

Since I work in my NGO in Indonesia, especially when I meet the victim’s family and see their smile, it made me more eager and involved on human rights, democracy, and peace

Until now, the government have not done much to address the tragedy and Riot. Most of the victims were laid to rest in Pondok Rangon, East Jakarta. On April 2007, we made a petition for 21 people / organizations to our president, Mr. Soesilo Bambang Yudhono. We asked the government for a proper grave of the May Riot’s victims.

Other activities that we have done includes: advocacy, book launching, exhibitions, and campaigns especially for May Riot 98.

The big moment for me during my internship program was when I joined the big demonstration at Geunamno Street (downtown) on June 10, 2008. It inspired me about how to organize mobilization. Candle demonstration, it is a calm and peaceful means of protest. People come with candles and sing struggle songs. At the candle demonstration, people could bring their family members even children. When we join, we could learn and experience history, our society problems, and gain knowledge especially related with democratization.


Most of people have the opinion that to reach our goal we need to use violence way. It is not right!! Violence just bring a lot of people to get hurt or died. Let’s us start the democratic movement by peaceful way, where a lot of people can join and fight together for our hope and dream.

For almost 10 months in South Korea, my knowledge and experiences were definitely enhanced. It was not only from the books, internet, or other resources, but also from the Korean people. The spirit and struggle of Korean people especially the historic 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising inspired me a lot.

My internship program will be finished this December, I will go back to Indonesia on December 27, 2008. Indonesia is a developing country. We still have a lot of weaknesses to address as a nation. As Indonesian, I will do my best to give my full capabilities as my way to fight for human rights, democracy, and peace. Thank you for the May 18 Memorial Foundation for having contributed a lot in charging my views and perspective in life.


By. Gregoria Barbarica K.R.
International Intern – The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Gwangju, South Korea
December 5, 2008

Photos by.
1. Pete Erlano Rahon
2. Yori

Links:
http://www.518.org/
http://www.snb.or.id/

The May Citizen Documentary Photographer Report 2008

Culture and Solidarity Team of the May 18 Memorial Foundation is holding an exhibition at the 518 gallery from October 7 – 31, 2008. The exhibition is different like the usual, because the photographers are the citizens who were educated by the Foundation.

Every year the Foundation opens an opportunity for Gwangju citizens who have interest in photography and the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. The program is ‘The May Citizen Documentary Photographer Academy’.
The program started last year in 2007. Last March, 2008 there were around 50 citizens who applied for the program. The Foundation chose 30 mostly senior citizens and married. Twice a week they have education session at the video room of the Foundation that run for 6 months.
On August, 2008 the education finished. Each of them were given a task to take photos and its corresponding information. There are 26 pictures being exhibited at the 518 gallery. The theme is everything in society, like human rights, democracy, peace, daily life, etc. The pictures are many kinds: candle light demonstration, farming activities, situation at the market, women activities, etc.

The aim of this program is to keep the spirit, struggle, and bravery of the professional photographers who took pictures during the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. In that time, it was a difficult for them to take pictures, but they could made memories with their pictures that people can see and learn until now. They made the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising refer to as post history of Gwangju in other cities and countries.
Even if the theme is general but every person must have a goal for their pictures. How they could convey the message and it can change opinion or life of other people who see them. How the pictures could change the society being good societies. It was not an easy work for them as general people (citizens).
On the opening ceremony, October 7 at 5 PM, the Chairman of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, Mr. Yun Kwang Jang, gave a graduation certificate to Mr. Choi Jeong Hwan as a representative of the class/students. He was the leader of the class/students. During the education, the students choose him as their leader. Other students also got the graduation certificate as a reward of their work to keep the spirit and struggle of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising.

On his speech, as a representative of the class/students, Mr. Choi Jeong Hwan said thank you for the May 18 Memorial Foundation, their teacher include Mr. Park Cheung as a coordinator of this program.
On its program and activities, the Foundation is covers different classes of the society like the students (elementary, middle, and high school), university student, and the public in general.
The education of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising is not only from the class, but they can also learn it with developing a hobby like photography.

Congratulations to all the students…

link:
www.518.org