TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Yesterday I had my formal visit to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. My work as a chair of the International Monitoring Project of the South African Truth and Reconciliation had been life changing. The effort to collectively heal the trauma of a nation trough truth telling and participation of all sides of conflict was genius. After being in a hearing where victims and perpetrators describe their motives, pain, regret and fears changed the way I performed as a lawyer - returning to integrate healing into my efforts on a much deeper level.

The TRC KOREA has a staff of over 250 people, but with a sunshine provision that phases it out next April (unless extended for two years which is unlikely under the current conservative post-Roh government). While their investigation reveals nearly 500 sites of mass graves, they have only so far been able to excavate at 10. With thousands of petitions from aggrieved families hoping for some truth and justice, they simply have not had the time to complete this important work. It’s like the sand in the hour glass from the Wizard of Oz - or perhaps like the one in Japan that I got with my tea telling me when it would be steeped. That one was movin’ fast.

However, what they have accomplished is so impressive and shocking. The fact that it became the first of its kind is Asia is very important, as the region has done little formally to deal with the often brutal past, be it Japanese Imperialism or the Korean War. Even more impressive is how it came to be. A courageous group of aggrieved families that I have been meeting camped out at the Diet and engaged in a major grassroots movement for several years to gather the bones (literally) and present them with their call for justice. This they did from Seoul to New York. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the TRC. (Check out the TRC work at www.jinsil.go.kr).

I met with Commissioner Dong-Choon Kim, Ph.D. (Standing Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Korea). He and I had met and had a great dinner gathering of Korean activists in Berkeley back on April 1st when he spoke on “Uncovering the Hidden History of the Korean War. (I had filmed the talk and if you want to watch his description of what they are finding watch the film I put together at http://vimeo.com/user1683292 .)

We also met with the International Liaison Kim Eun-Bok, and an investigator working on the Massacres that involved American Soldiers. I spoke about ways in which we could help from the international community and offered to develop some programs for students and lawyers to work on gathering documents from the US government. We also discussed the “Post period” of the TRC wherein they hope to have the government still support a private Foundation to continue some of the work, particular with a focus on reconciliation activities (monuments, museums, further outreach and a chance for more participants, as they actually had a small window that closed a couple of years ago to take petitions.) I remembered the impact of the public televised hearings in South Africa in breaking the denial and helping the nation heal some of the trauma. I urged them to find a way to record some oral histories from the aggrieved families and others to use in various ways. A possible project for us in the US could be to get some film students to take an internship for a month in Korea and also in the Korean American community to record the oral histories of the victims and US and ROK veterans and have it available for future TRC activity, scholars and filmmakers.

The US Investigator indicated that he was most interested in finding US pilots who had flown certain missions early in the war when mass bombing took place from US forces in the South, killing many civilians. I suggested that Veterans for Peace and some other Vet groups could run some simple ads in their outreach material calling upon veterans to become part of the healing efforts in Korea from the War by stepping forward and giving some statements that can help the Reconciliation process. Perhaps some carry a heavy load from what they saw or did in Korea and wish to contribute something to the situation before they die. The words of my Father-in-Law - he had been an officer in Korea during the war - sometime before he passed away, that “you would not believe some of the things that went on”, rang in my ears. He had never told my wife the details. Perhaps still living soldiers can speak about their experiences and it can have a healing effect on both sides of the sea.

The afternoon brought me first to film several interviews (as I have a desire if funding can emerge to do a short film on Korea and why we are where we are) and then to Dongguk University, a Buddhist founded campus, where I was scheduled to give a talk sponsored by some of the aggrieved families. It was an elaborate affair with greetings from the Dean of the Law School and others. When I arrived they had my paper for the IADL conference next week on the Right to Peace in Korea translated into Korean for the audience and above my head was a huge banner about the talk. I had casually suggested the topics I could speak upon and there they were in big white letters: South Africa TRC Experience and Legal Accountability for Civilian Massacres by the US during the Korean War. (Read my remarks at http://www.ubuntuworks.com/ubuntuworks/NLG_KPP.html)

After the talk and some heartfelt questions and comments about why they continue to seek justice, we adjourned to a dinner that they had planned for me...at a vegetarian restaurant. It was such a sweet gesture, as they had known of my eating needs. There we sat around a long table as each of them went around and gave a few comments of appreciation and about their visions for truth and reconciliation. We set up a formal contact to be in touch as I return to the US and set up an international legal team to help them secure some redress or more information from the US government.
Tomorrow is the mass funeral for President Roh Moo Hyun. A million people will be in the street. I will join it later in the day as I head to the Southern tip of Korea and down a mine shaft that held thousands of bodies from a massacre. Continuing to do the work that Roh stood for is my tribute.

JUST BLOW

Eric Sirotkin and International Law Students at Inha University

Each time I meet someone here the first question they have of this tall gringo is “What makes you do this work?” The answer is always evolving for me, but its clear that some things stand out. First, it’s an area of peacemaking that few historically in the U.S. participate in or even understand. But really I think I felt that this is a conflict crying out for resolution and healing. Torn families, a dying cold war, two countries with a common heritage - this should be a no-brainer. Yet, its a place where old wounds still blister and huge military-industrial and U.S. geo-global objectives rule. But both David and Goliath are dancing on the precipice of great change and a slight wind of peace can topple them over at anytime. So here I am standing with as many people I can find and keep blowing.

I met with very exciting peace group representatives that are doing great work. At the Nautalis/ARI office. They work on international issues relating to both peace and energy. The work on pulling together resources and experts into a pool that can be used by NGO-s, government and others. We discussed the situation in Korea and the history of the 386 generation democratization movement. Professor Yi Kiho, pictured on the right,has taught political change and social movement or civil society and NGOs in the university and is the Director. We talked alot about new technology and the power for organizing. Deputy Director Tim Savage, left, was on teh phone quite a bit with news outlets around the answering questions about the DPRK nuclear test. Later that night at Dinner, Program Officer, Kim,Jee-Yeon and an intern Dennis Kim spoke about their younger generation’s view of the conflict and the craving for a new way to make change beyond the traditional in your face street action typical of the now older generation. I shared with them my views on the power of the energetics of activism, and how we make a difference in the way we do things,as well as the result. Visit them at http://www.globalcollab.org/Nautilus/northeast-asia.

I then, after a mad dash of confusion changing metro lines) had a meeting with us Minbyun lawyers - the progressive lawyers alliance here in Korea. 'MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society' was established on May 28, 1988. MINBYUN aims at the development of a systematic and organizational structure in response to human rights violations with the goal of becoming a valuable participant in the entire democratization movement. In addition, MINBYUN provides legal advice and cooperation to non-governmental organizations working for social progress.

We had a short luncheon and discussed legal issues of statute of limitation s for war crimes, their role in foundation of the TRC act and the loss of their dear friend, President Roh. The former President, a human rights lawyer, was born out of the same movement for change of the 1980‘s that birthed their organization. OIne key point about the Truth Commission process was that they had fought for Public hearings as part of the Framework Act that set up the TRC, but the conservative forces blocked it. Also, they are prohibited under the Act for making public the names of perpetrators. From discussions it is clear that the failure to hold hearings really decreases the chance for any national trauma healing, as was so prominent in South Africa. They want to contact us about a suit to stop a base in Korea, as the Japanese had had some success with an ecological argument in court in San Francisco. We will be in contact in the future. We should definitely invite them to a Guild conference, as they totally relate to our message of human rights and social justice. See http://minbyun.jinbo.net/english/index.htm

I then got to engage in my biggest joy. Teaching a 2 1/2 course on...well on whatever I wanted - to an international law undergrad class at the law school. THe professor, Lee Seokwoo, whom I had briefly met several years before on my prior trip to Seoul, let me loose on the class. They were very attentive and asked many questions at the end. In addition, I learned later that they always get a break after an hour, but no one had told me. So instead they sat attentive and respectful and took into the lecture tentatively titled: How to be an international law lawyer without even trying.

As the cab took me home to my hotel we passed downtown and I could tell that there’s “somethin’ happenin’ here”- as Stephen Stills was known to croon. The suicide has brought people forward with their courage - and hopefully not just their anger. The funeral plans go forward, people still play respects, but demonstrations are beginning. The all too familiar scene of hundreds of riot police assembling down the side streets with their large shields has begun. Last night I saw dozens of police buses, some cordoning off “free speech zones” around plazas downtown. Something might explode. For even though the suicide note said “Don’t blame anyone,” people are talking about the current President pushing through the zealous prosecutions that led Roh Moo-Hyun to take his fateful leap. I will keep my hand on the pulse.

SHOWING RESPECT

I took off from the photos, film and reporting to simply hold the white Chrysanthemum tightly and feel the hearts around me. Somehow the loss is universal. We lose our innocence at each step. Across the border a nuclear explosion deep underground is heard around the world. How Sad they could not have a waited a few weeks in light of Roh Moo Hyun’s death. How sad it has to be happening in the first place when it could have been avoidable. Yet, hardening those who reach out to you does little good.
The stark contrasts between North and South reveal themselves deeply on this trip. Last time I was here I was looking for the commonality, but now little remains. I did thought think I saw Mr. Bong, my DPRK ping-pong nemesis, on the street a few times. The stark physical similarities and expressions still abound. Unmistakably from the same tree, but how different they have been trimmed by circumstance.
I have watched the tears all around me and cannot shake the ocean of tears shed by these people since time immemorial. If someone you respected, who seemed to take on the world (“I’m not going to how-tow to Washington.”- Roh) loses the strength to carry on, what does it mean for me, asks many. Add to it the earth shaking North and peace can at times appear beyond remote.
Yet behind me in line to pay respects stood two small girls with their father. Their giggles wafted above the sorrow and their flowers became not tokens of memorial, but magic wands of delight.
They followed me to the alter, they bowed with their father to the ground, prostrations to the great loss. But for me they held the hope of tomorrow in their smile. On a certain level in this crazy and unpredictable world, peace is that simple.

What we leave for the Seven Generations that follow is our legacy. Restoring the world’s balance is possible. Even when our circumstances may seem unfair - our deck stacked, the wall so high, there remains the sparkle of life, a child’s laugh, or a flower’s brilliance, to remind us that beauty abounds. Hope is as strong as that fear and despair a and just as a accessible to us all. It is what we choose. It may be “the road less traveled,” but without it, the twists and turns of this oft-fragile world can keep us on the path in darkness.

Will there be more suicides, more despair? Or will this death reaffirm that each must move off the habitual and refocus our attention. After WWII we created the UN and its charter of peace and saw a new era of hope merge. Yet, it was moved to the back seat behind geo-political conflicts and we quickly forgot to reach for the best.

We are connected in so many ways. We all live, die, grieve, hope and dream. It’s time to use these events to remember our commonality and build a world that reflects this rich heritage. Model it, live it and yes demand it of our leaders and each other. I will never forget that your humanity is intrinsically wrapped up with mine.

The state funeral is Friday here in Seoul. It might nix my trip south the the TRC excavation site. A seven day funeral begins. But what I am seeing here is more than the death, but a reaffirmation in the streets and and on television of Moo Hyuan’s principles. Who he was and where he came from. People are appreciating that he stood for peace, reconciliation and justice. That he was, why withdrawn to his home in the South and doing some Organic gardening, weathering an attack from his conservative successor’s regime that reminded me of the Hunting of the President (the film about Clinton’s Whitewater/sex days). He was accused of corruption and it had been his life work to challenge it. He was, as two young Koreans told me last night, our Obama. Not because of race, but really class as he did not have a degree, yet studied and passed the hard bar exam to become a lawyer - but never part of the “ivy-school” elite of politics. To them he was a hero. Death happens for a reason and it appears that this death is opening Korea up to deep reflection - a wake up call as powerful as the blast to the North.

posted by Eric Sirotkin from NLG Korean Peace Project Trip to South Korea May 2