Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Newsletter from Suzanne Scholte from the defence forum foundation (affiliate of NKinUSA)

Suzanne sends out newsletters with news and events from time to time so I am just passing along in case anyone is in Washington, D.C. and wants to attend a hearing and briefing regarding human rights issue in North Korea.

She mentions a book called "the accusation" which is worth reading.
it was written by a north korean living in north korea. it highlights the failure, betrayal, etc of the north korean state in seven individual stories.

Here is her email.

Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. 
The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself.   
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
A lie cannot live.  
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Friends:
As those of us in the USA celebrate today the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, I begin this message with two quotes above - of so many great ones - he made during his lifetime!  
Thank you to all of you who helped this past year with our efforts to promote the freedom, human rights and dignity of the North Korean people.  I am pleased to report that the December expanded broadcast of Free North Korea Radio was hugely successful.  Frankly speaking, partnerships between the defector NGOs in South Korea with people and organizations outside the Korean peninsula, will be absolutely critical in 2018.  So, this will be a huge focus for us this coming year because as the defectors keep telling us the key to peaceful change in North Korea is information: the truth will set them free.  Thank you for those who volunteered with your time and talent to lead efforts in cities around the world for international events like Save North Korea Refugees Day and for those who walked the halls of the U.S. Congress with us last month to deliver petitions from American citizens, and to those of you who have given your treasure to support the work of the defector NGOs getting information to North Korea through many methods.
And now for some upcoming events and important announcements:
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and on Asia and the Pacific: will host a hearing on Wednesday, January 17, at 2 pm in Rayburn 2172 on the topic: "More Than a Nuclear Threat: North Korea’s Chemical, Biological, and Conventional Weapons."  Witnesses will include Anthony Cordesman, Ph.D. of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; John Parachini of RAND Corporation, andAnthony Ruggiero of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.  The hearing is open to the public, but you can also watch online at http://www.ForeignAffairs.house.gov
The U.S. Congressional International Religious Freedom Caucus will host a briefing on Thursday, January 18, at 2:30-3:30 pm in Rayburn 2456 on the topic: "Imprisoning Their Minds: How the Lack of Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion and Belief Keeps North Koreans Living in the Dark."  Witnesses will include the world's leading expert on Juche (North Korea's state religion), Dr. Thomas J. Belke (Capt, USNR. etc) and Choe Gwankhyuk, who led an underground church in North Korea.  The briefing is  open to the public.  If you want to understand how North Koreans think, this is a must attend event. RSVP to: Miranda.Robinson@mail.house.gov
IBA's Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Political Prisonswhich was released in December, is now available on line at this link Inquiry Report  Spearheaded by Michael Maya, Director of the International Bar Association’s North America Office, the findings of this nearly two-year inquiry conclude that Kim Jong-un and members of his regime have committed ten of the eleven crimes against humanity enumerated in the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Accusation -- Now Also Available in Paperback: I ordered more copies of The Accusation! just for you.  We now have both paperback and hard back copies of the only dissident book from North Korea.  It was written by someone still living in the DPRK who uses the pseudonym BANDI, which means Firefly in Korean as he is shining a light out of the darkness.  If you would like to order a copy, donate $15.50 for paper back or $20.50 for hard back on line at www.defenseforumfoundation.org
More Partners Needed for Free North Korea Radio's Daily Broadcast: We need more partners for the short wave transmission costs of Free North Korea Radio for 2018.  This amazing partnership between American citizens, Korean Americans, churches in the USA, who pay for the shortwave transmission, and the North Korean defectors in South Korea, who prepare the broadcast, has made it possible for Free North Korea Radio to remain the most popular single program broadcasting to North Korea and to remain on the air every day!   Our goal is to spread the burden to many so that it will be light.  For example, some folks donate $10, $25, $50 a month while some churches donate $50, $250,$500 a month.  If you want to become a partner in this amazing work, please visit www.defenseforumfoundation.org  ; If you need more information to make a decision, you can also hear directly from Han Ga Hee of FNKR's staff who testified as the 2nd witness at this Congressional hearing in December at this link:
North Korea Freedom Coalition, North Korea Freedom Week 2018: The first meeting of 2018 for the North Korea Freedom Coalition is next week!   We will be hosting special guests, Lou and Lisa Gallo and their daughter, Alyssa, who will share about their work transforming the lives of young North Koreans at the remarkable Jangdaehyun School founded by Pastor Changho Lim.  We will be discussing plans for the 15th annual North Korea Freedom Week and other activities for 2018.  If you are not a member yet and are interested in joining, visit www.nkfreedom.org
ACTA NON VERBA,
Suzanne

Suzanne Scholte
Seoul Peace Prize Laureate
President, Defense Forum Foundation
Chair, North Korea Freedom Coalition

No comments:

Post a Comment

UN plans vaccine aid to North Korea

  According to Japanese news today, South Korean government announces that United Nations (UN) is aiding North Korea with 60 million vaccine...