Organized by the North Korea Freedom Coalition
Activists Worldwide Call on Xi Jinping:
Stop Repatriating North Koreans
Dear Friends:
You cannot imagine the looks of sheer joy on the faces of the hundreds of North Korean escapees and South Korean human rights activists gathered near the Chinese embassy in Seoul in late September when we announced: activists all over the world are sending appeals to Chinese embassies and consulates representing 18 countries and 55 cities! It meant so much for them to know that so many people care — and are willing to act — for the North Korean refugees in China. This Save North Korean Refugees Day 2022 was especially critical because we are running out of time as at least 600 children, men and women face the grave danger of repatriation once the border opens between China and North Korea – it is expected to happen soon. The following is a report prepared by Johnny Park to recognize these heroes and heroines all over the world that joined in solidarity for Save North Korean Refugees Day this year! We also thank Johnny and Teresa Ost for serving as our International Coordinators and helping prepare letters for our city and country coordinators.
For the refugees, we must continue to do all we can to advocate for their safe passage to the Republic of Korea but want to take the time to recognize these wonderful folks by name and countries below!
We also want to recognize these 22 former U.S. government officials who represent every U.S. presidency since Richard Nixon who have faithfully joined our advocacy appeals to the Republic of Korea for the past several years to show the United States’ solidarity and bipartisan support for action to save these refugees: Richard V. Allen (Reagan and Nixon), Thomas Barker (Bush), Roberta Cohen, (Carter), John Despres (Carter, Reagan, Clinton), Chuck Downs (Bush), Felice Gaer (Obama and Bush), Chadwick R. Gore (Trump and Bush), Ambassador Robert G. Joseph (Bush), Ambassador Robert R. King (Obama), Jay P. Lefkowitz, (Bush), Ambassador Winston Lord, (Ford, Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton), Barton W. Marcois (Bush), Honorable Tidal W. McCoy (Reagan), Ambassador J. William Middendorf (Nixon, Ford, Reagan), Thomas C. Montgomery (Bush), Andrew Natsios (Bush), Daniel Pipes (Reagan), Eric Schwartz (Obama and Clinton), Gare Smith (Clinton), Ambassador Katrina Lantos Swett (Obama), Ambassador Morse Tan (Trump), and Christian Whiton (Bush, Trump).
Acta Non Verba,
Suzanne
Suzanne Scholte
Australia: Anthony Boyle
Anthony Boyle helped deliver the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Canberra and the PRC General Consulates in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Anthony commented: “Good luck with your work (Protest at the PRC Embassy in Seoul) and thanks for everything you do for the North Korean people.”
Barbados: Anna Didier
Anna Didier joined us in solidarity to show her support for the Save North Korean Refugees Day 2022 from Barbados. She delivered our letter of appeal to the PRC Embassy in Bridgetown.
Belgium: Joseph Jansen of Voice for Justice
Joseph Jansen participated in the Save North Korean Refugees Day 2022 from Belgium for the first time. He helped us deliver our appeal to the PRC Embassy in Brussels.
Canada: Kyung B. Lee
Long time leader and activist Kyung B. Lee of Council for Human Rights in North Korea successfully delivered appeals to the PRC Embassy in Ottawa and the PRC General Consulates in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. He also held a special meeting to commemorate the “Human Rights in North Korea Day.”
Cuba: Bro. Adalberto Santiago
Bro. Adalberto Santiago who represented San Francisco last year participated this year again and sent the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Havana. Bro. Santiago commented: “ We pray to God Almighty that He would listen to many of our requests for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the peace and stability of the peninsula of Korea! Thanks for this great opportunity to stand on their behalf in prayer & intercession!”
Finland: Mikko Heikkonen
Mikko Heikkonen once again delivered the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Helsinki on behalf of the NKFC and the North Korean refugees currently detained in the PRC.
France: Mark and Denise Ost
Mark and Denis Ost participated in this year’s Save North Korean Refugees Day in France to deliver our appeal to the PRC Embassy in Paris and the PRC General Consulates in Lyon, Marseille, Papeete, Saint-Denis, and Strasbourg
Japan: Kato Hiroshi of Life Funds for North Korea Refugees
Rescuer of hundreds of refugees and champion in Japan, Kato Hiroshi delivered their appeal from Life Funds for North Korea Refugees to the PRC Embassy in Tokyo and the PRC General Consulates in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Niigata, Osaka, Sapporo, and Nagoya. Kato commented: “I appreciate your vigorous activities for struggling North Korean refugees’ human rights.”
Malawi: Jones Chamangwana and Madalitso Banda
Jones Chamangwana and Madalitso Banda participated in the Save North Korean Refugees Day by organizing a protest and delivering our appeal to the PRC Embassy in Lilongwe. They commented: “Funds permitting, we plan to hold another march to demonstrate outside the PRC Embassy next month. On this, we ask for your assistance. We want the world to know how our brothers and sisters in North Korea are suffering and how the PRC should help North Korean refugees.”
Mexico: Joy Ost
Joy Ost helped us deliver the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Mexico City and the PRC General Consulate in Tijuana.
New Zealand: Anthony Boyle
Anthony Boyle again helped us deliver the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Wellington and the PRC General Consulates in Auckland and Christchurch.
Nicaragua: Angel A
The participant from Nicaragua whose human rights work there requires they remain anonymous nonetheless joined this year’s Save North Korean Refugees Day to deliver our appeal to the PRC Embassy in Managua.
South Africa: Gallous Asong Atabongwoung
Gallous Asong Atabongwoung represented the NKFC in South Africa to deliver the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Pretoria and the PRC General Consulates in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.
The Dominican Republic: Bro. Adalberto Santiago
Not only did Bro. Adalberto Santiago help us deliver the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Cuba, but he also delivered the appeal to the PRC Embassy in Santo Domingo.
The Netherlands: Joseph Jansen of Voice for Justice
Joseph Jansen, just like Anthony, represented two countries—Belgium and the Netherlands for the Save North Korea Refugees Day. Joseph delivered the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in the Hague and the PRC General Consulate in Curacao.
The Republic of Korea: the North Korea Freedom Coalition, the Association of North Korea Human Rights Organization, and the National Association of North Korean Defectors
This year, as part of the 19th North Korea Freedom Week, the Save North Korean Refugees Day 2022 protest was held at the PRC Embassy in Seoul. North Korean defectors, the South Korean citizens, and the U.S. delegation participated in the protest.
At the protest, excerpts from THE LIST were read by North Korean defectors and South Korean and American activists. THE LIST consists of the names of hundreds of North Korean refugees arrested in China, most of whom were repatriated, but also the names of rescuers who either disappeared or were killed for helping North Korean refugees in China. Also, many media outlets covered the protest.
After the protest, Suzanne and North Korea human rights activists including Kim Tae Hoon and Park Sun Young hand-delivered the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Seoul.
The participants called for the CCP to stop forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees to North Korea and allow them a safe passage to South Korea. “The North Koreans didn’t defect from North Korea risking their lives, so they can live in another oppressive country like China. They defected from North Korea for free countries like South Korea, the U.S., and England,” said Ms. Park Sun-young.
North Korean defector activists, including Kim Seong-min, also sent their appeal in Chinese to the PRC Embassy in Seoul.
Link to the Protest:
Media Coverage:
http://www.pennmike.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=57470
http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=172788
The United Kingdom: Christian Solidary Worldwide
Christian Solidary Worldwide based in London participated again this year to deliver the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in London and the PRC General Consulates in Belfast, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
The United States of America:
California: NKFC members residing in California and Oregon participated in this year’s Save North Korean Refugees Day by delivering the NKFC appeal to the PRC General Consulate representing their region. Maria Cartwright represented Sacramento, and Ellen Han represented Los Angeles.
Chicago: The NKFC appeal was delivered to the PRC General Consulate in Chicago by Sally Jo Messersmith and a NKFC member who needs to keep their identity anonymous also sent an appeal. They always pray for the liberation of North Korea and the well-being of its people.
Sally commented: “Our family prayed for the North Korean refugees on Sunday, October 2nd. One young prayer partner was very compassionate and asked the Lord to bring harmony to Korea. She stated that harmony is what Korea needs. She also prayed for the parents and children would be together again.”
New York: PSALT NK delivered the appeal from their NGO to the PRC General Consulate in New York. Also, a member of the NKFC, Gloria Chavez, individually delivered the NKFC appeal to the same PRC General Consulate.
PSALT NK Rep. commented: “I hope things are going well. We are praying for the North Korea Freedom Week and the Save North Korean Refugees Day events and for the spiritual protection over the team and participants.”
Puerto Rico: Bro. Adalberto Santiago, who helped the NKFC deliver the appeal to Cuba and the Dominican Republic, also represented Puerto Rico and sent the NKFC appeal to the PRC Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC: Hurricane Ian could not stop Pastor Star Lee and the Esther Prayer Movement organized a fabulous prayer event at the PRC Embassy in Washington D.C. Although the weather was very bad, Pastor Star Lee and 13 people participated in the prayer event and prayed for the North Korean refugees detained in the PRC. At the prayer event, the participants called for the PRC to stop forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees to North Korea.
Link to the event:
