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Had a relaxing Thanksgiving? Great, now back to work supporting the cause of human rights around the world! The North Korea Freedom Coalition has passed their latest action item newsletter along the wire, offering a laundry list of ways that one can further the promotion of freedom and human rights for the people of North Korea. We've attached the text in full below, but should add the following disclaimer: the Peterson Institute, as distinct from the North Korea Freedom Coalition, does not engage in lobbying activities in support of or opposition to specific pieces of Congressional legislation. This information below is presented for informational purposes only.
November 22, 2013
Dear Friends:
I am pleased to share below a number of action items in which your help is needed in the promotion of the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the people of North Korea. The list below includes items in which everyone can participate from the International Campaign to Save North Korean Refugees to joining in support of the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013. There are also some exciting opportunities to directly help North Koreans in South Korea and the USA.
Just consider the most recent headlines: the Commission of Inquiry reporting to the United Nations of the "unspeakable atrocities" being committed in North Korea's gulag and detention centers; the recent arrest in China of more North Korean refugees trying to escape to South Korea whose lives are in immediate danger; the return of public executions in North Korea where hundreds including children are forced to watch; the detention of yet another American in North Korea: this time a Korean War veteran; and the regime's involvement in chemical weapons proliferation that led to the death of 1400 Syrians including children.
But consider there are things that can be done: Please consider joining in these action items:
Please sign on-line to join the International Campaign to Save North Korean Refugees by signing the petition to Xi Jinping to stop repatriating North Koreans at www.nkfreedom.org and join citizens from around the world including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, and folks all across the United States. At this website, you can view THE LIST of North Koreans and humanitarian workers that have been seized in North Korea and view a Youtube Video depicting three North Koreans who escaped through China. Please also invite others to sign the petition. Please sign by December 10th as we head to the Chinese embassy with the petitions that day.
If you can join us on Tuesday, December 10 in Washington, D.C., we are assembling a team of folks to deliver the above petitions to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China. We are hoping for a meeting with officials of the PRC on that day, which is International Human Rights Day, but will have contingency plans.
Your Support for H.R. 1771 is Needed: H.R. 1771 -- the "North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013" continues to attract widespread bipartisan support and now has 126 co-sponsors! In my opinion this legislation is as important and perhaps even more important than the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004. Because despite the great gains in the awareness of the North Korea human rights crisis, nothing has changed for the suffering people in North Korea. As long as the Kim Jong Eun regime can continue to rely on the inflow of money from proliferating weapons of mass destruction, illegal drugs, counterfeiting, etc. it can resist any reforms that would help relieve the suffering of the North Korean people. Much like the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004, the U.S. Congress must hear from constituents and organizations that care about this issue to ensure action on this legislation. There are several ways that everyone can help on this:
First, we are asking American citizens to contact their Members of Congress to co-sponsor this legislation. As soon as the legislation is introduced in the Senate, we will want Americans to also write to their two Senators as well. If your Member of Congress is already a sponsor, you should thank them for sponsoring this important legislation and ask that they work to ensure the legislation is passed as soon as possible. Everything you need to find out about HR 1771 -- summary, status, co-sponsorships can be found here //thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php
A sample letter and instructions for contacting your Member of Congress can be found at this link: http://www.nkfreedom.org/News/H-R-1771.aspx
Second, we are asking for both NGO leaders and International NGOs to voice their opinions on this legislation. Letters of support would be best, but simply agreeing to this statement would be terrific:
The following individuals and organizations believe that the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2013 (HR 1771) would be an important and effective tool providing President Barack Obama and his administration a greater ability to deny Kim Jong Un the funds that he uses to finance his luxurious lifestyle while his people face starvation and human rights abuses.
If you want to lend your name and/or NGO to a list of those supporting HR 1771, please let me know. This is an especially important request for any Korean and human rights organizations, as Members of Congress will rightfully ask: I see a lot of Members of Congress are on board, but what Korean and human rights groups support this legislation?
Please Support Our Next Balloon Launch to North Korea as We Send in Copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Our most recent balloon launch to North Korea at the DMZ was for the POW-MIA Families as we sent in a special message asking for information about the close to 8000 Americans who disappeared in North Korea after the Korean War along with US$1 bills, DVDs of information about South Korea and other news. The launch was the lead story on several evening news programs in South Korea -- one sample story is here: http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?news_seq_no=1522175). Our next sponsored launch will occur during North Korean Freedom Week to include the Korean version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights along with a message pointing out that this document was passed in 1948, the same year that Kim Il Song came to power ensuring that North Koreans would be denied everyone of these rights. In fact, North Korea is the only country in the world denied every single one of these universally recognized human rights. If you can help support this next launch please consider donating at either www.nkfreedom.org or www.defenseforumfoundation.org -- just be sure to indicate it is for the balloon launch.
Volunteer Teachers Needed in Busan for School Helping North Korean Children: Pastor Changho Lim of Jangdaehyun Presbyterian Church is establishing a school in Busan to help educate the children of North Koreans who have escaped North Korea and resettled in Busan. They need people who are willing to spend time with the students during and after class to encourage and support them in learning and adusting to a new environment. The volunteers would need to stay at least one semester March-July 2014 or a year March 2013-February 2015. Room, Board and Airfare would be covered and the curriculum for teaching would be provided.
Seeking Organizations that Can Offer Internships in the Metro DC Area for Those Learning English: Once again, we are seeking organizations willing to offer an internship for Korean speakers who are working hard to learn English. The internships would start in January for four months. Proximity to metro and willingness to give interns the opportunity to practice their English as much as possible is ideal. What you get back is the opportunity to have an amazing young person as your intern who will be a future leader in a unified Korea.
We have only a few copies left of our Special Edition DVD of Crossing Available for $25. Patrick Cheh, producer of the award winning film Crossing, made it possible for us to be able to offer this wonderful movie at a special rate of $25. This is an incredible bargain for this award winning film and there are a limited number of copies remaining. All funds from your purchase will support the broadcast of Free North Korea Radio, the award winning radio station staffed by North Korean defectors that is broadcasting daily to North Korea. You can get a copy today by sending a check for $25 to DFF, 3014 Castle Road, Falls Church, VA 22044.
North Korea Freedom Week 2014: During my recent trip to Korea, we set the dates for the 11th annual North Korea Freedom Week 2014 for April 27-May 3 in Seoul. We have some very exciting plans that we will be announcing soon once the North Korean defectors approve the suggested plans for this annual week to promote the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean people.
Acta Non Verba,
Suzanne Scholte
Chairman
North Korea Freedom Coalition