Forgotten War, Forgotten victims and Forgotten Crimes

The Korea Truth Commission (KTC) and the International Democratic Lawyers Association organized a meeting dealing with a dramatic and quiet unknown episode of the Korean war (1950-1953): US military massacre of Korean civilians. Eyewitness testimonies by survivors, archives photographs as well as a documentary gave this gathering an emotive and special tone.

-"The bullet went through my right eye"

The organizers first gave the floor to two survivors of these tragic events. They testified and recalled, sometimes with palpable emotion, their pains and sufferings as well as their families' that are still unanswered and unrecognized half a century later. M. Hwang Kye Il who was a seven years old child at that time explained his own experience having to wait ten years before being able to receive a facial surgery. M. Lim Hak Sup also testified on behalf of his mutilated mother. During decades these victims were unable to testify because they could be accused of being "communist sympathizers" and suffer social discriminations. There is an urgency to testify, as many evidences of civilian massacres are about to disappear. "Young people are not aware about what happened to the older people […] I came all the way to prevent further massacre," explained M. Hwang Kye Il. Joining his voice, the Executive director of the National Association of Victims Families, Cho Hyun Ki, explained how ironic this situation was, as these victims intending to testify were jailed and tortured by South Korean government. Their testimonies were supported by a documentary untitled "Divided country, disposable people", which gave a genuine history of the US involvement in the Korean Peninsula since 1945. That documentary give the view of american veterans criticizing US motivations and means used during the war, including biological and chemical weapons. This fact has been recently revealed through declassified chinese archives.

-"A reconciliation" a need for the Truth

As Ms Yoomi Jeong (KTC deputy secretary general) pointed out, these testimonies are aimed at bringing the International Communities attention to the issue of Korean crisis. That would facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive reconciliation between all the parties including the United States. KTC reckons that asking for reparations and apologies for the victims is part of this process "The U.S. starts war in the name of peacekeeping but in my sense this is not the right thing. They are still not answering the appeal from the victims. Even if the bombing ended, the war has not ended in Korea. As long as the sufferings are not recognized this war is not ended." In the words of M. Hwang Kye Il

In the end Ms Yoomi Jeong told the Assembly that it was in discussion the proposal to set up a US war crime court in Europe, possibily in Geneva. She expressed her hope of raising this issue again next year and call to create a biding web of peace building activists.

By. John Auran-Clapot and Jérôme Gygax

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