`Enemy-Comrade Dualism, Monopolized Power Should Change`

The 115 members of the Meeting for Matured Society (Standing joint chairperson, Kim Tae-Gil), Kim Tae-Gil, honorary professor of Seoul National University, Kang Young-Hoon, former Prime Minister, and Kim Yong-Jun, honorary professor of Korea University, announced a declaration to express their serious concerns about the separation of our society and urged for the transformation of the political circle for the recovery of the people`s support.

15 elders including standing joint chairperson Kim held a press conference to announce their declaration, `To think about the crisis of Mother land on the Liberation Day` at Sesil Restaurant, Jung-Gu, Seoul, yesterday.

In the Declaration, they described that ``we are in the midst of the worries about the motherland that shakes with the mistrust and enmity at the 56th anniversary of the Liberation Day. At the grand transition period of history when all other advanced countries are rushing into the competitive ways for new things, we are still calculating `the old account books` creating a tense and violent atmosphere to divide the word with the enemies and the comrades.``

The Declaration indicated that ``the urgent task of us is to clean ourselves that is contaminated in the swamps of the `transgressing society` For this matter, a grand amnesty is required.``

The Declaration also mentioned that ``the second step for us is to establish an ingenious plan to respond to the challenge of history today. The leading groups of this movement must clean themselves and transform themselves first. If it is not such, the voice of transformation would not touch the hearts of the people.``

The Declaration also indicated that ``the road we must create has to head to the field of the true public discussion with the mind of confidence and tolerance.``

``The society that we are heading to is a society that the liberal, the conservative, and the intermediate are allowed to express their full colors and a society that pursues common good through rational discussions in the public discussion. In this sense, the extreme fraction phenomenon that had been promoted by a part of this society must be denounced as a separation activity damaging the social integrity.`` the declaration emphasized.

The Declaration mentioned that ``to nurture the open society, the recovery of the social trust is the most urgent task of our society. To do so, the politicians must transform the power to control to the power to serve, the monopolized power to the shared power to live together.``

The Declaration also added that ``the intellectuals must speak up when the ordinary people keep silent and the rich are required to make a big decision to carry out the philosophy to share their prosperity.`` The participants in the declaration are Yoo Jong-Ho, chair professor of Yonsei University, Lee Ho-Wang, the president of the National Academy of Sciences, Lee Jae-Hu, representative lawyer of Kim & Chang Law Office, Lee Hun-Jo, consultant of LG Group, pastor Seo Kyong-Seok, lawyer Lee Se-Jung, Lee Seok-Yeon, secretary general of Citizen`s Coalition for Economic Justice, and Son Bong-Ho, professor of Seoul National University.

mhpark@donga.com