The 21st International Meeting of the Korean Friendship Association (KFA) took place on the 13th of November in sunny Barcelona ,which is Spain’s second largest city and the capital of the region of Catalonia .
The meeting took place in a community centre, run by the Communist Party of the People of Spain , in a working class area of Barcelona .
The meeting marked the 21st anniversary of the foundation of the Korean Friendship Association . The atmosphere of the meeting was militant and upbeat . There had been many provocations and attempts to shut down KFA over the years such as denying the right of KFA President Alejandro Cao De Benos to travel by confiscating his passport for over 5 years . However despite these vicious moves KFA has survived and is expanding rapidly with over 17,000 members registered worldwide .
The mood of the meeting was upbeat and positive .The meeting served as a militant demonstration of support for People’s Korea .
The meeting was attended by activists , officials and members of the Korean Friendship Association from different parts of Spain plus delegations representing the UK and Germany . Attending the meeting were both very young people as well as some middle aged people .
Covid 19 travel restrictions and other factors meant not all delegations that wanted to be there could not attend .Written contributions were received from KFA Switzerland ( who could not attend due to a family emergency ) . KFA Singapore , KFA Serbia , KFA Australia , KFA Turkey , KFA Basque Country and the head of KFA Spain ( who could not be there in person ). Messages of greetings from KFA Finland , KFA Greece and KFA Macedonia .
The DPRK Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries ( the KFA ‘s partner organisation in the DPRK ) sent a message to the meeting extending greetings to all participants in the meeting and said that despite all kinds of challenges from hostile forces , KFA has grown .
The DPRK embassy in Spain also sent a message. It should be noted that two years ago the DPRK Embassy in Madrid was subjected to a violent terrorist attack by a CIA gang which left a number of staff members injured , even children were beaten up and tied up by the CIA terrorists . In 2017 the Spanish government on orders from the US expelled the DPRK Ambassador to try and limit the work of the DPRK Embassy in Spain .
Alejandro in his speech said that People’s Korea has not forsaken its principles but firmly maintained socialism and that People’s Korea is a torch in the darkness . He pointed out that in People’s Korea you have free housing and that the DPRK is based on the principle of ‘One For All and All For One ‘. Alejandro also said that in the past year repression against friends and supporters of People’s Korea have happened in Japan , New Zealand and other countries . KFA has not been immune to this , Alejandro continued saying that ‘ MI5 and the BBC tried to destroy KFA with their lies but now KFA is stronger than ever . ‘
Dr Dermot Hudson in his speech stressed that ‘Over the past two years both KFA and KFA UK have come under attack from hostile forces but we have survived ! KFA is attacked because we tell the truth about People’s Korea . We defend People’s Korea with No ifs or buts , often 24/7 . We defend People’s Korea with enthusiasm , we are not half-hearted about it. That is why they hate us so much .Our enemies want to shut down KFA and silence the voice of truth defending People’s Korea’.
Dr Hudson referred to the achievements of People’s Korea which is an ever victorious land of Juche saying that “If you have the opportunity to visit People’s Korea as I have done 18 times you will see a clean country , a well ordered country , a country that is going forward fast . A country without homeless people or beggars , without drug addicts or prostitutes or pornography. A country where people sing of the joys of life . This is the reality of People’s Korea, the ever-victorious land of Juche’.
Many of the written contributions and speeches by delegates referred to the achievements of People’s Korea and its self-reliant nature . The contribution of Martin Lotscher of KFA Switzerland said that the DPRK is an independent socialist country . The Organisation Secretary of KFA Spain in his speech pointed out how the DPRK had rejected the fake ‘humanitarian’ aid of imperialism .
The representative of KFA Madrid in his speech pointed out that there is hostility to the DPRK from what East Asian people call the Baizuo’s , better known as the fake left in Western countries.
A representative of the newly revived KFA Germany , which was represented by a 2 member delegation , addressed the meeting .
Awards were given to KFA officials and members .
A letter to dear respected Marshal KIM JONG UN was adopted .
KFA UK Chairman Dr Dermot Hudson presented KFA Spain with a Spanish language copy of the 1978 picture album ‘ People’s Paradise ‘ .
The next KFA International meeting will be held in Germany.
All in all the meeting proceeded in an atmosphere of enthusiastic support for People’s Korea and true internationalism .
After the meeting the delegates enjoyed lunch in a Chinese restaurant.
On the Sunday after the meeting we were given a guided tour of Barcelona by comrade Alejandro who told us a lot about Barcelona and Spanish history .
Overall it was a great experience .
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