February 13, 2012
Coalition Requests Obama, Biden to Call Upon
China to Stop Repatriation of North Korean
Refugees
(Washington, DC)...The North Korea Freedom Coalition
(NKFC) sent a letter to the White House today requesting that President Barack
Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden ask China to end their forced repatriation
of North Korean refugees during talks with the People's Republic of China's Vice
President XI Jinpiing. NKFC wrote that China’s repatriation policy,
in addition to being in direct violation of the international agreements it has
signed, has created an environment of violent activity in
China. North Korean agents roam freely assassinating humanitarian
workers trying to help the refugees, while the majority of North Korean female
refugees end up being subjected to human trafficking. Meanwhile, China
prevents the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from being
able to assist China in addressing this refugee problem.
The Coalition pointed out that with a new dictator in power
in North Korea, China has an opportunity to encourage reform there which is in
China's best interest. In fact, China's policy of repatriation
of North Koreans, which leads to their torture, imprisonment, and sometimes
even execution, has relieved pressure on the North
Korean regime to improve conditions in their country.
With the UNHCR's presence in China, the international community's
willingness to assist refugees as well as resettle them, there is simply no
reason for China to continue this brutal repatriation policy, according to the
NKFC. The NKFC called upon the United States to work with China
as a positive way to move forward on their shared goals regarding reform in
North Korea.
The full text of the letter follows below.
February 13, 2012
The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States
The Honorable
Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States
The White
House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President and Mr. Vice-President:
During the visit of the People’s Republic of China’s Vice President
Xi Jinping to the United States, we urge you to call for China to end their
policy of forced repatriation of North Korean refugees. We believe
that ending this policy would have a very positive benefit for China as well as
increase the potential for reform to come to North Korea. In fact,
China’s Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai recently stated that, “The Chinese
government has the responsibility to protect people’s safety and property, and
to curb violent activities. That is the most important human right for the
people.”
China’s repatriation policy, in addition to being in direct violation
of the international agreements it has signed, has created an environment of
violent activity in China. North Korean agents roam freely assassinating
humanitarian workers trying to help the refugees, while the majority of North
Korean female refugees end up being subjected to human trafficking.
Meanwhile, China prevents the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from
being able to assist China in addressing this refugee problem.
The ascendency of Kim Jong Un to power provides China with a
tremendous opportunity to encourage reform in North Korea. In fact, it is
China’s repatriation policy that has made it possible for North Korea to resist
taking any reforms that would create an environment in which its citizens do not
want to flee. Those North Korean defectors who risk their lives to flee to
China do not want to leave North Korea, but they feel they have no choice
because of the conditions in their homeland.
China could resolve the violence and lawlessness resulting from its
repatriation policy by simply adhering to the 1951 Convention relating to the
Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol and allow the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees to do their job. Ending their repatriation
policy would also send a strong signal to the Kim regime of their need to
improve conditions in their country by opening up to reform, something that
China has been encouraging for decades. It is important to note that
unlike any refugees in the world today, North Korean refugees have a place for
immediate resettlement as they are citizens of South Korea, under Articles 2 and
3 of the Republic of Korea Constitution, and many countries have shown a
willingness to accept North Koreans for resettlement, relieving China of any
burden.
There is simply no reason for China to continue this
brutal repatriation policy, and the United States, working with China, could use
this issue as a positive way to move forward on our shared goals regarding
reform in North Korea.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely and Respectfully Yours,
Suzanne Scholte Sin U
Nam
Rabbi Abraham Cooper Pastor
Heemoon
Lee
Chairman
Vice Chairman Vice
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Ann Buwalda Mariam
Bell Sue Yoon Logan
Hyun S. Song
Treasurer
Legislative
Chair Administrator
Secretary
cc: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
UN
High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres
Ambassador Susan
Rice
Ambassador Robert King
Ambassador Luis CdeBaca