The Truth of May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising is Hunting the Tyranny

       The Truth of May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising is Hunting the Tyranny

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is said, Winston Churchill. Now the May 18 Democratic truth is incontrovertible and it is appearing every day and constantly defeating their adversaries.

 39 years have passed since May 18, 1980, Gwangju Democratic Uprising but each year and months many witnesses from Korea and people from all over the world have come forward to record their testimonies about the truth of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising.

Gwangju: People peacefully gathered in the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising 1980

These peoples are trustworthy who are coming forward from foreign investigation journalists, religious missionaries and peace crop officials who were there to do their duties and they were shocked by the brutality of the military regime of General Chun. These peoples are coming from all parts of the world to share their parts of stories and truth about the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprisings; these individuals are doing this without any greed, and no need personal gain and fame. But they are all want to share their part of truth so they feel satisfaction, inner peace and feel the justice should be done with victims of the May 18 martyrs.  

These peoples are like Late Journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter, who was the to reveal the news of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising and massacre by the military regime of General Chun in the German media.

The military regime had used Helicopters against the participants May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising 

Similarly, in 2019, an American epidemiologist and Ex Peace crop Doctor Paul Courtright is witnessed of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising returned to Gwangju to disclosed his part of the truth about the violence, and brutality of the regime.

Paul Courtright, member of the 48th Peace group of South Korea and he lived from1979-80 in the small village that was fighting its fierce battle against dangerous disease leprosy. The village was located 15 KM south of Gwangju. However, currently the village no more exists and now the large factory escalated in the area. His visit to the village was bittersweet. “The young people that I never knew got on with their lives. I hope the elderly live comfortably”.

The May 18 Gwangju Democratic uprising story is full of sacrifices, courage, and unity. But due to military regimes malice and hostility with democracy and human rights; regime makes many distortions and propaganda against the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising that is now ending and the truth is appearing in front people of Korea.

Paul Courtright

Courtright recalled his memory and shared that buses were transiting with full of students and common citizens. And they were calling Free Kim Dae Jung and moving to Gwangju to show their full solidarity with Citizens of Gwangju. Everybody was on the streets and supporting peoples demonstrating against the military regime of General Chun.

He shared that the people in my town were neither students nor agitator but they were common citizens and who peacefully marching and standing for their rights and democratization.

Late Journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter

Violence, Firing, Bullet shells, Bullet-ridden Buses

On May 18 the Gwangju city was surrounded by military, it’s all neutral and impartial communication sources were cut off by the military regime. The print media and TV media was fully controlled and censored by the brutal military regime, who called this uprising as a riot. People of Korea were only hearing the propaganda of the military regime who were striving to make this uprising murky.

Therefore, people had only heard the single version of the news that was based on military falsehood, and distortion. Courtright expresses the truth that “I first time saw violence on Monday, May 19 that a young man who peacefully protesting again regime was killed right in front of us by soldiers.

On May 22, 9180, when I was crossing Gwangju to Nampyeong, I found there was a number of buses and cars left with bullet marks. The buses and cars were bullet-ridden and blood was spreading everywhere that makes me upset and shocked told by Courtright.

Paul Courtright Lecture at GIC Gwangju

According to him “How to tell the story?   There is no single story.  The Gwangju incident happened over a number of days, involved thousands of people, and covered an area much bigger than Gwangju.  No single person could witness it all.  The only way that the Gwangju Incident can be told is by capturing the stories of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Gwangju as well as the surrounding towns. Damyang to the north and Naju to the south both have to contribute.  I can only tell my story—it is just one small piece of a much bigger story”. 

Truth never dies but it takes time to appear slowly to defeat its tyranny. Therefore, the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising truth is coming in pieces, small stories and testimonies in front people of Korea and to all over the world. This truth is making naked to the military regime who distorted the history of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic uprising and hundreds of innocents who were marching for democratization and rights. The truth of May 18 Democratic Uprising is blooming the reality, and sharing the stories of sacrifices of the May 18 martyrs who stood for the democratization and protection of human rights for their fellow brothers of Korean so their future generation could enjoy the liberty and freedom and fruits of democracy in Korea. Now, it is our responsibility that we should also stand against tyranny and share our piece of truth to make the tyranny naked who is waiting to ambush democracy and rights.  

Courtesy and Source:

Paul Courtright words “I happened to be one of the few witnesses in Gwangju in May 1980. I have lived with the feeling of guiltiness for not being able to help the people in need while they suffered extreme atrocities from the military government. I am writing a book on my experiences since that is the only way to redeem my debt to the people of Gwangju. I came to Gwangju to make my stories proper and vivid with my memories refreshed by my physical presence here. I also feel privileged to the witness of the event though I was not aware of the historical significance of the movement”. 

 

Reference: 

GIC Talk, What I Saw in the May Democratization Movement in 1980 <http://eng.gic.or.kr/portal/board.php?bo_table=notice_eng&wr_id=1138> [Accessed 7 May 2019]
Friends of Korea, How does history get captured?  Possible lessons from the Gwangju Uprising by Paul Courtright < http://www.friendsofkorea.net/fok-blog/archives/05-2019?view=full > [Accessed 7 May 2019]

The Korea Herald, [Exclusive] Former Peace Corps member Courtright recollects Gwangju Uprising < http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190512000161 > [Accessed 7 May 2019]

Shahnawaz is International Staff member who currently associated with the May 18 Memorial Foundation Gwangju, Republic of Korea. If you any question and suggestion please reach him at this email. shan.foundation518@gmail.com