Statement of the AINDF spokesman

Now the south Korean people mark the 47^th anniversary of the April 19 Popular Uprising at the time when the struggle against domination and interference of the foreign forces in domestic affairs and the struggle for frustrating the pro-US conservative forces’ attempt to seize power in the upcoming presidential elections are intensified in south Korea.

The uprising, in which the youth and students and other people from all walks of life overthrew the pro-US dictatorial regime of Syngman Rhee, chanting slogans such as “Let us replace the rotten politics with new one!” and “US, stop intervention!”, was eruption of pent-up resentment of the south Koreans against the US colonial rule and the anti-US and anti-fascist resistance which was aimed to bring about independent and democratic new society.

The uprising, which was brilliantly recorded in the history of the Korean people’s struggle against foreign forces, demonstrated that the Korean people’s intention and will for freedom, democracy and reunification is indestructible.

The righteous spirit and tradition of the uprising has greatly encouraged the south Korean people’s struggle to put an end to the domination of foreign forces and aspire for a new society and new politics.

However, independence, democracy and reunification desired by the south Korean people remain unfulfilled.

The US, which has occupied south Korea for over 60 years, inflicts unspeakable disgrace and pains upon the south Korean people and makes frantic efforts to provoke a war against north Korea, running counter to the June 15 reunification era.

In particular, it has made desperate efforts to control its crisis of colonial rule and revive the rotten politics by taking power without fail through winning in the upcoming presidential election in collusion with the pro-US conservative forces which were punished by history.

The present situation demands the south Korean people turn out in the struggle put an end to the colonial domination and intervention of the US.

The south Korean people can neither shake off the yoke of slavery nor realize peace and reunification as long as the US occupation and colonial rule remain effective.

The south Korean people from all social standings should wage the struggle against the US and war and for withdrawal of the US troops from south Korea with the spirit and courage demonstrated by the April 19 uprisiers. They should intensify the struggle to frustrate the pro-US conservative and the Grand National Party’s wild ambition to seize power.

They should also defend the June 15 reunification era by accelerating the struggle of attaching the importance to the nation, maintaining peace and achieving unity.

The AINDF, together with the south Korean people who want to realize the spirit of the uprising, will struggle to bring about an independent, democratic society and a reunified country free from foreign forces and pro-US traitors under the banner of independence against the US.

Seoul

April 19, Juche 96 (2007)