Refugee repatriation aftermath

It is highly regrettable that the government of China chose to ignore both its international treaty obligations and official and private entreaties from around the world and forcibly repatriated a number of North Korean refugees earlier this month.  We received this message from Suzanne Scholte about a number of actions that have planned in response.

“Dear Friends:

Although it is devastating that despite direct appeals from South Korea and the international community China forced refugees -- ranging in age from senior citizens to infants -- back to North Korea to face certain horrors, awareness of the crisis facing North Korean refugees has never been higher. Never before had the government of South Korea been so actively and passionately engaged in this issue, never before had there been so much press attention, and never before had there been so much activism ranging from political leaders to grassroots activists from South Korean popular movie and music stars to college students.

Despite this tragic outcome for those most recently repatriated, it would only be a triumph for the government of China's cruelty and an acquiescence to North Korea's brutal dictatorship, if we give up this fight now.  We must continue to advocate for the North Korean refugees in every possible way until China ends this brutal, inhumane, cruel and illegal policy of repatriation.

Continued action is needed, by:

-- calling on our own elected officials to do more:  We must all demand more of our elected officials in our respective nations.  Some analysts including reporter Dong A Ilbo reporter Sung Ha Joo believe that China repatriated these refugees more quickly because they fear growing international attention to this issue.  The South Korean government dispatched diplomats to raise this issue in Geneva and Beijing and many Korean lawmakers participated at the UN Human Rights Council to advocate for protection of these refugees.  It is critically important that the international community continue to press on this issue to help strengthen South Korea's position, as deep political divisions in South Korea continue to stymie bipartisan support for North Korean human rights advocacy.  For example, U.S. Congressman Ed Royce, has called upon all members of the International Parliamentarians Coalition for North Korea Human Rights and Refugees to sent their own appeals to Hu Jintao.  We have asked the Parliamentarians Forum for Democracy to do the same: not just raise this with their governments, but raise this with Beijing.  With major elections coming up in both South Korea and the United States, South Koreans and Americans must demand more from their government officials.  As a result of last week's U.S. Congressional hearing (you can watch here at http://www.cecc.gov/pages/hearings/general/hearing5/index.php ) there will be a resolution in Congress expected to be introduced next week when Congress returns.  We will be calling upon Americans to push for swift passage of this resolution.

-- appealing directly to Hu Jintao:  Do not let up in sending appeals to the Chinese consulates and embassies demanding China end its illegal repatriation policy and its complicity in sending North Koreans to their death.  These consulates must report on what is occurring in their respective cities and countries.  We recommend you write, fax and email.  You can find the contact information and a sample letter at the NKFC website at www.nkfreedom.org

AND, finally,

 -- joining the demonstrations and protests at the Embassy and Consulates of the People's Republic of China to save North Korean refugees.  Below you will see a list of demonstrations coming up just in March.  Some of these will be every week.  If you know of others, feel free to email me.

ACTA NON VERBA,

Suzanne Scholte

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UPCOMING EVENTS ADVOCATING FOR NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES

Wednesday, March 14:

Geneva: (WED) 10am / Campaign in Geneva (Simultaneous Campaign in NY)

HOST: Rescue Network for North Korean Refugees (RNNKR), SaveMyFriend, Justice for North Korea (JFNK)

gathering at the Place des Nations (Square at the UN office in Geneva) and march to the Chinese Embassy (Chemin de Surville 11, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2); contact Peter Jung at email: justicenk@gmail.com

USA 

Tuesday, March 20:

Simultaneous demonstrations at the Chinese embassies and consulates in the USA will be held next week on Tuesday, March 20, to coincide with the meeting of the UN Human Rights Council:

Chicago : 3 pm Activists led by Andrew Hong, Bok Lee and members of ENoK (Emancipate North Koreans) will assemble at 3:00 pm at the Chinese consulate-general in Chicago, 100 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610 and march across downtown Chicago.  Contact Andrew Hong at ashong7@gmail.com

Washington, D.C.: 12:00 noon Chinese Embassy at 3505 International Place, N.W., Washington, D.C.

20008  Members of the North Korea Freedom Coalition will organize a demonstration.  Contact: nkfcadmin1@gmail.com

*also note in Washington, D.C.: every Saturday from 11 am - 12:00 noon there will be a demonstration by Korean Americans.  Contact: Jong-Joon Chun at jjchun444@gmail.com

Los Angeles: 2 pm Chinese Consulate at 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020  The fraternities of the Consolidated Korean Army Academy and the Korean War Veterans Association will demonstrate joined by the NKFC of Los Angeles.  Contact Tom Byun at tombyun@yahoo.com

*also note in Los Angeles: every Thursday at 2 pm will be a demonstration at the consulate in Los Angeles.  Contact Dr. Paul Jhin of the North Korea Freedom Coalition of Los Angeles at pkjhin@gmail.com

New York: 12:00 noon Activists will assemble at the Chinese consulate at 520 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036.  Contact Hyemi Shin of NKFC at zzb1717@hotmail.com.

Houston and San Francisco -- we are recruiting volunteers for these remaining consulates, if you can help please email me directly at skswm@aol.com

REPUBLIC OF KOREA 

Seoul: EVERYDAY in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul there are protests and vigils including a daily 2 pm rally and protest and a 7pm candlelight vigil.

Also in Seoul every Monday at 7 pm at Seoul Rail Station, the Esther Prayer Movement is holding a Candlelight Vigil and Prayer Rally for North Korean (Subway Line #1 Seoul Station Exit #2). Contact Esther Prayer Movement Group http://www.pray24365.org/

Busan:

Every Monday evenings at 7 pm at Busan Rail Station, there is a Candlelight Vigil and Prayer Rally for North Korea Salvation and Peaceful Reunification.  Contact Sang Lim CHOI of  Vision Network at email: csl2626@hanmail.net

Daegu:

Thursday, March 15 from 4-8 pm, there will be a Rally and Protest for North Korean Refugees and a Petition Drive at Dongsung-ro, in front of the Daegu Department Store. Contact:  Mr. Kyungho Chung at email: jkh8078@hanmail.net.  

CANADA:

Kyung B. Lee and the Council for Human Rights in North Korea continue to lead efforts in Canada with regular demonstrations.  The most recent was a rally last Tuesday at the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa which brought together for the first time activists from three cities in support including Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.  For more information contact Kyung B. Lee of the CHRNK at kbl928@yahoo.com.”