Man Hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), speaking virtually to volunteers in New York at the pre-commemoration event of the 9th Anniversary of the September 18th World Peace Summit in Seoul, South Korea.
By Cecilia Ologunagba
New York, Aug. 21, 2023
A 90-year-old Korean War veteran, Man Hee Lee, has called on world leaders to be committed to achieving peace 100 per cent.
Man, the Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), said this in his remarks at the pre-commemoration event organised by HWPL New York branch.
The event was organised in New York ahead of the 9th Anniversary of the September 18th World Peace Summit in Seoul, South Korea to commemorate the 2014 HWPL World Peace Summit.
The Peace Summit is aimed at examining key achievements of the agreements signed in 2014 and to establish future plans.
Man, who spoke virtually said he was optimistic that the world could be united in peace, saying “I believe that it is possible, and it can be done, nothing is impossible.”
“But I believe that even now, we should stop thinking of any benefits but start working towards peace and the cessation of war and the HWPL has to be in the forefront.
“It is not hard to do; first from the families, second from the schools and then from society. If we want peace, it will be achieved.
“I am certain that peace can be achieved by everyone. I hope that you will remember that we have sent messages across the globe for peace and cessation of war.’’
“But we need to achieve peace 100 per cent as we weren’t close, we should be working to toward that,’’ he said.
Man recalled how he fought the Korean war and how he had been advocating for peace by drawing the attention of global leaders to peace by hosting the World Peace Summit.
HWPL hosted the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit in 2014 with leaders in politics, religion, women’s groups, youth groups, and the media in attendance.
HWPL and leaders of various sectors convened to discuss conflict resolution, establishing peace, and mutual cooperation and signed landmark agreements on building and implementing solid systems for cooperation.
The agreements covered implementing legal instruments to ensure peace, building religious harmony, and creating peace activities by state actors and citizens, respectively.
Such agreements became the basis of further discussions that have taken place every year on 18 September as the signing entities continue their exchange on peace strategies.
Also, the Agreement to Propose the Enactment of International Law for the Cessation of Wars and World Peace, signed during the 2014 conference, led to the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (hereinafter the DPCW).
DPCW reaffirms the major international conventions for peace, sets out methods for resolving modernised conflicts, and emphasizes the role of nation-states and civil society for achieving peace followed by a citizen-led global campaign, among others.
According to him, HWPL was established with a purpose for the cessation of war and for world peace and that the goal must be achieved.
“We shouldn’t just establish an organisation and achieve nothing. So, for the purpose we need to do what we have to do.
“If we do it, we can achieve it. I had fought in the frontlines of the Korean War, which was a tragic civil war, where brothers had pointed guns at one another and why did we have to fight?”
Lee said Korea was under suppression and going through a hard time and why did we even have to go through this civil war, emphasising that it should not have happened in the first instance.
He called on the leaders to make the right choice and opt for the edification of the Korean Peninsula.
“All the leaders of the North and South should protect the country and the people.
“I didn’t order to do so. The reunification of the North and South needs to happen. Do you not agree everyone? It needs to happen. Why should brothers kill each other and be at war like this?
“We proclaimed the declaration of world peace, and that effort has continued until today afterwards.
“So, from families to schools, I’ve said that we needed to teach peace and that whether they are young children or seniors, everyone needs to be called messengers of peace,’’ Lee said.
Earlier, the Administrative Manager of HWPL New York Branch, Ms. Amanda Dixon presented the progress and achievement of the branch and Imam Muhammad Shahidullah also spoke on the role of the media in promoting peace.
NAN reports that the event featured chanting of Peace letters and DPCW by the volunteers and participants.
