2005
Gwangju (Kwangju) Prize
for Human Rights
Wardah Hafidz
from Urban Poor Consortium / Up Link
Awarded in Korea
Indonesian Wardah Hafidz has been selected as the winner of this year's human rights prize in honor of the May 18, 1980 civic uprising against the military regime in Korea.
The May 18 Memorial Foundation on Friday announced Wardah Hafidz as the winner of the Gwangju (Kwangju) Prize for Human Rights in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of human rights of the poor and the democratization of Indonesia.
``Hafidz has contributed to Indonesia's democratization, by helping the needy in urban areas establish their organizations and protect their own human rights despite her government's opposition,'' the foundation said in a statement.
The 53-year-old activist has long defended the rights of the urban poor, and fought for gender equality and justice in her country. She now works as coordinator of the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) and the Indonesia Forum for Women and Islam.
``We concluded the undaunted efforts of Hafidz exhibits the spirit of the May 18 Kwangju Uprising against the authoritarian regime,'' the foundation added.
Wardah starting savings groups
at a dump site in Indonesia 2003
In Bande Aceh
aiding Tsunami survivors 2005
For more go to ACHR Tsunami
HERE
An award ceremony is to be held on May 18 in the Memorial Culture Hall in Kwangju.
Meanwhile, the foundation plans to hold the Gwangju International Peace Camp May 14-18 to commemorate the uprising.
The May 18 uprising in the southwestern city of Kwangju is one of the most momentous events in the course of Korea's democratization.
In the aftermath of the 18-year authoritarian Park Chung-hee regime that ended with his assassination in 1979, another military regime by Chun Doo-hwan and his colleagues took power and began cracking down on dissidents.
On May 5, 1980, the military junta led by Chun declared martial law and dispatched about 25,000 soldiers to Kwangju, where the regime faced the stoutest resistance from the people yearning for democratization.
During the event, which lasted from May 18-27, a total of 154 civilians were killed, with 3,193 wounded and 70 missing. The government detained another 1,589 civilians.
The uprising, branded at first as a riot by the government, was recognized seven years later as the democratization movement and came with the establishment of the foundation by civic activists in 1994.
The foundation has bestowed the award since 2000. Among the previous winners are Xanana Gusmao, president of East Timor, in 2000; Basil Fernando, executive director of a Hong Kong-based rights group, in 2001; the Korean Association of bereaved families for democracy in 2002; Dandeniya Gamage Jayanthi, leader of the Monument for the Disappeared in Sri Lanka, in 2003; and Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy in Myanmar last year.
