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| [Photos from Korea] Citizen Declarations Fire Up Korea |
| Over 10,000 petitioned for government reform |
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Cynthia Yoo (cloudatlas)  |
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Published 2009-06-15 13:32 (KST) |
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| This is a partial translation of an OhmyNews article in Korean. <Editor's Note> |
Over ten thousand have officially participated in 'Citizen Declarations' petitioning against President Lee Myung-bak's government. They want a wholesale clean-up of government.
There have been occasions when lawyers and university professors have petitioned against government, but the current growing number of petitioners is the largest since a 'Citizen Declaration' by some 2,600 professors from 60 different universities in 1991.
 | |  All over Korea, 'citizen declarations' by university professors petitioning for wholesale clean-up of the Lee Myung-bak government, are spreading like wildfire. | | | ©2009 OhmyNews Graphic | |
Not only professors but also college students, teenagers, civil society groups, religious orders and legal professionals have joined the ranks of petitioners.
On June 10, 14 different youth organizations declared "We act according to what we have learned and we will defend democracy." 3,076 youths signed onto the declaration. On the same day, 628 lawyers and 195 law professors declared a citizen declaration for human rights and protection of democracy.
The following day, a labor union (178 members), students and professors of philosophy (505 members), Ahju University professors (63) all signed onto citizen declarations.
'Government inaction will only cause more citizen declarations'
 | | | Citizens gather in candlelight vigils to mark the 22nd anniversary of the June 10 democracy movement. | | | ©2009 Nam S.Y. | |
There are differences among the various 'citizen declarations' but the majority of declaration petition for the following: An apology from President Lee on the deaths of former President Roh Moo-hyun and the victims of the Yongsan tragedy; Restoration of peaceful relations between North and South Korea; Social welfare policies for lower-income citizens; Protection of freedom of expression, assembly and petition.
All main religious orders join declarations
 | | | Former head of Haein Temple leads the citizen declaration by 108 Buddhists on June 9 | | | ©2009 OhmyNews Nam S.Y. | |
This week will see citizen declarations from all the main religious orders: Buddhists, Catholics and Protestants. Each declaration expects at least a thousand petitioners.
Jogye Temple alone will see over 1000 monks in their 'citizen declaration. This number is the largest since the 1987 declaration which saw 750 participants.
Major Catholic churches and Protestant organizations also are planning large declarations and press conferences.
In addition, many online blogger declarations are gaining in strength.
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©2009 OhmyNews
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