Dear
Friends:
I
am pleased to send you brief reports, many including
photos, from city and country coordinators for last month's International
Protest Against China's Violent Repatriation of North Korean Refugees which
took place in 23 cities and 15 countries. Please take a few moments to
read about what was done and what happened in different cities
and countries. Two things are
clear: the Chinese government heard us (see their reaction at different cities)
and so did the North Korean refugees thanks to the coverage by Radio Free Asia,
Voice of America, Free North Korea Radio and other media of the
International Protest.
We
are continuing to collect reports, but for now below are some of the
highlights from Brazil, Poland, Canada, South Korea, and USA cities including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The next
International Protest is planned for 12:00 noon Saturday,
April 28, 2007. We are now recruiting more people and
more city and country coordinators -- we hope to double the number of
cities for the next protest.
Thank
you to the city and country coordinators listed at the end of this
report, members of the North Korea Freedom Coalition and especially NGO
member, Open Doors, co-chair of the International
Protest. Thank you to Senator Sam Brownback, Congressman Masahura Nakagawa, and Hwang Jang-yop
for their special greetings to everyone participating around the world.
Warm
regards,
Suzanne
Scholte
Highlights from Around the World
International Protest Against China’s
Violent Repatriation of North Korean Refugees
Held on December 2, 2006
The International Protest Against
China’s Violent Repatriation of North Korean Refugees involved activists in 15
countries and 23 cities who marked the date with protests, demonstrations,
prayer vigils and/or delivery of petitions and letters to the Chinese Embassy
to speak out against China's violent repatriation of North Korean
refugees. This report highlights several of the countries and several of
the cities participating in the protest and includes excerpts from stories that
aired on Radio Free Asia, Voice of America and in other media outlets.
The protest was a tremendous success -- there was action on EVERY CONTINENT
except Antarctica, and because of the coverage in
these broadcasts, everyone who participated can be sure of two
things: the Chinese government heard us and the North Korean refugees
and humanitarian workers heard our pleas on their behalf.
This poster was
designed especially for the December Protest utilizing the Beijing Olympic logo and was used at many of
the protests-thank you to Darrit Cho!
In addition to helping
recruit international coordinators, Lindsay Vessey
of Open Doors set up a fax campaign for those in the USA who could not
physically participate in one of the protests. As a
result, approximately 1200 sent messages to the Chinese embassy
in Washington DC via fax and email. Of that
number 746 messages were confirmed to have been received at the
embassy.
A listing of all
the coordinators for the 23 cities and 15 countries that
participated follows at the end.
We hope anyone reading this
report will join our next protest being held around the world on April
28, 2007 at 12:00 noon.
Many thanks, Suzanne
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BRAZIL: San Paolo and Rio de Janeiro
“Stop
Repatriating North Korean Refugees”
Renata Éboli Reporting
from Brazil:The 2nd December mobilization in Brazil to support the North-Korean repatriated
by China happened in an orderly way where
co-operation and fraternity could be witnessed. Peaceful manifestations were
held at the Chinese consulate in São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro. In São Paulo, there were 25 people who carried banners
and placards with explanations to both the passers-by and the consulate staff
about what motivated that mobilization. The protesters were also wearing
T-shirts and distributing leaflets to call attention to their cause. In Rio de Janeiro, 15 people met to pray at Flamengo embankment before gathering in front of the
consulate. The Chinese authorities called the police, but the police officers
were touched by the manifestation and only stayed around while the protesters
were in front of the Consulate building. Hundreds of e-mails were
sent to the Chinese government in order to ask the authorities not to
repatriate the North-Koreans. We were very happy to be able to join
in with all the others who are supporting the North Koreans. May God bless
all of us!
POLAND
“Free
North Koreans; China: The World is Watching You”
Reporting from Poland Magdalena Kwiatkowska:The International protest against China’s violent repatriation of North Korean Refugees
was held in Warsaw, Poland in front of Chinese Embassy on Bonifraterska 1 Street. The participants of the
protest were students...We decided to stand in front of the building with
posters stating: “Free North Koreans”, “Stop Repatriating North Korean
Refugees”, “Freedom for North Korean People”, “The world is watching you while
you do nothing and say nothing” written in English and Polish. We also printed
and all signed the petition to the Ambassador. Unfortunately, nobody [at the
Chinese Embassy] wanted to speak with us, although we tried many times.
We informed the Embassy a few days before this event that we want to
protest in front of the building, but they didn’t reply to our message.
We weren’t able to throw the petition through the fence because the
police didn’t allow us to. So we put it in a visible place (there was no
mailbox) hoping that anybody from the embassy will read it. One of the best things connected
with the event was that people passing on the street stopped and asked us about
the protest. They had no idea that the situation of NK refugees in China is so tragic. But we were really happy to
see that they were interested in the issue.
LONDON, ENGLAND
Christians call on Chinese
government to protect North Korean refugees
Reporting from London, Alice Jones: Fifty protestors gathered peacefully opposite the Chinese Embassy at Portland Place in London from 11:30 am demonstrating the strength of concern felt
by Christians for suffering North Korean refugees in China who continue to be hunted down by Chinese
authorities and forcibly returned to North Korea.
At midday, a letter of concern was delivered to the Chinese ambassador to the UK, Mr Zha Peixin, expressing concern on behalf of the Christian
Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A bouquet of flowers was also deposited outside
the embassy, as a token of respect and prayer. Embassy staff would not open the
door to receive Open Doors’ letter or flowers.
Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, commented: “We were horrified that the Chinese
Embassy would not even extend the courtesy of opening the door to us. The UK is a democratic society where the voices of all
are given a hearing, and the refusal of the Chinese representatives to
acknowledge our delegation is, to us, indicative of their lack of willingness
to listen to the increasing protest of fury from around world.
“They cannot be unaware of the inhumane
treatment which awaits the North Korean refugees whom they forcibly repatriate
and who are desperately seeking refuge within their borders. China not only hunts down refugees, but it also
hunts down and jails its own citizens for helping these refugees.”
Earlier that morning
Eddie Lyle made a separate visit to the North Korean Embassy in Ealing. Mr Lyle
was again refused entry to the embassy and an attending policeman informed
him that embassy staff would not acknowledge him. A letter of concern about
North
Korea’s human rights record was posted through the embassy letterbox but
the bouquet of flowers – to be respectfully presented to North Korea’s ambassador to the UK, Mr Ri
Yong Ho, as a token that many are praying for peace and justice in North Korea – could not be delivered.
One Open Doors’ supporter who joined the
protest outside the Chinese embassy commented, “I pray our peaceful
protest, joining with others across the world, will help to persuade the
Chinese authorities to change their stance regarding North Korea’s refugees in China.”
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A group of Christians pray for a
breakthrough in China’s treatment of North Korean refugees, opposite the Chinese Embassy
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CANADA
“Parade,
Protest and Demand for North Korean Refugees”
Reporting from Canada, Kyung-Bok Lee: Over three hundred people came out for
the peaceful parade and very heated rally! The demonstration included the
acting act of a seizure by Chinese police of a North Korean refugee,
the delivery of special messages from leaders like Hwang Jang-yop, and a parade to the Chinese consulate office. Photos below of the protest in Canada:
Canada Protest: Acting out seizure of
refugee
Parade to the Chinese
consulate office in Canada.
SEOUL AND BUSAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Rev. Peter Jung
organized protests in Seoul and Busan with close to 1000 participants.
SEOUL PROTEST
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
CHINA: Stop sending North Koreans to their Death!”
~~ Chicago
Police Tell Chinese: "You're Not the Boss of Me!"and Take a Stand for Our Protest
When Chinese Try to Force Us off Sidewalk ~~
Reporting from
Chicago, Mary Glass: The
International Protest in Chicago sparked quite the emotion at the
Chinese Consulate. Brittany
Klaus and I had shoveled the ice covered side walk across the street from the
Chinese Consulate due to significant snowfall two days before the protest. We
were told we could not stand on the side walk right in front of the Consulate,
because it is apparently “owned” by the Chinese. We had twenty-five
people participate, mostly from Moody Bible Institute and some who had heard
about it through Open Doors. The street we were on was a VERY busy
street, and we had a lot of people look at our signs and ask what we were
doing. Just before the end of the protest, Brittany and I decided to go
across the street in front of the embassy with our signs to hold in front of
the camera. We asked the police officer if that was ok, and he said we
could do whatever we want and that he had never heard of a sidewalk in Chicago not being owned by Chicago. We didn’t think anyone was actually in the
embassy, but within a minute or two, two Chinese men started yelling at the
police officer to get us off their property. The police officer yelled
back, ”You’re not the boss of me”...So we got a
response from the Chinese consulate. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had
been watching us the entire time. I think our protest worked very well to
raise people’s awareness of the North Korean refugee situation in China. I want to continue to be involved! Thank
you so much for all your help.
Photos from Chicago demonstration:
Chicago-praying for the North Korean refugees Chicago-in front of the embassy
HOUSTON, TEXAS
“Rescuing the Weak and
Oppressed”
Reporting from Houston,
Gail Bielitz: Houston’s protest and prayer
vigil included representation from the following groups: Korean Americans for Liberty and Human Rights;
Korean American Association of Houston; Open Doors; Persecuted Church Ministry
Team; Refugee Aid Ministries; and
Rice University Students. We
appreciated the opportunity to “open our mouth for the speechless, in the cause
of all who are appointed to die…and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 Our first amendment rights were well protected by the
city of Houston as we gathered on the sidewalk in front of Houston’s Consulate
for the People’s Republic of China. Letters were read from Senator Sam
Brownback, Congressman Masaharu Nakagawa of Japan, and Hwang Jang-yop.
Prayers for divine protection of the North Korean
refugees hiding in China, especially for women being sexually exploited and those being used for
slave labor, were offered. We prayed that China would allow the UNHCR access to the refugees and that they would stop
their practice of forcible repatriation. The list of North Korean
refugees and humanitarian workers seized by Chinese authorities compiled under
the leadership of Suzanne Scholte with the Defense
Forum Foundation was read. Participants held up banners with the
following messages:
Stop Forcible Repatriation of North Korean
Refugees
China’s Cruelty Kills the Olympic Spirit
Grant UNHCR Access to North Korean Refugees
Silence is Death to North Korean Refugees
Boycott 2008 Beijing Olympics
We were pleased to have the opportunity to
dialogue with three young men from China regarding the purpose of our protest and prayer vigil
as well as our motivation for participating. Thank you to all of the
participants of the protest and prayer vigil held in Houston for North Korean refugees. It was a
pleasure to join with you and the North Korea Freedom Coalition to
"defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the
poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of
the wicked (Psalm 82:3-4)." When China does decide to provide
UNCHR access to North Korean refugees, Houston may be called upon to
welcome them to our great city. What a privilege it will be to show them
the place where Houstonians came together on December 2, 2006, to speak out on their
behalf.
Wearing that hat, Houston, of
course!!!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
“Pray for North Korean Refugees”
Reporting from Los Angeles, Lindsay Vessey with Tom Byun: The
December 2nd International Protest Against
China’s Violent Repatriation of North Korean Refugees in Los Angeles, CA was sponsored by the Coalition of Korean American
Patriotic Organizations of America and Open Doors USA. Between 90-100
people attended the prayer, protest and demonstration in front of the Chinese
Consulate General of Los Angeles. In addition to the sponsors, the
following organizations participated in speaking and leading in prayers at the
protest: The Council of Korean Churches in Southern CA, Southern CA Chapter,
International Campaign to Block the Repatriation of North Korean Refugees,
North Korean Refugees Association in the US, Evangelia
University, and the 9.14 Patriotic Club of Korea.
Rev. Ki Hyung Han, President of the Council of Korean Churches
in Southern California, representing more than 1,500 churches, Rev. Hak-Ryang Choi, ex-president
of KCC, Dr. Thomas Chung, President of Korean POW Affairs, Mr. Bong K.
Kim(former Korean Veterans Ass.), President of Korean American Patriotic
Association, Mr. Young Kook Chang, President of New Rights Movement of
California, Mr. Kwan-Sup Moon, President of Korean Citizens Alliances, Rev.
Myung-Kwan Kim, Chairman of Korean War Memorial
Village Town, as Korean community leaders participated.
There were also many students attending
the event from local universities. The hour long program included speeches,
prayers, and greetings from Senator Brownback and North Korean defector
Hwang Jang-yop.
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The participants held signs with messages for
the Chinese government as a clear indication to observers and the press of the
purpose of the protest. The event was covered by the LA Times, Korea
Times, Korea Daily, and Chinese Times while
Radio Korea broadcast the event and the Biola
University news “Eagle Vision” videoed the event and conducted interviews.
The event organizers are so grateful to
everyone who participated and excited about the growing momentum on the NK
refugees crisis across the US and especially with unity across all spectrums of US
society joining together to bring freedom to all North Koreans. We are also
grateful to the North Korea Freedom Coalition for its leadership in organizing
this international protest.
WASHINGTON, DC
“Former North Korean
Refugees, Former Jailed Rescuer and Activists United for North Korean
Refugees; Coffin depicts death China
has Caused”
Pastor Sohn opened the program in prayer, crying out to God
for justice for the North Koreans and compassion from the Chinese
authorities. Special greetings were read from Senator Sam Brownback,
Congressman Masahura Nakagawa of Japan and Hwang, Jang-Yop.
Two special
NGO leaders gave powerful remarks: Debra Liang-Fenton,
Executive Director of the US Committee for Human rights in North Korea, and T. Kumar, the Advocacy
Director for Asia and Pacific for Amnesty
International USA. Jae Hyun Bae of the Citizens Coalition for Abductees and Human
Rights in North Korea spoke as well and Pastor Heemoon Lee gave a special message on "Why We
Are Here" citing our obligation to help those who are suffering.
Honored guests
at the protest in Washington, DC included Rev. Phillip Buck, who
was jailed for a year and a half in China for helping the refugees
and four visiting North Korean defectors who reached freedom because
of his efforts. Many were in tears as the truth of the horrors of the
struggle to survive in North Korea and China was described by the North
Koreans.
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Reporting from Washington, D.C., Nancy Purcell: We are so grateful to all who
came out to protest China's Violent Repatriation of North
Korean Refugees! Before the 12 noon event began, people arrived
to prayer walk around what we call "Little Tianamen Square" (the park across the street
from the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C.). Then, Jeff Park and
James Ham sang praise music for the participants as they began to gather for
the program.
Then, seven
volunteers read "The List" of all the known North Korean
refugees who had been repatriated and the jailed humanitarian workers. A
letter was delivered to the embassy by Sin U Nam and Suzanne Scholte on behalf of the North Korea Freedom Coalition
pleading for China 1) to allow the UNHCR to help the refugees; 2) to
work with the humanitarian organizations willing to assist China with the
refugee problem and 3) to allow the refugees safe passage to the countries
willing to accept them.
Following the
program, participants marched around the park area at least seven times
shouting out chants, led by Sin U Nam. Pastor Lee and volunteers carried
a coffin symbolizing the North Koreans that have died because of the
Chinese government's cruel policy.
After the march,
James Ham led the crowd in singing “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord” because a
key phrase in the song reminds us that, "When the darkness closes in Lord,
still I will say, 'Blessed be the Name of the Lord, blessed be your Name".
In addition to
coverage in the major Korean papers as well as important newspapers like
the Los Angeles Times, Radio Free Asia ,Voice
of America, and Free North Korea Radio, which broadcast into China and North
Korea, covered the rallies which means that folks in North Korea and
North Korean refugees hiding in China will know what you did for them
—below are a few sample stories!
Los Angeles Times's K. Connie Kang, reported from Los Angeles: China
policy on Korean refugees is denounced: Protestors say Beijing hunts down
defectors from the North and forces them home, where they face torture and even
execution...people -- some coming from as far away as Temecula -- stood in
front of the consulate, holding an array of colorful homemade placards that
bore such statements as "Stop Forcible Repatriation" and
"China's Cruelty Kills the Olympic Spirit," the latter referring to
the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing...Organizers repeatedly said
China, in violation of international agreements it has signed, hunts down
starving North Korean refugees in China, forcing them to return home, where
they face torture, imprisonment and sometimes execution. Experts estimate
that about 200,000 North Koreans are held in prison camps in their nation and
that as many as 300,000 are hiding in northeast China....
Radio Free Asia's Lee Soo Kyung reported
from Washington, D.C: "Led by the American human rights NGO, Defense Forum
Foundation, protest demonstrations took place in over 14 different countries
and 20 different cities such as the U.S., South Korea, Europe, Canada, Japan,
and Brazil, at the same time on the same day. Suzanne Scholte
of Defense Forum Foundation said China continues to forcefully send back the
refugees to North Korea, and continues to harass the rescue
workers in China. She said the rally was to protest
against the Chinese policy...Number one is to put pressure on China to stop its repatriation of North Korean
refugees. Second, we must give hope to the refugees and those rescue workers in
China who risk their lives to save the
refugees. Lastly, we want to support the NGOs and human rights workers in
South Korea, the U.S., and in China who are risking their lives even this
moment to save the refugees...Debra Liang-Fenton of
the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea said that China is a
signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention, but is not living up to its
obligation to help protect the refugees. "The international
community must put pressure on China and help save the
refugees"...Special participants at the Rally were the refugees from South
Korea Kim Nan Hee, Kang Myung
Soo, Kim Ok Soon, and Kim Young Cheol
(all alias) who testified the refugees when
repatriated face torture, imprisonment, and even execution. Kim
Young Cheol said: "Even now at this moment,
refugees are being forcefully sent back to North Korea. Chinese government should send
those refugees to countries with freedom on a humane basis.” Kim Ok Soon
testified about the human trafficking, sexual abuse, and forced marriages in China. She appealed for help on these
women slaves in China. Kim Ok Soon: “There are
these human sex slaves everywhere in the three provinces in China. They don’t have any human rights
whatsoever. They are being sold like merchandise. Whenever I think
about them, I cry and I cannot sleep.”
Voice of America's Kim Yeong-Kwon
reported from Washington, D.C. : "China's cruelty kills the Olympic Spirit." Rally
in front of the Chinese Embassy in D.C. lasted more than 2 hours.
This was the third rally by the North Korea Freedom Coalition in front of the
Chinese Embassy this year! In April, Christians in America held all night prayer vigil for
14 hours. Participants said that the Chinese government knows that
the refugees when repatriated would face torture, imprisonment, and even
execution. This is violation of the International Refugee
Agreement which the Chinese government joined and signed.
Participants said they understand the concerns on the part of the Chinese
government about the mass exodus and chaos from North Korea. However, they maintained that the Chinese
government as the host country for 2008 Olympics and as the permanent
member of the U.N. Security Council, they should act as a world leader and let
the refugees settle in third countries. Participants carried a casket
with mums symbolizing the dead spirit of China, and walked around the park in
front of the Chinese Embassy seven times....Present at the rally were
Pastor Philip Buck who was released from Chinese prison last August after 15
months in the jail, and 4 refugees who were saved by him, who settled in South
Korea. They testified about the truth about North Korea and the refugees in China, and appealed for help...A former
North Korean refugee, Kim Soon-Ok, said she never knew people were
demonstrating like this when she was in China. She was deeply moved by the rally.. The North Korea Freedom Coalition
members claimed that the people in North Korea and the refugees suffer more and more, but
have no voice to let the outside world know. They said we have to be
the voice for them.
Thank
you to these city, country coordinators and volunteers
who helped make the December International protest such a great success:
CITY,
COUNTRY COORDINATORS
Australia: Sarah Champness
Belgium: Willy Fautré
Brazil:(Rio de Janiero
and Sao Paolo) Renata Éboli
Canada: Kyung-Bok
Lee
Denmark: Rev. Oh Dae-Hwan
France: Michael V; and also Rev. Lee
Sang-koo
Germany: Romy
Schneider
Holland: Axel P
Japan: Kato Hiroshi
Norway: Jan Madsen
Poland: Magdalena Kwiatkowska and Anna Szucka
Republic of Korea (Seoul and Busan): Pastor Peter Jung
Uganda: Peter Lujo
United Kingdom: Eddie Lyles
United States of America:
Washington, D.C.: Sin U Nam, Pastor Heemoon
Lee, Sue and Ed Logan, Jeff Park and James Ham
Los Angeles: Yohngsohk Choe; Lindsay Vessey; and
Tom Byun
Chicago: Mary Glass and Brittany Klaus
Houston: Gail Bielitz
and Casey Youn
Seattle: David Chung
New York: Cho Han-Geung