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| The national flag of Korea at the Gwangju Metropolitan City office has not been lowered to fly at half-mast, Thursday, during the funeral of former President Roh Tae-woo. The city, where many citizens died during the 1980 pro-democracy movement against Chun Doo-hwan's 1979 military coup, in which Roh played a major role, has decided not to commemorate Roh's death in respect to victims of the military government's lethal suppression. Yonhap |
By Jung Da-min
After the government's Wednesday announcement to hold a state funeral for former President Roh Tae-woo who died the day before, controversies are still raging over whether it was an appropriate decision.
Members of the country's liberal bloc, as well as many citizens, especially residents of Gwangju, are protesting the government's decision, saying Roh's role in Chun Doo-hwan's 1979 military coup and violent suppression of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy movement were serious crimes, and providing any support for Roh's funeral would insult those who fought for the country's democratization.
Multiple petitions have been posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website calling for the cancellation of the state funeral.
"Roh, together with Chun Doo-hwan, led the Dec. 12 coup (in 1979) and was one of the main culprits behind the brutal suppression of Gwangju citizens," one petitioner wrote. "It is unreasonable to hold a funeral for him with taxpayers' money."
Another wrote, "If Roh receives such courtesy, it can lead to a claim that Chun, a mass murderer, deserves a state funeral, too."
Some lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) representing constituencies in Gwangju said the government's decision was regrettable, as it would fail to achieve the goal of uniting the people.
"The single fact that he was a former president is not enough of a reason for a state funeral to be held for him," they said in a statement. "Roh Tae-woo was the second-in-command in the military junta that took power though the Dec. 12 military coup led by Chun, and was one of those responsible for suppressing the May 18 democratization movement with force. Roh was just one of the serious criminals responsible for treason and murder."
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| A memorial altar for the funeral of former President Roh Tae-woo is set up at Seoul Plaza, Thursday. Yonhap |
While leaders of the country's two major parties, the DPK and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), have expressed respect for the government's decision and offered condolences by visiting the memorial altar, leaders of the minor progressive Justice Party refused to do so.
"Holding a state funeral for those who overthrew the state is an act of overthrowing the political system of the Republic of Korea, which states that the sovereignty of the country rests with the people and all power comes from the people," Justice Party leader Yeo Young-gug said during a party meeting, Thursday.
"Some say Roh should be evaluated differently because he is different from Chun Doo-hwan. Let me tell you clearly. Chun Doo-hwan is not a standard for democracy, nor the bottom line for it. Chun was the one who violated democracy and killed it."
Regarding the concerns of a possible state funeral for Chun when he dies, senior presidential secretary for political affairs Lee Cheol-hee said Thursday during an interview with local broadcaster CBS that Roh's case differs from that of Chun and "holding a state funeral or burial in a national cemetery would not even be worth considering for the case of former President Chun."
