Foreigners Planning a Human Right Protest in N. Korea(will drama unfold in Pyongyang?)

The DailyNK ^ | 10/14/05 | Shin Ju-hyun

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

Foreigners Planning a Human Right Protest in N. Korea

Vollertsen stated in public, "...have conferred with visitors attending Arirang Festival, ...am sure of it happening."

[2005-10-14 15:49]

Dr. Vollertsen protesting (Chinese) repatriation of N. Korean defectors back to N. Korea, in front of Chinese Embassy (in Seoul) on (Oct.) 14th.  

Norbert Vollertsen(age:42), a German doctor and a N. Korean human right activist, announced, "We planned to stage the first-ever human right protest inside N. Korea carried by foreigners visiting (N. Korea) for attending Arirang Festival," while he was attending a rally for urging N. Korean human right, held at the auditorium in the Convention Center of National Assembly on (Oct.) 14th.

Vollertsen came to S. Korea on (Oct.) 12th to join S. Korean medical relief group to be dispatched to the area in Pakistan recently ravaged by a devastating earthquake. He was forced to leave  S. Korea last May, after his visa was expired(translator's note: S. Korean government refused to renew his visa, because of his vocal criticism of S. Korea's appeasement policy toward N. Korean regime.)

 Since he left in May, he had been promoting the cause of N. Korean human right by giving lectures and showing videos in U.S. and Japan until recently. He said, "Foreign visitors visiting N. Korea for Arirang Festival have already set up a detailed protest plan." When asked about the chance of its success, he replied, "One hundred percent(100%!)"

He continued, "It won't be an inflammatory protest such as burning or ripping apart a N. Korean flag, but will take the form of displaying something which symbolizes N. Korean human right. It will go down as the first protest by foreigners in history inside N. Korea."

Dr. Vollertsen also disclosed the plan to build N. Korean Human Right Museum in Seoul, in addition to the human right protest. It is reported that  this project will be joint endeavor with Park Chang-kyu, the head of Korean Peninsula Network For Realizing Human Rights.

He commented, "When I saw movies like 'Holocaust' or 'Schindler's List', I felt real shame as a German. It really broke my heart at the time that our previous generation felt silent on such acts and were unable to stop them." He implored that S. Koreans should vigorously participate in improving N. Korean human right.

Dr. Vollertsen was warned by (S. Korean) Justice Ministry upon his entry (to S. Korea) on (Oct.) 12th, 'Any political activity (from his part) will be a ground for his expulsion.' 


Shin Ju-hyun

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

I really hope that this will succeed beyond our expectation. However, I have to question why he is publicizing it now. Apparently, it has not happened yet. Tipping off N. Koreans beforehand will diminish its chance of success significantly. What is he up to?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[takbodan]

This guy should have won the Nobel Peace Prize not that namby pamby writer from England.

[Dallas59]

This sorta smells. Why tell about it before hand? How is he going to get in?

[Mount Athos]

I don't see how it could work, but I wish him luck.

I think his previous South Korean protests are good.
_Some_ South Koreans do need to be shamed about indifference towards the suffering in North Korea. Stop treating North Korea just as a resource and cheap labor opportunity for Chaebol, think more about what a horrific death and torture camp the whole country is.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #4

He is not in, but his friends are already in Pyongyang as tourists attending a government-sponspored festival.

[Dallas59]

Hmmmm...Maybe he can pull it off.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #5

Actually it is a combination of sanctimonious anti-Americanism and cowardice, the cowardice which would make them happily pay Kim Jong-il 'Dane Geld' to not cause trouble and hold back poor N. Koreans.

They spin it as standing up to 'American bully' and pursuing proud pragmatic diplomacy. These same people could not stand the days of authoritarian military rule in S. Korean past, which was practically a heaven compared with the N. Korean regime.

Such sanctimony and hypocrisy.

[Alexander Rubin]

Now, at least this lefty is practicing what he preaches. Kudos to him, and for taking on a despotic, totalitarian commie government.

[rfreedom4u]

I believe since the NK's are tipped off the protest will never happen. The potential protestors will be detained and asked to leave the country. Lil' Kim doesn't like people who don't serve him.

[Drammach]

I agree.. Why send a warning?

All Kim has to do is expell all foreigners presently in N. Korea..
Protest is effectively null and void..