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by Terry Park/Base21 Media Activist

Solidarity candlelight vigils are taking place in major cities and college campuses all over the world today for the two Korean schoolgirls killed last June by a U.S. tank. The acquital of the two soliders involved in the fatal incident has sparked a growing anti-U.S. movement that has shaked the entire southern peninsula with daily demonstrations and Saturday mass rallies.

According to Korean-American activist organizations, candlelight vigils are ocurring in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, San Francisco, Yale University in Hartford, Connecticut, and other locations.

The demands of Korean-American organizations are as follows:

1. We demand the U.S. government to reveal the truth about the deaths of two girls.

2. We demand that the unfair and distorted relationship between the U.S. and Korea will be corrected and directed to mutual coexistence.

3. We urge George W. Bush to give careful consideration to this matter and Korean people뭩 rage and apologize to Korean people directly and publicly.

4. We feel very sorry that the Korean government could not reasonably settle this matter and the Korean-Americans living in the U.S. have to get involved. We will stand in solidarity with the Korean people in settling this matter with justice and setting forth equal and fair relationship between the U.S. and Korea.

Meanwhile, Sukjong Hong was released on Monday. She was arrested following a peaceful demonstration in front of the White House last week of Korean and Korean-American activists. An international delegation went to the White House to present President George W. Bush with over one million petition signatures demanding the re-trial of the two American soldiers. She will speak about her experiences at a news conference scheduled for this Friday in New York City.