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We are pleased to pass on the following information as a courtesy to our friends at The North Korean Freedom Coalition and the many other great organizations that helped organize the upcoming events and the recent International Protest to Save North Korean Refugees.
Copied below is an update from Suzanne Scholte on upcoming events followed by a report on the international protest in September.
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Dear Friends:
I am please to attach, but also have reprinted below, a report on last month's International Protest to Save North Korean Refugees in which thousands of people participated in events around the world to protest China's ongoing brutal and illegal treatment of North Korean Refugees. Thank you to all of our city and country coordinators from around the world: Kyung B. Lee, Alain Dionne, James Lung, Andrew Hong, Bok Lee, Kan Ando, Pastor Peter Sohn, Sam Kim, Mikko Heikkonen, Paul C Purvis, Teresa Ost, Peter Jung, Breda Lund, Pastor Chang Ho Lim, Ben Rogers, Orson Maazel, Alex Stanley and Alexandre Romoscanu!
We are also deeply grateful to Congressman Frank Wolf and Congressman James McGovern for co-hosting a Congressional hearing for the North Korean defectors who were here for the above events, and for Congressman Ed Royce for hosting a special Capitol Hill screening of 48M. Furthemore, Pastor Hyongshik Sohn opened his church to us for another screening of 48M which raised much needed funds for the broadcast of Free North Korea Radio and to help NKUS, the organization devoted to assisting North Koreans resettling in the USA.
I also want to share with you some important upcoming events in November and important news:
An Evening to Rescue North Korean Refugees November 16 at Ebenezer's Coffee House: If you have not yet seen the highly acclaimed film, Crossing, Channa Yu is planning a special screening including food and music on Friday, November 16 at Ebenezer's Coffee House in Washington, D.C. There is very limited seating, so if you are interested in attending, please email Channa right away for more details at [email protected].
HRNK Releases New Satellite Images of DPRK Political Prison Camp 22: The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea working with DigitalGlobe has released new images of the North Korean political prison camp No. 22. You can see the full report at HRNK's website at
http://hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/HRNK%20CAMP%2022%20REPORT%20FINAL%20(1).pdf
You for Me for You Opening November 5 at Woolly Mammoth Theater: Mia Chung's play about two North Korean sisters attempting to escape North Korea will open Monday, November 5 at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington, D.C. There are many special events being planning in conjunction with the play which will be at the theater through December 2nd. For information visit http://www.woollymammoth.net/performances/show_you_for_me.php
NKUS's Kimbap Fundraiser November 10: North Koreans in the USA (NKUS) will host a fundraiser at Bethel Church, Ellicott City, Maryland on Saturday, November 10 from 11:30-1:30 pm. For details, email:[email protected]
Continued Support Needed for Free North Korea Radio: According to independent surveys, Free North
Korea Radio continues to be the most popular radio station broadcasting into North Korea and it is people like you that make that possible! Right now, the Defense Forum Foundation is requesting donations to help support Free North Korea Radio for the transmission period coming up December 2012. Consider sponsoring an hour, a day, a week, or even a month of this award winning program sending true information and hope to the people of North Korea! For more information on being a sponsor email me at skswm@aol or visit the FNKR website at http://www.fnkradio.com/
PSALT's Boxes of Hope for North Korean Americans: Once again this year, PSALT NK, based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, is preparing boxes of hope for the North Koreans who have resettled in the United States that will be distributed before Christmas. There are a number of ways that you can help! You can donate for specific items that are needed for the boxes, send a message of encouragement, donate directly to PSALT for this project or help prepare the boxes with the PSALT volunteers. For more information, visit www.psaltnk.org or email [email protected]
And now here is the report from last month's International Protest to Save North Korean Refugees-- see below.
Acta Non Verba,
Suzanne Scholte
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Thousands Participate in Events Worldwide To Call on China to End Illegal, Brutal Repatriation of North Korean Refugees
On Saturday, September 22, 2012*, a date that marks the 30th anniversary of China becoming a signatory to the Refugee Convention, the North Korea Freedom Coalition asked citizens around the world to deliver petitions to Chinese embassies and consulates calling upon China to end their illegal and brutal repatriation of North Korean Refugees. Thousands participated in protest, vigils, film screenings, and events around the world in seventeen cities, ten countries.
For example, Teresa Ost in Mexico City gathered 1,388 petitions from Mexicans and other Spanish speaking countries, while in Hong Kong, James Lung petitioned in solidarity and posted a special message of hope to North Koreans that morning will come after a long dark night! Andrew Hong led fellow North Korea Freedom Riders in a two hour march of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile to raise awareness of the plight of North Korean refugees, while Orson Maazel proved the power of one as he not only hand delivered a petition to the consulate in New York City, but also sent one by UPS and email. As our lone voice in New York City, his actions led to a direct response from the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in the United States of America!
The following is a report highlighting some of the events as well as recognizing the city and country coordinators.
*The People’s Republic of China became a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol on September 22, 1982. This is the agreement they are violating every time they force a North Korean back to North Korea.
Here are some highlights from our city and country coordinators
CANADA
Toronto: Kyung B. Lee of the Council for Human Rights in North Korea spoke before a special event entitled: "Behind Closed Doors: The Human Rights Crisis in North Korea" at the Center for International Governance Innovation, a prestigious research center in Ontario. The event was attended by over 200 students and members of the public but was also webcast and included commentary by David Hawk via webcast. In addition, the Council organized a demonstration and petition delivery in Toronto.
Ottawa: Alain Dionne organized a demonstration and petition delivery as well as a film screening at Carleton College of Crossing.
CHINA
Hong Kong: James Lung of the Southern Democratic Alliance, organized a demonstration and petition delivery in Hong Kong and sent a special message via Youtube regarding North Korea: Morning will Come After a Long Dark Night.
FINLAND
Helsinki Mikko Heikkonen successfully delivered a petition to the PRC Embassy in Helsinki in solidarity.
JAPAN
Tokyo: Kan Ando and Southern Democratic Alliance delivered a petition and staged a demonstration in front of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. Japanese Congressmen Nakatsugawa Hirosato and Congressmen Yoshida Koichiro sent congratulatory messages of support, while Paul Purvis joined the protest bringing a journalist friend who covered the event for the Seoul Times.
MEXICO:
Teresa Ost of the North Korea Freedom Coalition-Mexico turned in 1,388 signatures to the PRC embassy in Mexico calling for the end of China’s repatriation policy. Participants in the protest also read the names of those who had disappeared or been repatriated and prayed at the embassy. During the day, Ost also organized an exhibit and day long film festival to educate citizens about the North Korea human rights situation and refugee crisis. Films included Kimjongilia, On the Border, Seoul Train and Crossing.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul: Peter Jung, who has been a tireless and nonstop leader advocating for the North Korean refugees, continued his efforts in Seoul with Breda Lund and colleagues at his NGO, Justice for North Korea and joined the International Protest in solidarity.
Busan: Pastor Changho Lim and the Jangdaehyun Church, a North Korean defector church in Busan, delivered a petition and hosted a prayer vigil for the refugees.
SPAIN
Madrid and Barcelona: Alex Stanley organized efforts in Spain for petition deliveries in Madrid and Barcelona and organized a special prayer service. His special message from Spain for the North Korea defectors was read at the Washington, D.C. Protest.
SWITZERLAND
Zurich and Bern: Alexandre Romoscanu organized efforts in Switzerland and petition deliveries at the Chinese embassy and consulate in Zurich and Bern.
UNITED KINGDOM
London: Despite having a previously scheduled weekend event that same time, Ben Rogers, East Asia Team Leader of CSW-UK initiated a prayer campaign for the weekend for the refugees and arranged for a petition to be sent to the PRC Embassy in London.
USA
Chicago: North Korea Freedom Riders led by Andrew Hong and ENok (Emancipate North Koreans) delivered a petition to the PRC consulate in Chicago and then led a two hour march across Chicago’s Magnificent Mile to raise awareness of the plight facing North Korean refugees. Bok Lee, who participated in the events wrote: “There were so many people at every corner. When we chanted, they followed our chanting with thumbs up.”
Earlier in the month the group arranged for North Korean defector, Soongshil Lee, to speak at Moody Church. Lee gave powerful testimony about the reality of North Korea’s human rights conditions as well as what happens to those who flee to China.
Los Angeles: Pastor Peter Sohn, Sam Kim and the Korean American Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom led events in Los Angeles delivering a petition but also leading a demonstration. The KCC is also leading efforts worldwide for the refugees as part of their Until the Day Pastors efforts to Let My People Go!
New York: Proving in the POWER OF ONE, Orson Maazel was the lone participant in New York City but he actually got a response from the Chinese Embassy’s First Secretary at the USA Embassy. Maazel not only sent a petition by UPS and via email, but also taped the petition to the outside wall of the Chinese consulate in New York City on September 22nd. Lijian Zhao, First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in the USA responded to Maazel: China has been carefully handling with the illegal border-crossing issue based on domestic law, international law and humanitarian grounds. Those people you mentioned entered China illegally. There is no(t) enough ground to define them as refugees. China cannot allow its territory to become the passage for illegal immigrants. It is a usual practice that illegal immigrants are dealt with according to law. The US also repatriates illegal immigrants from other countries. China's practice is beyond reproach and in accordance with international practice.
Washington, D.C: Because of other events requiring security in Washington, D.C. that day (an Islamic related protest) the North Korea Freedom Coalition had the ability to deliver their petition right to the door of the embassy, as well as gather immediately in front of the embassy. (Security at past protests has restricted NKFC’s ability to get that close.) At their demonstration. NKFC read THE LIST while members of Alpha Community Church carried a coffin to symbolize the thousands of North Koreans who have been killed by Chinese policies. Nancy Purcell, Jinhee Kim and Hyun Song dramatized the treatment of North Korean refugees as they marched with demonstrators seven times in front of the Embassy. That evening Pastor Hyongshik Sohn and Pilgrim Church hosted a special screening of 48M with the visiting North Korean defector delegation.
