Save North Korean Refugees Day on September 24th

just passing along...

ACTION ITEM:
Save North Korean Refugees Day on Monday, September 24th

China’s policy of forcible repatriation is a death sentence for North Koreans

The North Korea Freedom Coalition is once again organizing the annual Save North Korean Refugees Day to focus attention on the ongoing critical crisis facing North Korean Refugees in China.  This year’s Save North Korea Refugees Day will be held on September 24, 2018 to mark the 36th anniversary of when China became a signatory to the refugee convention, the very agreement it is violating when it forces men, women and children back to North Korea against their will.

Background: The China/North Korea border is one of the most dangerous borders in the world.  Yet, little information is being reported about this tragic situation.  Since Kim Jong Un came to power he and Xi Jinping have worked aggressively to close the border to stop North Koreans from escaping to South Korea and other countries.  Over eighty percent of North Koreans, who flee persecution and deprivation in their homeland, carry poison in order to kill themselves if they are caught by Chinese authorities.  They would rather die than be forced back to North Korea where they will be subjected to certain torture, certain imprisonment and even execution for fleeing North Korea. Over eighty percent of North Korea females are subjected to human trafficking because of China’s policy.

What the Chinese authorities are doing is inhumane, barbaric and illegal.  It is a violation of international law as China is a signatory to the refugee convention which obligates it not to repatriate these refugees.  The People’s Republic of China signed the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol on September 24, 1982.

If China simply honored its international treaty obligations, the situation could be resolved overnight as North Korea refugees are unique: they are the only refugees in the world eligible for immediate resettlement as they already have citizenship in South Korea under Articles 2 and 3 of the Republic of Korea Constitution. In addition to South Korea and many other countries have willingly resettled North Korean refugees.

China’s policy of forcible repatriation is a death sentence for North Koreans.

Action You Can Take: The NKFC is simply asking its partners and friends around the world to deliver a letter of appeal to Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop repatriating refugees on the same date in solidarity: Monday, September 24 to the Chinese consulate or embassy in their city.  A template letter is available for use or coordinators can prepare their own letter of appeal from their respective NGO.

Some cities are also planning special events from conferences to protests from prayer vigils to movie screenings – all focused to raise awareness of the situation facing innocent men, women and children who are fleeing persecution and deprivation in North Korea.

Please do not remain silent for those being led away to death.  If you can deliver a letter or take action in solidarity to raise awareness of this issue, please email NKFC Chair, Suzanne Scholte, at Suzanne@defenseforumfoundation.org

FYI: This is the link from last year's Save North Korean Refugees Day report as a reference: http://bit.ly/2yEg3x2

www.nkfreedom.org

Suzanne Scholte
Seoul Peace Prize Laureate
President, Defense Forum Foundation
Chair, North Korea Freedom Coalition
www.defenseforumfoundation.org
www.nkfreedom.org_______________________________________________