(LEAD) Ex-President Chun appears in court amid protest by activists

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GWANGJU, April 27 (Yonhap) -- Former President Chun Doo-hwan appeared in court on Monday, facing charges of making slanderous statements about a late activist priest's eyewitness accounts of a brutal crackdown in his controversial memoir.

The 89-year-old, who led an authoritarian government from 1980-1988, appeared at the Gwangju District Court, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Monday afternoon. He was accompanied by his wife and former first lady Lee Soon-ja.

In his memoir published in early 2017, Chun refuted statements made by late Catholic priest Cho Chul-hyun, who had testified to witnessing military firings at citizens from helicopters during the Gwangju pro-democracy revolt in May 1980. Chun has insisted that Cho lied, calling the late priest "Satan wearing a mask."

More than 200 people were killed and some 1,800 others wounded, according to official data.

Chun kept mum as he entered the courthouse for the first time in 13 months. During the trial, Chun denied all the allegations.

"To my knowledge there were no firings from the helicopters," Chun said. "There would have been mass casualties if indeed shots were taken from helicopters. I don't think that our country's sons, whether they be lieutenant or captain-level pilots, would have taken such actions," the former president told the judge.

Outside, civic groups and activists representing the victims of the May 1980 uprising blasted Chun for distorting history.

"Through his memoir, Chun has clearly committed a crime by seriously defaming the honor of not only Rev. Cho, but the families of victims of the May 1980 uprising and the citizens of Gwangju," the groups said.

Prosecutors began an investigation into Chun's statements after a nephew of the late priest filed a complaint. If convicted, Chun could face up to two years in prison or up to 5 million won (US$4,000) in fines.

Since his indictment in May 2018, Chun twice rejected court summon orders, citing health reasons, which include a claim that he suffers from Alzheimer's disease. His most recent appearance in court occurred back in March 2019.

The disgraced ex-leader stood in a separate criminal trial on treason and other charges in 1996. The former Army general, who seized power in a 1979 coup, received the death penalty, but the top court reduced the sentence to life imprisonment. He was released in December 1997 on a presidential pardon.

The May 1980 uprising was led by thousands of Gwangju citizens who rose up against the military junta led by Chun, who seized power in an internal coup following the assassination of his mentor, President Park Chung-hee, eight months earlier.

odissy@yna.co.kr
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