Compensation and Reparation for Victims and Bereaved Families, Measures for Restoring the Honor of Prisoners Needed
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union (Chairman Lee Chung-jae·photo) issued a statement on the 72nd anniversary memorial day of the Jeju 4·3 Uprising on the 3rd, urging the prompt revision of the Jeju 4·3 Special Act currently pending in the National Assembly, stating that “compensation and reparation for the victims and bereaved families of 4·3 and measures to restore the honor of the imprisoned are necessary.”
The Integrated Labor Union stated that the Jeju 4·3 Incident is one of the most tragic events in modern Korean history and expressed solidarity with the pain of the victims, bereaved families, and the residents of Jeju Island.
They pointed out that the incident, which lasted for 7 years and 7 months, involved armed conflict based on state violence and ideological conflicts between the North and South, which led many residents to unjust sacrifices.
The Integrated Labor Union also expressed anger that “the unjust sacrifices of the Jeju residents have not been properly resolved even after more than 70 years,” and added, “We hope that the revision of the 4·3 Special Act will be passed in the National Assembly as soon as possible so that practical measures can be established to alleviate the pain of the Jeju residents.”
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(Statement) Commemorating the Victims of the Jeju 4·3 Uprising
Urging the Prompt Revision of the Jeju 4·3 Special Act
Today marks the 72nd anniversary memorial day of the Jeju 4·3 victims. The Jeju 4·3 Uprising is one of the most tragic events in modern Korean history. We share the pain of the victims, bereaved families, and the residents of Jeju Island. As is well known, the Jeju 4·3 Incident refers to the armed clashes and suppression that occurred on Jeju Island from March 1, 1947, to September 21, 1954, during which residents were unjustly sacrificed. Over the course of 7 years and 7 months, armed conflict based on state violence and ideological conflicts between the North and South forced many residents into unjust sacrifices.
We are outraged that the unjust sacrifices of the Jeju residents have not been properly resolved even after more than 70 years. Compensation and reparation for the victims and bereaved families of 4·3, as well as the restoration of honor for those who were unjustly imprisoned, have not been effectively achieved. The revision bill of the Jeju 4·3 Special Act to address these issues has not been processed in the 20th National Assembly and remains pending. This is nothing but an evasion of responsibility by the ruling and opposition parties. We hope that the revision bill of the 4·3 Special Act will be passed in the National Assembly as soon as possible so that practical measures can be established to alleviate the pain of the Jeju residents.
Our modern history is undeniably stained with blood by foreign powers and dictators. We hope that the Jeju 4·3 Uprising, which had been buried for a long time compared to other historical events, will be properly illuminated historically. Furthermore, we hope that the pain and suffering of the victims, bereaved families, and Jeju residents, which have been suppressed for many years, will find a chance to be resolved on this 72nd anniversary memorial day.
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