Thursday, December 4, 2008

News Update from Suzanne Scholte, Executive Director of NKFC

Demonstrations to Save North Korean Refugees Fri & Sat in Washington, DC

Four North Korean Refugees Successfully Rescued

Balloon Launches to North Korea Receive Major Press and Controversy

Free North Korea Radio Receives Reporters Without Borders Award

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to report on major developments on a number of fronts in our work to promote the freedom, human rights and dignity of the North Korean People -- our priorities have been to save North Korean Refugees and to reach out to the North Korean people and the following are important news and action items:

Demonstrations to Save North Korean Refugees Fri, Sat in Washington, DC

Tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday there will be demonstrations focused on China's continuing brutality against the North Korean refugees and a call for support for the rescue of North Korean refugees in China. Please Help Save North Korean Refugees by joining us at the events this Friday, Dec 5 at noon at the Chinese Embassy, 2300 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington,DC and Saturday, Dec 6 at noon at Union Station, Washington, DC. Friday's event at the PRC embassy will be targeted at China's cruel repatriation policy, while Saturday's event at Union Station will be focused on educating the American public about the plight of the North Korean refugees and the PRC government's inhumane and barbaric repatriation policy while requesting support for the rescue movement. Because it is nearly impossible to avoid buying products made in China, especially during the Holidays, we will ask Americans for an "offset" to their "Made in China" purchases by donating for the rescue of North Korean refugees, most of whom are women and children. Please see attached press release.

Confirmed special guests coming from different parts of the country for these events include Steve Kim, our hero from New York who was jailed for 4 years for helping refugees, Jo Jin Hae, our heroine from Washington State -- the North Korean defector who went on a hunger strike for the refugees inspired by her meeting with President Bush, our Youth for Truth directed by Nancy Purcell will be traveling from Pennsylvania, as well as Sin U Nam who will be bringing down panels from the North Korea Genocide Exhibit to display at both events -- so consider this an opportunity to help the refugees and educate your friends and colleagues about the genocide occurring in North Korea today. Please send the attached flyers to your email lists.

We also need more volunteers to help read THE LIST of the repatriated refugees, humanitarian workers on Friday and help carry the coffin on Friday and Saturday -- anyone who plans to attend and can help out, please email Hyun Song at henry@defenseforum.org and let him know what days you can be with us.

I am please to report that because of the amazing work of Steve Kim and 318 Partners and Phillip Buck, 2007 Civil Courage Award Winner, the rescue of North Koreans has continued successfully. Four people were just rescued before Thanksgiving including two children ages three year and one because of the generous support of so many of you. The youngest celebrated his first birthday -- November 22nd -- in freedom! More are in danger, so please continue to support these rescues which rely solely on private contributions.

Action items: Come out for the events on Dec 5 and 6 at noon, support the Refugee Rescue Fund! Donations are tax deductible and 100% is used for the rescues.

Balloon Launches to North Korea Receive Major Press, Controversy

We made a major effort in October to focus attention on the balloon launches and since that time Park Sang Hak and the Fighters for a Free North Korea have continued to launch balloons into North Korea gaining much press attention but also hostile interference by pro-Kim Jong-il supporters in South Korea. The Washington Post recently ran a major story on Park's work including photos which can be seen at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120201226.html?hpid=artslot

Again, this work is supported through private donations, and I am pleased that so many folks in the USA have faithfully helped finance these launches of balloons containing pamphlets of true information and money to reach out to the North Korean people, while Park has also had great grassroots support from South Korean citizens due to the media attention. Because of the hostile reaction towards these efforts to reach out to the North Korean people, The Chosun Ilbo ran an OPED in support of these launches. Because of the uncertainly in North Korea, it is important now more than ever that we reach out to the North Korean people. You can read the OPED at

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/12/02/2008120201594.html

Action item: support the next launch by Fighters for a Free North Korea! Donations are tax-deductible and 100% goes directly to the launch.

Free North Korea Radio Receives Reporters Without Borders Award

Kim Seung Min was in Paris yesterday to accept the 2008 Media Prize for Free North Korea Radio from Reporters Without Borders. This is tremendous recognition for Seung Min and his staff. The following is an excerpt from the RWB press release: "The jury awarded the 2008 Media prize to Radio Free NK’s North Korean journalists in order to pay tribute to their courage and determination. Kim Jong-il’s totalitarian regime has Radio Free NK, North Korea’s first dissident radio station, in its sights. Obsessed by the desire to control news and information, the regime has on several occasions threatened to suspend dialogue with South Korea if this Seoul-based station is not banned. The North Korean journalists who produce Free NK’s programmes are often threatened and the South Korean police have been protecting its manager since a plot to kill him was foiled." See full release attached.

Action item: Please keep sending in Letters from America, so we can help Free North Korea Radio reach out to the North Korean people and know the truth about America and Americans. Send letters to skswm@aol.com and put "Letters from America" in the subject of the email -- you can write as many letters as you want!! We are trying to record monthly.

Thank you for your help saving the lives of North Koreans and promoting their freedom, human rights, and dignity!

Acta Non Verba,

Suzanne Scholte