ID :
19806
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 09:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19806
The shortlink copeid
Rep. Lantos posthumously awarded South Korean medal for sex slaves' rights
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Late U.S. congressman Tom Lantos was
posthumously awarded a medal Monday by the South Korean government for his role in passing through Congress a resolution calling on Japan to apologize for its use of kidnapped women as sex slaves during World War II.
South Korean ambassador Lee Tae-sik presented the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Gwanghwa Medal to Annette Lantos, the widow of the late chairman of House
Foreign Affairs Committee, at the ambassador's residence here.
She said she was very honored to receive the medal, saying "My husband was
deeply involved with the Korean people and loved them."
The widow said her family's relationship with Korea continues, as one of her
granddaughters has a Korean boyfriend and one of her grandsons has a Korean
girlfriend.
"He was completely committed to protecting the human rights of minorities,
and he founded a human rights caucus which is the only human rights organization
in the U.S. government," she said.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned her to congratulate her
on receiving the medal.
In a message at the awarding ceremony, read by ambassador Lee, Ban "welcomed
the conferral of this Order to Mr. Lantos as a small but meaningful recognition
of this immense service to humanity, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations on
this wonderful occasion."
Ban, former South Korean foreign minister, also extended "my warmest
personal greetings to Mrs. Lantos and pay tribute to her dedicated support to her
husband and her own contribution to the cause of humanity."
Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who advocated engagement with North Korea while
pushing for human rights, died in February from cancer. He was 80 at that time,
and is survived by Annette, two daughters and 18 grandchildren.
Rep. Lantos, a Democrat from California who lost nearly his entire family in the
Holocaust, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in late December during his 14th
term.
Elected to office in 1980, Lantos had been the chairman of the House foreign
affairs committee since January 2007. He was also a senior member of the House
committee on oversight and government reform.
An ardent advocate of direct dialogue with North Korea, Lantos made two trips
to Pyongyang in 2005 to discuss North Korea's denuclearization and building
trust between the two countries.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Late U.S. congressman Tom Lantos was
posthumously awarded a medal Monday by the South Korean government for his role in passing through Congress a resolution calling on Japan to apologize for its use of kidnapped women as sex slaves during World War II.
South Korean ambassador Lee Tae-sik presented the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Gwanghwa Medal to Annette Lantos, the widow of the late chairman of House
Foreign Affairs Committee, at the ambassador's residence here.
She said she was very honored to receive the medal, saying "My husband was
deeply involved with the Korean people and loved them."
The widow said her family's relationship with Korea continues, as one of her
granddaughters has a Korean boyfriend and one of her grandsons has a Korean
girlfriend.
"He was completely committed to protecting the human rights of minorities,
and he founded a human rights caucus which is the only human rights organization
in the U.S. government," she said.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned her to congratulate her
on receiving the medal.
In a message at the awarding ceremony, read by ambassador Lee, Ban "welcomed
the conferral of this Order to Mr. Lantos as a small but meaningful recognition
of this immense service to humanity, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations on
this wonderful occasion."
Ban, former South Korean foreign minister, also extended "my warmest
personal greetings to Mrs. Lantos and pay tribute to her dedicated support to her
husband and her own contribution to the cause of humanity."
Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who advocated engagement with North Korea while
pushing for human rights, died in February from cancer. He was 80 at that time,
and is survived by Annette, two daughters and 18 grandchildren.
Rep. Lantos, a Democrat from California who lost nearly his entire family in the
Holocaust, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in late December during his 14th
term.
Elected to office in 1980, Lantos had been the chairman of the House foreign
affairs committee since January 2007. He was also a senior member of the House
committee on oversight and government reform.
An ardent advocate of direct dialogue with North Korea, Lantos made two trips
to Pyongyang in 2005 to discuss North Korea's denuclearization and building
trust between the two countries.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
