Good Job ! We respect you... Korea's Former President

15/11/2007 DJ to Call for ‘Myanmar Democratization’

By Kim Yon-se Staff Reporter The Kim Dae-jung Peace Center will host an event, dubbed the ``Evening for the Democratization of Burma,'' next month to support the peace movement in Myanmar. To commemorate the seventh anniversary of former President Kim's receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, the event will be held at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Dec. 4. A Kim Dae-jung Peace Center official said the meeting is aimed at denouncing the armed repression of the people's movement for democratization last September and giving aid to Myanmar's people. ``About 600 dignitaries from various walks of life will attend and all admission fees will be sent to pro-democracy leaders in Myanmar,'' the official said. Among the participants will be Nobel Peace Laureate Kim; Harn Yawnghwe, director of the Brussels-based Euro-Burma Office; and Bertil Lintner, a Swedish journalist and author of several books on the Southeast Asian country. Kim and the participants are expected to reiterate their call for an early democratization of Myanmar. They plan to express deep anxiety over the worsening situation in the country during the event. Kim has urged Myanmar's government to guarantee the free political activities of dissidents, including Aung San Suu Kyi whose house arrest was lengthened in 2005. The former president also called on military leaders in Yangon to allow free entry and activities of United Nations representatives and other international NGOs, and to take appropriate measures so that humanitarian assistance from abroad can safely reach their suffering people. During his five-year presidential term from 1998 as well as during his time as an opposition leader in the 1980s and 1990s, Kim sent letters to the leaders of Myanmar and met with them in person to call for democratization, and to ensure the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic advocates. The Kim Dae-jung Peace Center stressed that the international community should make Myanmar's government take appropriate measures to give hope and relief to all people upholding human rights and democracy there. kys@koreatimes.co.kr