Laotian Gov’t Releases All 12 Prisoners; No Word Yet on Prisoners in Thailand

Thank you for your calls, letters, and e-mails to the Laotian Embassy; it looks like we’ve helped save ten people from a horrific fate. Thanks also to the other bloggers who linked my posts on this story.

On behalf of all activists who persevered for almost two weeks during a rollercoaster drama that saw 10 North Korean refugees endure two separate imprisonments in Laos, a ransom standoff, the ever-present specter of repatriation to North Korea via China, I am most happy to announce that as of Sunday forenoon, the embassy staff of the Republic of Korea took custody of the 10 North Korean refugees from the Luang Prabang Immigration Center. This positive outcome was the result of several key developments that will have to be kept confidential at present, but was confirmed conclusively only moments ago by two very reliable sources.

In addition, two activists who had been imprisoned for part of this ordeal have been released. We thank all of you for your encouragement, advocacy, camaraderie, and prayers throughout this grueling ordeal. Yet again, we remember the time-honored truism in times of darkness and difficulty: “God is still on the throne and prayer changes things.”

Perhaps prayer, perhaps unseen events, and perhaps even some amateur diplomacy. Thank you. There is no word on the fate of the others reported arrested in Thailand. If you’d still like to help, contact information for the Thai Embassy is here. You may also want to consider helping Tim Peters’s organization, Helping Hands Korea.