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From the North Korea Freedom Coalition (NKFC):
March 24, 2015
Dear Friends:
The 12th Annual North Korea Freedom Week April 26-May 2nd 2015 is just around the corner - below please find an update on the confirmed public events so far for this week to promote the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean people. We have an outstanding group of defector NGO leaders and special eyewitnesses confirmed to participate in hearings, forums, press conferences and other events throughout the week.
Here are some important Action Items for Right Now:
Support Free North Korea Radio's Easter Broadcast: Because of the inspiration of Tom Barker and the help of Tom Wilbur, Kang Seo, and Kim Seong Min, Free North Korea Radio is planning a special broadcast over Easter weekend. In addition to their regular broadcast of news, true history, and hope to North Korea, FNKR will extend their broadcast by one hour so listeners can hear a Catholic Mass on Friday, Saturday, and Easter Sunday. We are still trying to raise funds to help cover the cost of our April transmission of this awarding winning program and this special additional broadcast. If you can make a tax deductible donation for the April transmission of Free North Korea Radio, please let me know right away as we must have the funds by Thursday. Donations can be made online at www.defenseforumfoundation.org or can be sent via mail. Contact me at [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
NKFW Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, May lst, 2015: Mark your calendar as this is an event you will not want to miss! The North Korea Freedom Coalition is holding a very special inspiring and fun first-time event for the 12th annual North Korea Freedom Week: a fund-raising dinner and silent auction to support organizations led by North Korean defectors that are successfully getting information into North Korea and those involved with rescuing and resettling North Koreans.
Please consider making a donation to the silent auction that can be used to raise much needed funds for these groups who know how to do this vital work, but just need our support. For further information on how you can donate towards the silent auction, please contact our Auction Chair, Louise Van Horne at [email protected]
The auction items will be available for everyone's viewing and bidding online beginning April 17, 2015, with the auction itself taking place at the NKFW May lst Dinner being held at 7 pm. Admission to the dinner is $50 per person, $25 for students for purchase starting this week at www.nkfreedom.org.
There are also special opportunities for hosts and sponsorship for the dinner, a very special night to hear powerful and inspiring testimonies from those brave men and women who are working for the freedom of their homeland and the peaceful reunification of Korea. A special buffet dinner will be prepared by Kang Chon Restaurant-Springfield to include Korean favorites and I promise, there will be singing and soju.
Need A Place to Stay for NKFW 2015?: Once again NKFC members are opening their homes to accommodate anyone traveling to the Washington DC Metro area for NKFW. If you are planning to attend the events of the 12th annual North Korea Freedom Week and need a place to stay, please email Kang Seo at [email protected]
New York, New York on April 30th: We are planning to provide transportation to everyone coming for NKFW for the events being planned for New York City on Thursday, April 30th. Please let Kang Seo know if you want to travel to NYC with us that day at [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: We are recruiting more volunteers to help with the May 1st dinner! If you can help with the planning for this very special and inspiring event, please consider joining our NKFW Dinner Committee -- we are meeting next at 6 pm this Thursday, March 26. Please email NKFW Dinner Co-Chair, Professor Ok Cha Soh at [email protected] if you can help.
Now please enjoy the North Korea Freedom Week update below!
ACTA NON VERBA,
Suzanne
Suzanne Scholte
Chairman
North Korea Freedom Coalition
12TH Annual North Korea Freedom Week
to promote the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean People
“Let us Lead the Way to Unification”: The Activism of North Korean Defectors for Unification
CONFIRMED PUBLIC EVENTS AND UPDATE FOR NKFW 2015
April 26 Sunday
Morning Church Service: The NKFW Defector Delegation and NKFW Participants will attend church at the Korean Central Presbyterian Church (Centreville) hosted by Pastor Eung Yul Ryoo. Open to the public; No RSVP needed.
3:00 PM Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Korean War Memorial The North Korean Defector delegation will lay a wreath at the Korean War Memorial and pledge their lives to honor the memory of those who served to make South Korea free by working to make North Korea free. Open to the public; No RSVP needed.
6:00 PM Special Concert for North Korea North Koreans in the USA (NKinUS) will host a special free concert in the evening at the Landon School in Bethesda. Open to the public; No RSVP needed.
April 27 Monday
9:00 AM Press conference at National Press Club The National Press Club Newsmaker Committee would host a Press conference for the North Korean Defector Delegation at National Press Club to release new information from inside North Korea, showcase the work of the North Korean defectors in getting information into North Korea and to announce the week’s events. The press conference is for the media.
11:00 AM-1:30 PM Special Lunch hosted by the Korea Freedom Alliance especially for the Korean American Community including Korea media featuring the defectors most active in getting information into North Korea to discuss their work. RSVP Required.
April 28 Tuesday, and April 30 Wednesday
Several NGO events and Congressional Hearings are being planned to discuss specific issues on North Korea. North Korean defectors and special eyewitnesses will address the current situation inside North Korea, the illegal activities of the regime from weapons proliferation to drug trafficking, from human trafficking to slave labor; the work of the defectors in getting information into North Korea; the ongoing violations of human rights in the political prison camps, the continued unresolved issue of abductees and Korean War POWs, the ongoing horrors facing North Korean females and orphans in China, efforts to reach out to elites and military to foment change inside North Korea.
Confirmed for Tuesday, April 28, at 2 pm is a special program at Heritage Foundation focusing on North Korea featuring representatives of the defector delegation and NGO leaders.
April 30 Thursday
New York, New York!: North Korean defector delegations and NKFC members will have a special Trip to New York City to visit the United Nations, the DPRK Mission and the US Mission to the UN.
NKFC is organizing transportation for NKFC members who also want to participate.
May 1 Friday
12:00 PM Capitol Hill Forum featuring NK Defectors Defense Forum Foundation will host the defector delegation to discuss their efforts to bring about regime change in North Korea followed by a Q&A session. Location: The Gold Room, Rayburn House Building; Especially for Congressional staff but open to the public; RSVP required (limited seating) to [email protected]
7:00 PM NKFW 2015 Silent Auction and Dinner North Korea Freedom Coalition is organizing a fun and inspiring fundraiser at the Elks Lodge in Fairfax, Virginia, to raise money for the nongovernmental organizations headed by defectors that are working to get news and information into North Korea and those involved in rescuing and helping North Korean refugees. Part of the event will include a silent auction. Individual ticket costs $50 per person and $25 for students. RSVP and payment in advance required. Tickets will be available for purchase online and via mail at www.nkfreedom.org. Special Hosts and Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
May 2 Saturday
TBA: Unification of the Mind Conference A special conference hosted by Emancipate North Koreans (ENoK) will bring North Koreans, Korean Americans and South Koreans together to discuss how to prepare for the unification of Korean peninsula. RSVP required.
Afternoon Demonstration and Protest at PRC Embassy for North Korean Refugees to stop forced repatriation and violent treatment of North Korean refugees. North Korean Freedom Coalition joined but other NGOs and the North Korean defector delegations will have dramatic presentation and testimony calling for China to end its cruel treatment of refuges which is in defiance of its international treaty obligations. Location: 3505 International Place NW, Washington DC Open to public; No RSVP required; Bring everyone you know!
Suzanne Scholte President, Defense Forum Foundation www.defenseforumfoundation.org Chairman, North Korea Freedom Coalition www.nkfreedom.org