Support the Asian region to strengthen democracy. Join us to Designate May 18 as a universal day for the prevention of militarism and authoritarianism!
Sign the petition here: https://bit.ly/38gAVf0
Leaflet (Dhivehi): shorturl.at/szTY4
Leaflet (English): https://bit.ly/2Fq4r5U
“The 18th of May 1980 is a day of great importance not only for Korea but for the whole world. On this day, a great uprising took place; an entire city rose up against the military coup in South Korea. For many days, the people stood together, preventing the entrance of armed battalions sent to take control of the city. It was a rare moment of solidarity.
After several days, the military battalions entered the city to take it by force, daring to shed the blood of their own people. About 160 people opted to sacrifice their lives rather than to surrender to the military. They made the first sacrifice in order to awaken the whole of the nation and the international community to defeat militarism and to restore democracy in their land. Their wish was amply rewarded and the people engaged in a constant struggle to defeat the military regime, and they finally succeeded. South Korea today is a vibrant democracy. The two military leaders, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-Woo, were brought to trial and were convicted.
In many parts of the world, authoritarianism and militarism of various forms has come to the forefront. Even in the most sophisticated circles, there are arguments advocating militarism and authoritarianism as being unavoidable in order to achieve economic growth. There are many governments that were elected to power but, by use of many sophisticated means, their actual form of governance has transformed itself into authoritarianism. Many forms of governance have emerged that use the argument of necessity in defense of authoritarianism and militarism.
Advocates of democracy and human rights need to address this issue on an urgent basis. Public institutions dealing with the administration of justice can be transformed into instruments of authoritarianism. This has in fact been happening in many countries for a considerable period of time. Adequate resistance to this displacement of democracy and the rule of law has not yet emerged. Under those circumstances, people feel alienated, isolated, repressed and powerless. Manufactured public consent has displaced the possibilities the genuine participation. Everywhere people are seeking solutions to these problems.
The recognition of Gwangju Uprising has global implications for enhancing genuine people’s participation without which efforts for achieving accountability and transparency of governance can achieve very little. The theme of good governance must incorporate the resistance to militarism and authoritarianism.
The recognition of the May 18 as the Universal Day for the Prevention of Militarism and Authoritarianism will be symbolic of global recognition of this challenge to develop genuine public institutions within which people could find their means to participate in the processes of governance. We urge all advocates of democracy and human rights to support a declaration of the 18th of May as the Universal Day for the Prevention of Militarism and Authoritarianism.”
Sign the petition here: https://bit.ly/38gAVf0