Korean ▶ [global news CheonJi] 세상을 움직이는 평화의 사자 ‘그가 가는 곳엔 평화가 온다’
Lee Man Hee, Founder of HWPL “Let’s Make a World without War”
12 former and current presidents sign the peace treaty
The man behind the Mindanao Peace Treaty signed in the Philippines
◆World peace, talk with results
“A peace messenger who moves the world.” “the peace advocate who speaks with results.” That is what the world calls Lee Man Hee, representative of an international peace organization, Heavenly culture, World peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL).
During his trip around the world with visits to 16 countries in March and April, Lee has signed peace treaties with world leaders including Hans Modrow, the last Premier of former East Germany and 12 former and current presidents in East Europe and Latin America.
In Peru, he signed a peace treaty with the leader of the 14 million Incas. Lee said “Many leaders already heard the news about the private peace treaty in Mindanao, the Philippines and has asked to meet me.”
He explained “They agreed that either party will not repeat the bad history of causing disputes” and signed the peace treaty. He received attention from around the globe by leading the private peace treaty in Mindanao, the Philippines, which was considered the largest conflict area in Asia. A local bishop spoke about the Lee's achievement saying, “God answered our pray for peace.”
During his nine trips around the global village over the last three years, he signed peace treaties with presidents of nation states, and went on to making the headlines by signing the peace treaty with the leader of the Roma of 14 million and the leader of the 12 million Mayan people. During his tour to Latin America, the Guatemalan government presented a letter of appreciation for joining the two leaders of the Guatemalan government and the Mayan people in signing a peace treaty last year. Lee was also invited to lay flowers at the Monument of Peace in the presidential palace.
Being considered a great honor, the ceremony was offered to world figures who made significant contributions to world peace such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Dalai Lama. Lee's presenting flowers at the Monument of Peace won extensive media coverage by the local press.
Kim Nam Hee, the representative of an international women's group who joined the peace tour to East Europe and Latin America was reported saying at an interview, “After Mr. Lee's peace movement has been reported, leaders of various countries and local religious leaders have joined in this peace movement.” and “Local reaction to his peace movement was explosive,” she added.
◆‘End of War and World Peace’ The plea of a war veteran
Lee, an 84-year-old Korean War veteran, lost many comrades-in-arms while he was experiencing one of the most cruel wars in human history. During that time he got the thought to ‘never have war again in the world.’ He points out the limitations of peace movements to this day, “There were many peace advocates but peace didn’t come.” “End of war and bringing peace was not accomplished because we failed to do what we can” and he asks, “each president of every country to put an additional article to end wars in international law.”
Lee brought about a sensation to the International Peace Youth Movement. He said in his remarks that ‘if a war breaks out, the first to die are the youth’ and asks youths to join the world peace movement. And the youth responded. In May 2013, the first World Peace Youth Walk held at the Peace Square of the Olympic park in Seoul was joined by approximately 30,000 youths from 130 countries. Now the walk for “End of War and World Peace” has taken place in more than 21 countries.
Recognized for his successful peace movement, Lee was invited to deliver a speech at the international symposium ICD held at the Parliament in Rome, Italy on April 1. He explained the importance of the World Peace Youth Walk and the process of private peace treaty in Mindanao and appealed “Let’s leave the world without a war” to about 400 leaders of politics and religion from various countries.
◆“To become one by peace is God’ s will”
Peace advocate Lee Man Hee’s homeland is the only divided country in the world. He has worked with concern for peace of the Korean Peninsula. Peace monuments stand on the east and west ends of Korea engraved with the Declaration of Reunification of Korea which he wrote in 2011. Lee says, “I will go to America, China and North Korea for peace and the end of war in the end.” “The leaders of North and South Korea should meet in one place eventually.” and he emphasized, “Korea will achieve the reunification by itself” in the press interview after a tour to Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The only divided country in the world - His call for peace may resonate stronger because he is from Korea. Not only political leaders but also religious people in the world agree with Lee’s movement crying that religious people should become one through peace to end wars and for world peace.
Lee explained human history is war history and the war broke out because of religion. He highlighted the fact that ‘the war is not God’s will’ to believers, the creator is one and the religion could be one under the principle of ‘peace’ and God’s will is ‘to make the religion to become one by peace’.
After listening to his talk, many religious figures from around the world are rushing to meet him in person.
◆The reason why he cannot stop working for peace
Lee's peace movement has had extensive media coverage worldwide. The result of the private peace treaty in Mindanao was reported to the Philippines and Malaysia through foreign press. The Philippines' national broadcast PTV had a special interview with him for 20 minutes and assessed “all Filipino should be grateful for Lee's achievement of the peace treaty”.
After his leading role in the private peace treaty in Mindanao was reported, Lee was greeted by a flood of some 100 reporters at Incheon airport at home. Also domestic and foreign media reported actively his impressive record of signing peace agreements with 12 current and former presidents of 10 countries after his return to South Korea in April.
Lee calls himself ‘a peace messenger following God’s will’. After seeing that Lee brings real results wherever he goes, local people of conflict areas and regions suffering from civil wars are eagerly asking him to visit their country. This is why he can't stop peace movement.
By Song Tae-Bok
xoqhr71@newscj.com