Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju, “Gwangju will always be with the people of Myanmar”

Mayor Yong-seop Lee, meeting with Myanmar workers and international students living in Gwangju

Share the situation in Myanmar and identify the difficulties of Myanmar residents in Gwangju.

On the afternoon of the 21st, the metropolitan city of Gwangju held a meeting in the small meeting room of the city hall to invite Myanmar workers and international students living in the Gwangju area.

The meeting was attended by 10 Myanmar residents in Gwangju, including Myanmar’s Myoneja representative in Korea, Gwangju, and Yoon Young-dae, Executive Chairman of the Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers Human Rights Network, and Hwang Jeong-ah , representative of Gwangju Asian Women’s Network. He prepared to exchange information about the country and listen directly to the views of Myanmar residents in the region and seek support measures at the city and civil society levels.

At the meeting, Gwangju Mayor Yong-seop Lee encouraged local Myanmar residents to oppose Myanmar’s military coup and support democratization, identifying their difficulties and what they need most at this time.

Burmese in attendance said: “I sincerely appreciate the efforts and activities of the city of Gwangju and the civic groups that support the democratization movement in Myanmar.”

They said: “In Myanmar, the victims are increasing every day, the Internet, mobile phones and social networks are blocked, and the situation is deteriorating.”

He also said, “There is a need for a structure in which the city of Gwangju and civil society organizations can communicate with the people of Gwangju Myanmar to share information, and the meetings cost a lot of money.” He also said: “We need support with food and medicine at this time, but we hope that medium and long-term support plans will also be designed in preparation for the end of the situation in Myanmar.”

Mayor Yong-seop Lee said: “I would like to express my deep consolation at the bloody repression by the coup military forces in their home country of Myanmar for the victims of many Burmese.” “Gwangju, a city of democracy, human rights, and peace, has local governments, civil society organizations and all citizens are strongly condemning the anti-democratic violence of the Myanmar army and calling for an immediate halt.”

He said: “I will seek systematic and effective support plans that reflect the views given today.”

Mayor Lee encouraged the people of Myanmar to move toward the light of hope without losing courage, just as Gwangju in May 1980 stepped into the light, even in the dark, to achieve democracy. We hope that Myanmar restores democracy and peace as soon as possible. as possible, and to this end, we will work closely with the international and national community. “

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 22nd, the city of Gwangju held a meeting with religious organizations, city councils, the City Education Office, the May 18 Memorial Foundation and Gwangju Solidarity in Myanmar on the afternoon of the 22nd to discuss plans. of action to oppose the military coup and support democratization.