Marking the 38th Gwangju popular uprising

It has been 38 years since the Gwangju popular uprising. The Gwangju Popular Uprising in 1980 was a bloody anti-U.S., anti-fascist patriotic struggle staged by the south Korean people to put an end to the U.S. colonial rule, ferocious fascist military dictatorial regime and to achieve independence, democracy and reunification. The uprisers seized the city for ten days, dealt a telling blow at the protracted military fascist dictatorship and, shook the U.S. colonial rule to its very foundation. It is 38 years since the uprising but the desire of the brave participants in the resistance to see an independent and democratic new society and achieve the reunification of the country has not yet come true. The U.S. has posed itself as master of south Korea and inflicted indescribably horrible disasters and sufferings upon the Korean nation. The pro-U.S. conservative force, which accepted the baton from past military fascist junta, had been given deserved punishment by the people, however, it has made desperate efforts to revive the past days. A candlelight rally was held in Gwangju on May 17 in memory of victims of Gwnagju massacre. About 10 000 residents including members of the Gwangju Headquarters of the South Side Committee for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, the April 16 Consultative Council of Families and families of victims took part in the rally. The fighting spirit of uprisers, who sacrificed their precious youth and lives for independence and democracy of south Korea and national reunification, is alive in Gwangju, they said.    Their fighting spirit is fadeless no matter how much water may flow under the bridge and they should gratify the uprisers’ cherished desire, they noted.   The south Korean people of every degree will surely realize independence, democracy and reunification desired by the uprisers and people by launching a vigorous drive to throw overboard the conservative force as early as possible with the spirit and stamina displayed at the Gwangju popular uprising.