May 1980

Thursday 01:

Foundation of the Communist Labour Party of Turkey.

Monday 05:

Operation Nimrod: The Special Air Service storm the Iranian embassy in London after a six day siege.

Friday 09:

The first meeting of Pope John Paul II and the Archbishop of Canterbury takes place in Ghana.

Saturday 17:

General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations.

Sunday 18:

Peru: Terrorist group Shining Path attacked a voting poll in the town of Chuschi, Ayacucho starting their activities.

Tuesday 20:

In a Referendum in Quebec, the population rejects by a 60% vote the proposal from its government to move towards independence from Canada.

Wednesday 21:

1980 - ' opens in theaters.

Saturday 24:

The International Court of Justice calls for the release of United States embassy hostages in Tehran.

Tuesday 27:

The Gwangju Massacre: airborne and army troops of South Korea retake the city of Gwangju from civil militias, killing at least 207 and possibly many more.