Compensation set for democratization movement

President Kim Dae-Jung presented letters of appointment to nine members of the special committee on the deliberation of restoration of honors and compensation for the crusaders of the democratization movement in a ceremony at Chong Wa Dae August 9.

With this, the government is expected to step up its project to reward some 30,000 people who were engaged in the pro-democracy movement since the 1969 constitutional amendment.

In line with a relevant law passed by the National Assembly last June, the ad hoc committee will work out detailed measures soon on the following items: subjects for compensation, qualifications for applications, agencies to receive the applications, required documents, standards for calculating indemnity and procedures for deliberation and decision-making. It will also publicize these measures through the media.

When applications for compensation are received by the cities and provinces concerned, the committee will conduct on-the-spot surveys followed by full-fledged examinations of documents at its four subcommittees. However, it is anticipated that the committees` work is unlikely to proceed smoothly.

First of all, the definition of the democratization movement stipulated in the law is too broad. The legislation defines the pro-democracy movement as resistance against authoritarian rule, contributions to the establishment of democratic order and the restoration and expansion of the people`s freedom and rights.