Maria Chin conferred Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah has been conferred the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights by the South Korea May 18 Memorial Foundation.
Maria was prevented from travelling to South Korea to receive the award by the Immigration Department earlier this year on May 15.
During her acceptance speech at Vistana Hotel today, she thanked all who supported the fight for free and fair elections, from dozens of NGOs to the many protesters who participated in Bersih rallies.
She said they have persevered despite the many challenges the group faced, including being tear gassed, shot with chemical-laced water cannons, and the latest, violent red shirt counter-protests.
"I am very proud to say that Bersih supporters and those in our convoys throughout the country were peaceful and did not fight back (when faced with violence)," Maria said.
She also acknowledged criticism that Bersih 2.0 has not achieved its objectives despite calling for its fourth rally, and the fifth Bersih rally slated for Nov 19.
Maria said the EC had so far only conceded in the use of indelible ink during the 13th General Election, and even then the ink's effectiveness was doubtful.
She said a popular protest was unthinkable in the 1980's but the past Bersih rallies drew many participants.
The May 18 Memorial Foundation was formed to honour the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in South Korea in 1980, when protesters overthrew a military dictatorship and installed a democratic government.