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Peace Jam Slam Workshop

North Korea - What We Do Not Know and Why the Silence?

University of Bradford November 14, 2009

Betsy [email protected],

+44 07752 411458


The Situation – Why were North Koreans leaving?

1990s - North Korean refugees began crossing into China due to famine. Kim Jong-il tried to prevent this. Early refugees who crossed the border were shocked reaching China: it was a “paradise”. People had electricity, cars, and importantly, food. Soon 500,000+ North Koreans crossed the border to feed their starving families back home. Source S. Scholte

WWW.UNIFYKOREA2009.COM Video Clip


China + North Korea relations re defectors China signed an agreement with the DPRK to

arrest refugees and force them back to North Korea. It is a criminal offense, punishable by death, for a North Korean to leave their country without permission. Under international law, North Korean defectors meet the definition of an asylum seeker. China is obligated not to repatriate them under 1951 U.N. Convention on Status of Refugees and its 1969 Protocol.

But China does.


China refuses to abide by its international agreements and jails people who try to help North Korean refugees

Every North Korean who is forced back to North Korea by China is imprisoned +tortured. About 250,000 in gulags.

About 1 million die in gulags since ‘72 Steve Kim, now in USA was jailed for 4 years

for helping NKers. His two Chinese colleagues were given 2 years. Source S. Scholte+others


SITUATION for WOMEN DEFECTORS + CHILDREN

Over 80+% of North Korean females have been victims of trafficking, while men are treated as slave laborers.

North Korean females are in demand. China has shortage of women resulting from one child policy.

Human traffickers lure them into China with the promise of jobs. But many become forced wives, driven into prostitution, sexual slavery


Forced abortions in prisons Children tortured and forced into slave

labour. No education for many. Testimony available by former guards and

other NK defectors.


A Case of a Woman “… I was sold for (4,000 yuan) $586, and taken to a place called Hualong. The Chinese brokers called us women ‘pigs’.”

Another woman sold as “the best pig.” - beast of burden - man bought her for the “enormous sum” of (7000 yuan) $1,025. Sold again then sent to a political prison camp where she witnessed suffering of other North Koreans. (Source T. Peters, S. Scholte +

others)


China´s Policy on North Korean Defectors - Why This Policy?

PROBLEM: if China showed compassion to the refugees, fear that China would be flooded with refugees + collapse of the North Korean regime. About 500,000 crossed the border and 4 million people died of starvation (since ’95), but Kim Jong-il’s grip on power has not faltered. Such fear is unfounded. South Korea also has some fears on economic burden.


Many wish to return to North Korea if conditions improve. If China allowed refugees safe passage, this would create pressure on Kim Jong-il to reform NK

If North Korea’s conditions improve, China + other countries will have less problems with refugees.

Sources T. Peters, S. Scholte, N. Vollertsen


Lack of freedom of religious expression.

Religion is forbidden, along with "anti governmental“ actions. Three generations of this person’s family can be put into gulags.. Lack of freedom of expression

NGO’s have categorized the DPRK as the worst persecutor globally of those who hold religious beliefs.


Testimonies by DPRK defectors:..Severe persecution if one is simply found with a

Bible or embracing any religious faith……Abuse by SSA officers…kicked me all over my

body indiscriminately.. frequently hung from the ceiling upside down for beating … saw the cadavers of 30 to 40 prisoners. …Beating continued almost daily to extract names of other North Korean Christians. Source T. Peters


Solutions? 1. China should allow NK refugees safe

passage: NKers have a place to go as they are citizens of South Korea, under Articles 2 and 3 of the Republic of Korea Constitution.

2. Urge United Nations High Commission for Refugees to be firm – they have office in Beijing, but China prevents them from having access to the refugees and arrests North Koreans who try to approach their offices.


3. Urge China to observe United Nations Conventions Against Torture, CEDAW (Convention to eliminate discrimination against women), UNSC Resolutions 1325, 1880 + 1888 (protection of women) and on refugees. As permanent member of United Nations Security Council, China has large global responsibilities.


4. The North Korea Human Rights Act of USA - $20 million allocated to help North Korean refugees. But NGOs involved in the underground railroad cannot use funds because China’s permission is required. Sources T. Peters, S. Scholte


5. USA, S. Korea, Japan and other countries capable of establishing First Asylum policy for North Korea refugees, (i.e. Vietnamese boat people). Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos should provide temporary asylum..

UK has 1,000+ NK asylum seekers; USA has less than 100.

(various sources)


DISCUSSION TIME – W H A T I F ??

1. If someone would pay you money + give prestige to turn in a North Korea defector, what would you do ?

2. If your very poor family will be rewarded by turning in a NK refugee - with more food, medicine and money, what would you do, under current suffering?


3. If you had had chance to turn in ‘troublesome’ person to Chinese or North Korean authorities, to 'get rid' of them, what would you do ?

4. If the only way to success + prestige was to follow NK government regime even if you disagreed, what would you do?

5. Would you speak up against your government? At what cost?

Suggestions

Assist Chinese citizens who feed and help North Korean refugees escape to other countries; stop jailing them

China should work with community by finding resettlement for NK defectors in other countries.. Put pressure on Chinese government. (from S.Scholte + others )


CONCRETE ACTION WE CAN TAKE: WRITING TO:

UK Members of Parliament to focus on relations between China +North Korea

Letters to Hilary Clinton, President Obama, members of United Nations Security Council

Members of European Union in Brussels and Strasbourg

Letters directly to Embassies of Korea globally to support NK defectors

Register of All-Party Groups Country Groups All-Party British-North Korea Parliamentary Group

Engages in dialogue with the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; to develop links between parliamentarians in both countries; and to foster democracy and democratic institutions.

OFFICERS Lord Alton of Liverpool Baroness Cox Jim Dobbin Gordon Prentice Gary Streeter Lord Bates Lord Clarke of Hampstead David Amess Nigel Evans Mark Pritchard

CONTACT DETAILS FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE GROUP

Lord Alton of Liverpool, House of Lords, London SW1A OPW. Tel: 020 7219 3551

Mr Keith Bennett - secretariat DATE OF GROUP'S LAST REGISTERED ANNUAL GEN

ERAL MEETING 14 October 2009CATEGORY OF GROUP On Approved List; All-Party

Parliamentary Country Group affiliated to IPU.


MEDIA ACTION - Examples

Create documentaries YODOK Stories (Rafto Foundation, Piraya Films Norway) www.yodokstories.com

Radio/TV programs Free North Korea Radio, won

2009 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award - provides independent source of news and information to the people of North KoreaFree North Korea Radio.: WWW.UNIFYKOREA2009.COM


WORKING with HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES + JOURNALISTS!

NGO’s working on North Korean issues.

Human Rights Without Frontiers (Brussels), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, University peace departments, Reporters Without Borders, your local reporters, NGO’s, student groups, faith-based agencies, etc.


DEMONSTRATING PEACEFULLY+ ATTENDING EVENTS

North Korea Freedom Week and other gatherings at Parliaments

Professional seminars/conferences on North Korean issues.

Teaching students in schools.

Create awareness in local Korean communities, NGO’s and in church settings

Sources of Information – Partial

List - and Thank You’s to:

Suzanne Scholte Dr. Norbert Vollertsen, Tim Peters, Douglas Shin, Shin Sang Ok+Choi Eun Hee, William Fautre (Human Rights Without Frontiers) YODOK Stories documentary crew (Rafto Foundation, Piraya Films), Simon Warner, Members of Parliament, other ‘helpers’, and the defectors I met in South KoreaMany Thanks to Their Wonderful Courage

and the Will to Live

Betsy Kawamura [email protected], +44 07752 411458

north korea final betsy nov17

Documents

north korean

north korean

north korean

north korean

human rights

scholte

north korea

nk defectors