"KIM IL SUNG and
WFTU"
(4)
President Kim Il Sung,
Eminent Leader of Workers
(Written by Jan Nemoudry,
Assistant to General Secretary of the
WFTU)
I am not a writer, nor a journalist, but
a militant trade unionist dedicated to the defence of workers' rights. That
being the case, if the readers will excuse me, I would like to write my
reminiscences of President Kim Il Sung, eminent leader and President of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, for on his 90th birthday,
Pyongyang, capital of socialist Korea, is sure to be bathed in the most
beautiful flowers of all sorts, magnificently decorating its streets like they
do Mansu Hill, where the statue of the President authoritatively stands.
I met the President for the first time
15 years ago, in April 1987. I was visiting the DPRK in my capacity as
Secretary of the WFTU mandated to present to him, on the occasion of this 75th anniversary,
the Gold Medal and message of the WFTU.
My schedule was fixed for a stay from
the 9th to 11th of April, a short schedule,
which disappointed me, because, as always, the WFTU has many tasks to realize
and undertake. They included, in the period in question, our efforts to
establish an international centre for trade union rights. In connection with
this, the WFTU had delegated its representatives in several countries of the
world to consult on all the issues which required the organization of international
solidarity conference to express our support to people and workers of the DPR
Korea according to the decision of the presidential council of the WFTU.
After learning of the program of events
to mark the 75th anniversary and after consulting with our
Secretariat, my trip was extended in order to realize the tasks that had been
assigned to me. Under these circumstances, I spent some particularly memorable
days in in Korea as the President' birthday approached.
First of all, I visited the old house at
Mangyongdae where the President was born and where he recognized, in his
childhood the hard life the people of Korea were leading. It inspired him to
create the great Juche idea, a philosophy centred on the popular masses, under
whose imperishable banner he dedicated himself to the people's cause.
In visiting Pyongyang, as well as
several provinces, and in various enterprises, institutions and schools, I had
many meetings with trade unionists of a number of different sectors, which had
me a better understanding of the strength of the bonds between the President
and people, and between people and the President. At the monumental
constructions on the banks of the River Taedong, which flows through Pyongyang,
that sentiment was reinforced, even more so after visiting the Tower of Juche
Idea, built as a monument in national style and topped by a flame. In front of
it stands a statue symbolizing the unity and solidarity of workers, peasants,
and intellectuals of Korea upholding the emblem of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The monument was built to mark the President's 70th birthday,
and Koreans and foreigners, allowing them to understand the idea of Juche and
its vitality, constantly visit it.
The Arch of Triumph, situated in front
of Kim Il Sung Stadium, commemorates the historic speech that the President
gave on October 14, 1945, after his triumphal return.
In blocks of carefully cut granite, the
Arch of Triumph's height gives it an imposing appearance. The guide explained
to me that it was 10 metres higher than that of Paris, which was regarded as
one of the largest. Its scale excellently represents the unanimous desire of
the Korean people to honor forever the immortal exploits Kim Il Sung performed
during the 20 years of anti-Japanese struggle which resulted in the restoration
of the country. The monument reminds me of the gate made of twigs at the old
thatched cottage at Mangyongdae. He experienced many ordeals in the course of
the revolution until his entry through the Arch of Triumph after leaving the
parental home, with its cowshed and storehouse, at the age of 13. it was the
kind of home most Koreans possessed under the Japanese occupation. The
low-roofed house conserves the simple housekeeping utensils used by his
grandparents until the last moments of their life, after the liberation of the
country.
Born under this roof, he became
conscious of the difficult life the Korean people were leading in unimaginable
poverty after listening to the words of his parents. Aware of this situation
and the occupation of his country as a result of the Japanese invasion, he led,
together with his compatriots, an active struggle against the Japanese army
from 1925 to 1945.
Kim Il Sung's commitment to the
liberation of his country from the yoke of feudal and colonial society,
and the important social and economic changes initiated under his guidance for
the well-being of the people, a constant feature of my visit to the DPRK, are
reflected in the monumental constructions like the West Sea Barrage constructed
in the sea to a length of 8 km, the Grand People's Study House majestically
located on Namsan Hill, the cemetery at Mt. Taesong where the revolutionaries
rest, a symbol of love and moral virtue, and the Taean Heavy Machine Complex,
from where precision and quality resonates throughout the country. Pyongyang is
an easy city to visit thanks to the modern metro system which covers most of
the capital, a metro with brilliant frescoes and bas-reliefs reflecting the
light to put passengers in an impressive wonderland. At the Mangyongdae
Schoolchildren's Palace the children of workers can fully develop their
talents. In this plethora of ancient and contemporary history, it has
demonstrated the reality of Korea in all its stages of development and for the
prosperity of future generations. All these achievements are the fruit of the
efforts made by te workers and their unions, the General Federation of Trade
Unions of Korea under the guidance of the President, the source of an
unshakable faith in the struggle for socialism.
(To be continued)
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