Inheriting the spirit of the May resistance

Inheriting the spirit of the May resistance

On May 18 1980, students and citizens of Gwangju launched a nationwide resistance against the US colonial rule and fascist rule of the military junta.

Memorial services for the victims of the May 18 Gwangju Popular Uprising took place in Gwangju and different parts of south Korea on the lapse of 37 years after the uprising.

A candlelight-eve for honoring the memory of the martyrs of the uprising was held in Gwangju on May 17, with the attendance of more than 5 000 people including bereaved families, religionists and members of civic organizations.

The participants sang in chorus the song "March for Dear Ones" and a performance depicting the final resistance on May 27 1980 was given.

All military fascist gangsters including Chun Doo-hwan who slaughtered the martyrs, those who took Baek Nam-gi’s life and those who bred ferry Sewol disaster should be punished, the executive chairman of the April 16 Family Association stressed at the meeting.

They hardened their determination to join hands in the action to uproot all social evils left by the former regime.

On May 18, a commemorative meeting took place in Mangwol-dong cemetery of Gwangju with at least 10 000 people in attendance.

The truth of Gwangju massacre should be brought to light and social democracy should be realized in the spirit of the May 18 resistance and the candlelight revolution, they asserted.

Similar events were held in Seoul, Busan, Daegu and other parts of south Korea.

The speakers at a rally held in Gwanghwamun Plaza said that the May resistance in 1980 developed into the candlelight revolution to unseat the Park group eventually.

Nearly 40 years have passed since the uprising, but the wish of the south Korean martyrs has not yet come true.

The south Korean people would surely build a new society where the popular masses are masters of it through more energetic action, wiping out the US and its sycophant forces.