Burmese refugees and Sri Lankans still recovering from a long civil war will be the principal beneficiaries of a 100 million won (US$90,000) fund raised by the Gwangju Human Rights Peace Foundation. Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-jung, the foundation director, announced its assistance plan yesterday during a Mass to mark the 31st anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement. The foundation also intends to help tribal women in Chiang Mai, Thailand and dalit people in Nepal. The money was raised through offerings by Catholics from Kwangju archdiocese and donations from ordinary Gwangju citizens. “The foundation decided to support them as they are the most in need,” Father Raphael Kim Jae-hak, executive director of the foundation, said. Kwangju archdiocese set up the foundation in October to commemorate a pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju in 1980, which ended in a massacre of protesters by government militia. “The foundation commemorates the suffering of the Gwangju people in 1980 by supporting people around the world who are enduring similar experiences today,” said Archbishop Kim at the foundation’s inauguration ceremony in October. Related report ´Archdiocese sets up human rights foundation´ KO14241