Persecutor's paranoia: Crosses, and even things that look like crosses, are banned in North Korea!
Amid a new crackdown on Christians in N Korea, the external flow of leaders' assets and inward flow of luxury goods must cease!
Amid a new crackdown on Christians in N Korea, the external flow of leaders' assets and inward flow of luxury goods must cease!
For many years in a row, North Korea has been singled-out as the worst place in the world to live as a Christian. The repressive state reserves some of its worst treatment for Christians, as the Government believes that organised religion - and, specifically, Christianity - is a threat to its authority.
And, things just got worse.
In the last few days, it has emerged that North Korean officials and customs agents are now seizing items which either form the shape of a cross, or even resemble a cross.
One trader, in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, told Radio Free Asia: "Now we have to check again to see that there isn’t anything that looks like a cross...These products are more likely to be confiscated during customs checks."
Although in comparison to torture and execution, this may seem like a relatively benign move, it is still, in itself, a calculated assault on the freedoms of religion, conscience and expression.
But, some observers have warned that this effort, to eradicate the Cross from the North Korean population, could signal a far more sinister plan for the future: namely, to arrest, imprison, torture, or even sentence to death those found in possession of the pre-eminent symbol of Christianity.
By eliminating crosses from North Korean life, the reasoning goes, only people in possession of such items, in the future, would be followers of Christ -- and, therefore, much easier to target by authorities.
As it stands now, there are an estimated 300,000-400,000 Christians in North Korea, of whom 75,000 are thought to already be imprisoned and sentenced to hard labour in gulag-type prison camps. The remainder worship in secret, and constantly fear being found-out or turned-in by their neighbours and the secret police.
It is now necessary to raise our voices again, on behalf of our North Korean brothers and sisters, to tell the governments and trading partners of North Korea that we want them to FINALLY do something to punish the leaders of North Korea for their reprehensible actions.
Therefore, this petition calls on China, Russia, the United States, South Korea and any potential trading partners of North Korea (like, the ASEAN countries) to do everything in their power to freeze the assets of North Korea's leaders and military apparatus, so as to prevent them from moving their hard currency or other commodities outside of North Korea, or, from account to account around the world.
Although some countries have already done this (notably, the US, who just recently put North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong Un, under personal sanction), if other countries follow suit, the impact could actually affect policy.
Simply put: the leaders of North Korea must be made to a pay a price for their repugnant behaviour.
Moreover, North Korea's leaders must not be allowed to enjoy luxury items, or, any other items, which are purchased with the blood, sweat and tears of its citizens, especially when the people of North Korea are prevented from enjoying the natural liberties which they are entitled to, simply by virtue of their human nature.
Thank you for signing this urgent petition.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/north_korea.php
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External movement of assets/hard currency and inward flow of luxury goods for North Korea must cease now!
For the Kind Attention of the following Ambassadors and Minister:
- Mr Li Jinjun - Chinese Ambassador to North Korea
- Mr Alexander Ivanovich Matsegora - Russian Ambassador to North Korea
- Mr David N. Saperstein - US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
- Mr Yun Byung-se - South Korean Minister for Foreign Affairs
And Cc'ed to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Secretariat, as potential trading partners with North Korea.
News has emerged that North Korea is now seeking to further restrict its citizens' freedoms of religion, expression, and conscience.
Crosses, or anything resembling a cross, have been banned, and such items are now subject to confiscation by authorities.
Of course, this is just the latest assault on the consciences of the people of North Korea, but it could signal a far more sinister plan for the future -- namely, to punish, by arrest, torture, hard labour or execution, anyone found in possession of Christian symbols.
This kind of barbarism cannot be tolerated any longer.
Simply put, the leaders of North Korea must be made to a pay a price for their reprehensible behaviour.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on China, Russia, the United States, South Korea and any potential trading partners of North Korea (like, the ASEAN countries) to do everything in your power to freeze the assets of North Korea's leaders and military apparatus, so as to prevent them from moving their hard currency or other commodities outside of North Korea, or from account to account around the world.
Although some countries have already done this (notably, the US, who just recently put North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong Un, under personal sanction), if other countries follow suit, the impact could actually affect policy.
To that end, we ask that you inform your home governments, your UN missions, and large banks and companies trading (or, wishing to trade) in North Korea, about these violations - with a view to ensuring that the outward or external movement of assets, belonging to the leaders of North Korea and the North Korean military apparatus, as well as the inward flow of luxury goods, now stop.
Thank you for your consideration.
External movement of assets/hard currency and inward flow of luxury goods for North Korea must cease now!
For the Kind Attention of the following Ambassadors and Minister:
- Mr Li Jinjun - Chinese Ambassador to North Korea
- Mr Alexander Ivanovich Matsegora - Russian Ambassador to North Korea
- Mr David N. Saperstein - US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
- Mr Yun Byung-se - South Korean Minister for Foreign Affairs
And Cc'ed to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Secretariat, as potential trading partners with North Korea.
News has emerged that North Korea is now seeking to further restrict its citizens' freedoms of religion, expression, and conscience.
Crosses, or anything resembling a cross, have been banned, and such items are now subject to confiscation by authorities.
Of course, this is just the latest assault on the consciences of the people of North Korea, but it could signal a far more sinister plan for the future -- namely, to punish, by arrest, torture, hard labour or execution, anyone found in possession of Christian symbols.
This kind of barbarism cannot be tolerated any longer.
Simply put, the leaders of North Korea must be made to a pay a price for their reprehensible behaviour.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on China, Russia, the United States, South Korea and any potential trading partners of North Korea (like, the ASEAN countries) to do everything in your power to freeze the assets of North Korea's leaders and military apparatus, so as to prevent them from moving their hard currency or other commodities outside of North Korea, or from account to account around the world.
Although some countries have already done this (notably, the US, who just recently put North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong Un, under personal sanction), if other countries follow suit, the impact could actually affect policy.
To that end, we ask that you inform your home governments, your UN missions, and large banks and companies trading (or, wishing to trade) in North Korea, about these violations - with a view to ensuring that the outward or external movement of assets, belonging to the leaders of North Korea and the North Korean military apparatus, as well as the inward flow of luxury goods, now stop.
Thank you for your consideration.
