Rights group to honor Myanmar citizens
A human rights group commemorating the late pro-democracy movement activist Park Jong-cheol has awarded the people of Myanmar, who are staging protests against the military junta’s coup, as the winners of the Park Jong-cheol Prize for Human Rights.
According to the Park Jong-cheol Memorial Business Association, Wednesday, its award committee decided to present the award to the people of Myanmar, saying it wants to be in solidarity with them. “The sacrifice of Park, who sought democracy by risking his life despite the fear and pain of torture, put an end to the military dictatorship in Korea which seemed to last forever,” the committee said in a statement. “We promise to stand in solidarity under Park’s name until Myanmar’s military dictatorship ends.”
It also called on the military and police in Myanmar to stop the violence and massacring of citizens. The annual award was established in 2003 to honor people or organizations that have made significant efforts to improve democracy and human rights. The association said it seeks to commemorate Park’s righteous death and his spirit of pursuing justice.
The association said it will deliver 5 million won ($4,454) of prize money and a charity fund raised by the public to Myanmar citizens. The fundraising started on Monday and will be available until May 30.
Park, a former student at Seoul National University, died on Jan. 14, 1987, at the age of 21, after being tortured during a police interrogation about his activities during the nationwide pro-democracy movement that year against the Chun Doo-hwan regime.