A few days ago, I posted on a group protesting China’s policy towards North Korean refugees.
They have made the news (Yonhap):
A civic group dedicated to promoting the human rights of North Korean defectors started a protest outside the Chinese embassy in Seoul Wednesday, demanding that China halt its forced repatriations of North Korean defectors.
Justice for North Korea (JFNK) launched a 444-day one-man demonstration against China’s forceful repatriation of North Korean refugees, which is to be continued until Aug. 8, the first day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
As I noted in my first post, I wish them the best of luck.
10 Comments
Protesting to the South Korean government to get a backbone and face up to the Chinese on this issue will do more good than protesting at the Chinese embassy. But good to see nonetheless.
Actually the ‘get a backbone’ part I wrote is wrong since the current leadership doesn’t seem to care, so it is not an issue of having a backbone or not.
“A civic group dedicated to promoting the human rights of North Korean defectors…”
That’s good to hear. One thing, though. What group is it? It often seems as if only evangelical Christian groups are interested in the status of human rights in NK. It would be nice for once to see a group get involved that isn’t trying to make converts of North Koreans.
SomeguyinKorea,
Here is the group you are looking for:
http://www.linkglobal.org/
Yes, where are all those civic groups that show up to anti-American rallies to protest the evils of Uncle Sucker (love that name Brendon came up with). Where are these leftists when there are rallies for real human rights violations?
Uncle Sucker (love that name Brendon came up with).
Brendon may have been the first to use it in this forum, but “Uncle Sucker” has been in use for quite awhile.
protesting at the Chinese Embassy = big waste of time
Maybe it’s a waste of time to protest at the Chinese Embassy but no matter. Those leftist civic groups won’t be protesting against anything the North does anytime soon. They’re just MIA when it comes to human rights in the North.
Why is Uncle Sucker such a great name? In what ways has the states been duped? In regards to Korea I can understand the sentiment somewhat but on a global level, if you look at the balance sheet, in terms of geo-politics, global economics and just about every other measure over the last 2 centuries, how can you justify Uncle Sam to Uncle Sucker? Sounds like a 2 bob Republican catch-call to me. Looks like the Koreans aren’t the only ones nurturing a victim complex these days.
At the end of the day, like every other country in the world, the U.S. has not done anything major on an international level that was not undertaken to further U.S aims. And unlike most other countries (all of whom play the same game) the U.S. has succeeded in the vast majority of those cases. Victim? Sucker? Give me a break.
Re the protesting, kudos. I must say I wonder sometimes with Christan groups whether they’re in on these things for humanitarian purposes or to “save souls”, but to me the ends justify the means - if they help out the north koreans, even if the price is a particular brand of fundamental religion for flavor, so be it. Nobody else seems interested.
Yes, sucker is right. South Korean leaders regularly trash SK’s only true friend in the region, meanwhile receiving billions in military troops, equipment and support. SK continually tries to cut its payments to the US while giving more and more to the one place that keeps threatening to turn Seoul into a lake of fire. If that’s not Uncle Sucker, I don’t know what is. Too many Koreans are happy to trash the US, hate the US, protest against FTAs and other things the US does, but are happy to receive military protection and to have quite open trade with the US (even before the FTA) despite having a relatively closed economy to US goods. How about the inclusion of goods from Kaesong in the FTA? If it’s true, then I’d say again, Uncle Sucker. Likewise the world over, many countries villify the US, yet are happy to receive its protection if things should ever get to that point. Many Canadians are very forthright in calling the US a military hegemonic dictatorship while they cut military spending to the bare bones, yet who would come to Canada’s aid instantly if there were a problem? Uncle Sucker, that’s who.
“if they help out the north koreans, even if the price is a particular brand of fundamental religion for flavor, so be it. Nobody else seems interested.”
Yes, funny that. Leftist groups aren’t exactly coming out of the woodwork when there’re some real and heinous human rights violations, but of course not, since the violator is an enemy of the US. Wouldn’t want to do anything that might show that the US might actually be right about something.