Casualties of Banalities: The Arrest and Coming Death of Yoo Sang-Joon

One of the bravest men I have ever met is locked in a Chinese prison this weekend, facing the risk of being sent back to certain execution in his native North Korea.  His story stands for the human suffering that endures while diplomats craft a controversial agreement to disarm North Korea of its nuclear weapons and to grant its dictator, Kim Jong-il, the peace treaty and the recognition that his regime has sought for decades.  [The Sunday Times, Michael Sheridan]

Death will not come quickly for Yoo Sang-Joon, whose arrest by Chinese police several weeks ago has now been reported.  You’ve probably never heard of him, or of the wife and child he lost in the Great Famine, but it’s just possible that like me, you are haunted by the face  of  his last  surviving child, Chul-Min, who was just ten when he died  while trying to escape through  the Mongolian Desert. 

His father found  that devoting the remainder of his life to his faith, and to the survival of others, salved the agony of this loss as well as anything could.  That devotion has brought Yoo as far as London on behalf of his countrymen.  His name is known internationally in activist, NGO, and certain government circles.  But to the Fascist regime  in Beijing, Yoo was  just another  stain to be  cleansed away  before next year’s Olympic spectacle.  By next summer, at this rate, they’ll have managed to turn the clock back to 1936.

Yoo hid people in chilly apartments, smuggled food to families living like troglodytes in pits concealed in snow-covered fields, bought clothes for the escapees and taught them how to get past checkpoints.  One year ago he took the risk of meeting me to explain how the underground network smuggled people from the frozen wastes of northeast China to the border where the slow-flowing Mekong River divides Laos from Thailand.

“Helping other people makes it easier to deal with my grief for my son,” he explained, as we huddled in a dank hotel room. “I try to get the orphans out first. You will understand why.

Cool, dispassionate and dignified, he trusted to elaborate security precautions ““ The Sunday Times agreed to call him Nam Hong-chul, informing readers that this was a pseudonym ““ and to luck.

His belief  in an afterlife — that when his suffering finally ends, he will be united in death with his wife and children — may comfort Yoo.  He may even misplace some hope  in the South Korean passport he holds.  Instead, Yoo is likely to face a prolonged and miserable death, for which he can thank two of the most treasured banalities of the foreign policy establishment:  bipartisanship and multilateralism.  Where those things thrive, it’s usually a sure bet that such divisive things as principles have been expunged from the discussion, and from  the commerce that follows. 

The Chinese have used software and security technology bought from the West to watch the internet and trace mobile phones; it is all part of their preparations to stifle dissent in the run-up to the Olympic Games next year.

They have also built wire fences and installed surveillance cameras along the riverbanks. Both sides have deployed patrol boats to prowl the rivers before they freeze.  The North Korean boats, moored alongside the city of Sinuju, include a brand-new vessel equipped with radar and a high-speed launch that can be lowered from its stern.   

The Republicans and the Bush Administration made some noise about human rights for a few years and then sold out the North Korean people for a few good headlines.  The Democrats, still silent after a year in power, have  adopted  a “three monkeys” approach so as not to disturb the Sisyphean purchase of more lies from Kim Jong Il.  Witness “Kim Jong Bill” Richardson’s use of his photo-ops with the North Koreans to try to boost his third-tier presidential campaign (which is really a campaign to become Secretary of State).  I doubt he — or Bush’s mouthpiece, Chris Hill — will ever bother to mention the place where Mr. Yoo’s life may well end, along with tens of thousands of men, women, and children before him. 

Those caught are detained in special jails, then escorted under armed guard across one of the bridges linking China to North Korea.  Horrifying scenes have been witnessed even here. Chinese soldiers have told their relatives of watching, nauseated, as the North Koreans force thick wire through the hands of the prisoners or under their collarbones, yoking them like animals to the slaughter.

In one well documented crime, North Korean security agents beat a man to death in front of the Chinese as soon as he was handed over, recognising him as a dissident.

As they say, let’s not bicker and argue and who killed who.  It could also go without saying that the U.N. and its Korean General Secretary will again prove  themselves  completely useless — Kim Jong Il is anti-American and thus cloaked in immunity from  sustained U.N. condemnation —  so instead, I’ll just point out that your tax dollars are still funding nearly a quarter of the annual cost of sustaining this pernicious  waste of money. 

Read the rest Yoo Sang-Joon’s story  here.  Human Rights Without Frontiers is trying to start a letter-writing campaign on Yoo Sang-Joon’s behalf, but since his sham  Chinese “trial” has already passed will take place this coming Monday, Beijing time, I’d strongly suggest  that you send e-mails to the addresses I append below the “click for more” line.  Please also  remember that on November 30th and December 1st, there will be protests worldwide against China’s brutal  treatment of refugees like Yoo Sang-Joon, who we can still save, and little Chul-Min, who we cannot.

Could this work?  Yes, if enough of us write.  Buried within the Times piece is a report that Beijing has at least stopped sending pregnant refugee women back to North Korea, knowing full well what will happen to their babies.  That small change, no matter how inconsistently or temporarily applied, suggests that China is finally worried about world opinion.  One last request:  please hit the Digg, Reddit, and other links below.  Thank you.

[Photo:  Yoo Sang-Joon prays at the grave of his son.]

HRWF  adds: 

We are naturally gravely concerned for Mr Yoo’s welfare. Activists in South Korea consider this a unique case, highlighting both the tragic background and the redemptive sacrificial motivation of Mr Yoo. Clearly his own loss has motivated immense humanitarian concern for others at risk and we sincerely hope that China will not punish Mr Yoo for simply seeking to implement the protection which China should be providing as a party to the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol. Although Mr Yoo is now a South Korean citizen, the broad international nature of the issues concerned, alongside the concerns expressed for his welfare as a North Korean, are prompting urgent calls for international intervenion with China before the trial on Monday to seek his protection. Those close to Mr Yoo hope that the outcome could be a swift deportation to South Korea as opposed to other more grim possibilities. The trial date has come unusually quickly and it is felt that the Chinese may be seeking to deal with the issue swiftly before further international attention is attracted, especially in the light of the forthcoming Beijing Olympics.  [OFK:  emphasis mine]

Here is  a sample letter you can use:

I write today to demand that the Chinese government abide by the terms of the 1951 U.N. Convention on Refugees, cease its brutal and unlawful repatriation of North Korean refugees, and release the dissident and humanitarian worker  Yoo  Sang-Joon.  Your government signed the Refugee Convention and its protocol.  Article 32 of this convention states that”“

The expulsion of such a refugee shall be only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with due process of law. Except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise require, the refugee shall be allowed to submit evidence to clear himself, and to appeal to and be represented for the purpose before competent authority or a person or persons specially designated by the competent authority. 

This article requires your government to give refugees a reasonable amount of time to seek legal admission into another country.

No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. 

Your government has accepted — and must abide by  — an obligation to allow  North Korean  refugees to freely state the reasons why they are seeking refuge and permit them to apply to travel to South Korea.  The argument that North Koreans are economic migrants is inapplicable because North Korea specifically uses the deprivation of food as a tool of political discrimination and oppression against members of particular families and social groups.  By international law, these people are considered “refugees sur place.”

North Korean refugees who are repatriated to their country of origin are usually sent to concentration camps. Those who have had contact with foreign missionaries or activists are usually executed.  If any of the refugee women are pregnant, the North Koreans will perform forced abortions on them.  It is also the North Koreans’ practice to murder any prisoners’ babies that are born alive. There is abundant evidence to show that these North Koreans face certain persecution and probable death if your government repatriates them to North Korea in violation of Article 33.

We assure you that if your government refuses to follow its obligations under the Refugee Convention, we will boycott the 2008 Olympic Games and urge others to do the same.  Carry out your nation’s obligations under international law by permitting all of the detained persons a free choice to apply to travel to South Korea, which considers them citizens of its own country and would therefore accept them immediately.

Sincerely,

Next, where you can send your e-mails.  First, a shorter (and probably somewhat over-inclusive)  list for Americans: 

chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn, english_mail@xinhuanet.com, webmaster@FMPRC.gov.cn, qglt@peopledaily.com.cn, CHINA-EMBASSY@BLUEWIN.CH, chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn, chnvisa@bellatlantic.net, embofchina@yahoo.com, fgjc@stats.gov.cn, finemb@public3.bta.net.cn, fmco_mo@mfa.gov.cn, gd_gov@gd.gov.cn, gov@gxi.gov.cn, hush@mail.most.gov.cn, inf2@fmprc.gov.cn, infonavi@mx.cei.gov.cn, webmaster@FMPRC.gov.cn

Here’s the full international list.  Feel free to tailor to suit your needs.

chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn,
amb_chine@yahoo.com.cn,
embofchina@yahoo.com,
chinesecomoffice@tdd.lt,
info@chinaembassy.org.nz,
chinaembassy_ru@fmprc.gov.cn,
mission.china@ties.itu.int,
chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn,
webmaster@setc.gov.cn,
pubaff.beijing@dfat.gov.au,
mailbox@azerbembassy.org.cn,
informacion1@embchina.minrex.gov.cu,
bjsamb@um.dk,
english_mail@xinhuanet.com,
chinaemb@soficom.com.eg,
press@china-embassy.org.uk,
adoffice@buildlink.com,
webmaster@FMPRC.gov.cn,
ceco@mx.cei.gov.cn,
qglt@peopledaily.com.cn,
ambpech@ambpech.org.cn,
consolare@ambpech.org.cn,
visa@ambpech.org.cn,
pakrep@public.bta.net.cn,
lpekin@public.bta.net.cn,
adm@chinaembassy.nl,
administration@chinaembassy.se,
amb_chine@yahoo.com.cn,
ambpech@ambpech.org.cn,
bjsamb@um.dk,
chancelaria@embaixadachina.pt,
china@opendf.com.br,
chinacom@islandia.is,
chinaeco@paradise.net.nz,
chinaemb@012.net.il,
chinaemb@simnet.is,
chinaemb@soficom.com.eg,
chinaemb_in@mfa.gov.cn,
chinaemb_sa@mfa.gov.cn,
CHINA-EMBASSY@BLUEWIN.CH,
chinaembassy_ru@fmprc.gov.cn,
chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn,
chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn,
chnempng@daltron.com.pg,
chnvisa@bellatlantic.net,
commerce@chinaconsulatela.org,
commercial@chinaembassy.nl,
commerciale@ambpech.org.cn,
conselheiro@embaixadachina.pt,
consolare@ambpech.org.cn,
consul@chinaembassy.org.nz,
consular@chinaembassy.org.np,
consular@chinaembassy.se,
consular@embaixadachina.pt,
consulate@chinemb.fi,
cultura@embaixadachina.pt,
culture@chinaembassy.nl,
culture@chinaembassy.org.np,
culture@chinaembassy.org.nz,
culture@chinaembassy.se,
culture@chinemb.fi,
culture@chinese-embassy.no,
defence@chinaembassy.org.nz,
dministration@chinaembassy.org.nz,
edse@chinemb.fi,
education@chinaembassy.org.nz,
embaixador@embaixadachina.pt,
embchina@adetel.net.mx,
embofchina@yahoo.com,
english_mail@xinhuanet.com,
fgjc@stats.gov.cn,
fin.shangwu@kolumbus.fi,
finemb@public3.bta.net.cn,
fmco_mo@mfa.gov.cn,
gd_gov@gd.gov.cn,
gov@gxi.gov.cn,
hush@mail.most.gov.cn,
inf2@fmprc.gov.cn,
info@china-embassy.or.jp,
info@chinaembassy.org.nz,
info@cnedu.nu,
infonavi@mx.cei.gov.cn,
informacion1@embchina.minrex.gov.cu,
jiaoyu@xs4all.nl,
lpekin@public.bta.net.cn,
mailbox@azerbembassy.org.cn,
militar@embaixadachina.pt,
military@chinaembassy.nl,
military@chinaembassy.se,
minister@legalinfo.gov.cn,
mission.china@ties.itu.int,
mofcom@mofcom.gov.cn,
office@chinemb.fi,
pakrep@public.bta.net.cn,
politica@embaixadachina.pt,
political@chinaembassy.nl,
political@chinaembassy.se,
press@china-embassy.org.uk,
protocol@chinaembassy.se,
pubaff.beijing@dfat.gov.au,
qglt@peopledaily.com.cn,
richardlin@superprism.net,
secretary@chinaembassy.nl,
sichuan@sc.gov.cn,
sinoem@zol.co.zw,
stdb@istic.ac.cn,
visa@ambpech.org.cn,
webmaster@chinaconsulate.org.nz,
webmaster@chinaembassy.bg,
webmaster@chinaembassy.nl,
webmaster@chinaembassy.se,
webmaster@FMPRC.gov.cn

You may want to send a copy to this address, too:

BeijingWebcomments@state.gov

You can find more e-mail addresses for Chinese embassies and consulates here:

http://www.china.org.cn/english/Embassies/197333.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/english/Embassies/197333.htm

Snail mail addresses here:

Her Excellency Ms Fu Ying,
Ambassador,
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the UK,
49-51 Portland Place,
London W1N 1JL
(Salutation: Your Excellency)
Fax: +44 (0)20 7636 2981 / 5578
E-mail: chinaemb_uk@mfa.gov.cn
mailto:chinaemb_uk@mfa.gov.cn
Tel: +44 (0)20 7299 4049, 07970 292561 (24 hours)

Minister of Justice
Ms Wu Aiying,
Ministry of Justice,
No. 10 Nan Da Jie,
Chaoyangmen,
Beijing City 100020
People’s Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 6472 9863
Email: minister@ legalinfo.gov.cn
pufamaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
mailto:pufamaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
Tel: +86 10 6520 5114

Tel: +86 10 6520 5114Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
PO Box 1741,
The State Council, Beijing 100017,
People’s Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 6596 1109
Email: gazette@mail.gov.cn
< mailto:gazette@mail.gov.cn Tel: +86 10 6601 2399