clipped from chosunjournal.comSouth Korea's Spoilers
By Dr. Norbert Vollertsen
SEOUL, Oct 18, 2006 — For six years now I have been active in lobbying for human rights in North Korea. My associates and I provide detailed information to Western journalists. We organize protests at the Panmunjom border with North Korea, help North Korean refugees rush past guards and enter Western embassies in China, and coordinate the flight of North Korean "boat people." We also attempt simple, utilitarian projects such as the sending into North Korea — by balloon — of small radios, which those lucky enough to retrieve might use to learn about the world outside their Gulag-state.
Some of these projects have failed, many of them have succeeded. But never could I have imagined that the most difficult part of creating an awareness of human rights abuses in North Korea would be to raise a voice in South Korea.
Here in Seoul, I get around 1,400 hate-e-mails per day. As a result of an e-mail campaign organized by South Korean students, my e-mail account is often sabotaged. I am caught in the middle of an Internet campaign titled, ominously, "How to get rid of Norbert Vollertsen." Suggestions include "Execute him," "Kill him," etc. People — South Korean people –shout and even spit at me on the street. My activities to help the enslaved people of the North –such as my boat-people project — are sabotaged by South Korean intelligence. My telephone is tapped, and I have minders following me the whole day. All in all, although I'm here in Seoul, I feel like I'm still in Pyongyang!
Yet for all the horrors I witnessed in North Korea, where I once worked for 18 months as a medical worker for Cap Anamur, a German aid organization, I was never beaten by the police — not even in my last days there as persona non grata, just before my expulsion for the expression of pro-human rights views.
Here, in South Korea, I have been beaten by the police — among others.
During our balloon-launching attempt on Aug. 22,2003 a young South Korean (well-fed, wanting for nothing) attacked me, threw me to the ground and escaped with a bundle of radios intended for his starving, destitute brothers across the border — an assault carried out right under the noses of the riot police. Then I was attacked by the police themselves. One officer jumped on my twisted knee while I was lying on the ground. But even that was not as painful as the incident in March this year when some riot policemen kicked me in the groin while I was standing in the middle of their crowd during a protest in front of the Chinese embassy here in Seoul.
On another Sunday, I was attacked by North Korean "journalists" at the World University Games in Daegu, while holding a peaceful press conference in front of the convention building there. The South Korean newspapers reported that I "exchanged punches with the North Koreans." In reality, I was standing on my crutches, still suffering from my injuries from the balloon-launch assault, and could barely stay upright. I was also wearing a neck-brace, and so was unable even to swivel my head to face my North Korean attackers.
Afterwards, the same newspapers called me an "extreme ultra-right-wing activist," even "fascist," which is ironical, given that I am doing what I am doing for the North Koreans mainly to atone for the shameful fascist history of my home country, Germany. The local government in Daegu apologized to the North Korean delegation for my "grave offence," and promised to punish me and get me expelled.
In Beijing, where the next round of the so-called six-party talks shall take place again to my consternation, the talks are only focusing on nukes. But the human right abuses of regime of Kim Jong Il is the real cause of all the military problems.
Kim Jong Il has to fight for survival like the leader of a religious cult, like the head of a family mafia clan — he can only do so by blackmailing the whole world: "Feed me or I will kill you with my nuclear weapons." He will never abandon these weapons, his only real "security guarantee."
And there is only one security guarantee for the starving children in North Korea: When there is no more security for Kim Jong Il and his regime and he has to face justice at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The only way to get rid of the North Korean nukes and missiles is to get rid of Kim Jong Il, and the best way to do that is by creating an inner collapse of the North Korean regime.
In order to achieve this inner collapse we first of all have to inform the ordinary North Korean people about the outside world. Because they do not have any access to foreign media they do not know anything about Western societies. They are brainwashed into believing that we are all homeless, drug-addicted and depraved.
Because of this non- and misinformation there are no uprisings like those in former East European countries and no defections on a mass scale. That is why our project to send radios by balloon is so potent — and why friends of Kim Jong Il in South Korea are determined to foil us.
Seoul is proving to be the real external obstacle to freedom for North Korea. Many people in foreign countries wonder about the general South Korean attitude toward Pyongyang, the increasing anti-Americanism here, and the perverse likelihood of pro-North Korean diplomacy by Seoul during the six-party talks and the whole nuclear discussion.
The truth is, South Korea is infiltrated by Pyongyang's agents. According to the NIS, the South Korean intelligence, there are up to 6,000 secret agents from North Korea operating in South Korea's establishment; and the main targets, besides the government, are the NIS itself, the military, the student organizations, the workers' unions — and the media.
Until now I have been talking about human-rights violations in North Korea, and the need for regime change there. Maybe it is time now to talk about rights violation in the South too — and even regime change as well, by the power of the people, by election of course.
Here in South Korea basic civil rights, the freedom of speech and mainly the freedom of the press, are endangered by the current administration. The government of President Roh Moo Hyun is cracking down on critical journalists.
I will continue my activities here in South Korea even after I got expelled from this Korean nation too and only was allowed to reimmigrate under the "final order" not to engage in any "political activities" at all. No speeches, no shouting, no publicity stunts. So I will try a new approach…
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5 Responses to "South Korea's Spoilers"
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June 11th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Dr. Vollertsen,
I am an attorney in Texas, U.S.A.
Submitted by: AngieRecently, I met two North Korean refugees who are seeking asylum in the U.S. and became interested in learning about what is going on in North Korea.
I am so touched by what you are doing for Korea.
I'll keep you in my prayer, and in whatever way I can I will advocate for suffering North Koreans.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Dear Dr.Vollertsen,
Hello, my name is Beth Hong, and I am President of a student organization called North Korea Freedom Network, based at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. NKFN aims to advocate for North Korean human rights and educate students and the wider community about the human rights crisis, and mobilize to pressure the Canadian government to take action. We hope to attain NGO status in Quebec in a few months' time.
In March or April of 2008, we are planning to hold a one-day conference at McGill on the North Korean human rights crisis, similar to the one held at Yale on April14th. We are in the process of contacting and confirming potential speakers and experts on the field of North Korea and the various aspects of the human rights crisis. I believe that your presence at this conference will highlght the acute lack of basic healthcare services and civil liberties in North Korea.
The goal of our conference is what can be done about the crisis in a Canadian context. We would like participants of the conference to be able to walk away with a clear idea of what can be done to publicize and advocate for the North Korean human rights crisis- as students, Canadian citizens (or as a citizen of an industrialized country) and voters. I hope that your perspectives on the situation in North Korea, and your courageous dedication against such vehement opposition and danger can inspire participants to take action.
As a student club and soon-to-be start up NGO, our funds are limited. However, we are also in the process of searching for sponsors and donors to fund our conference, and we plan to pay for your transportation and accomodation for your time in Montreal. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Beth Hong
Submitted by: Beth HongPresident, North Korea Freedom Network
Tel: (514) 616 3174
Email: nkfn.mcgill AT gmail DOT com
January 9th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Dr. Vollertsen,
I have been inspired by your recent activites in both North and South Korea over the past 5-6 years. I really want to make a difference and try and help and raise awareness of the plight of the North Koreans. If i can be of any help in your struggle to fight for the people of Korea please don't hesitate to contact me. Im located in Seoul and would really like to try and make a difference here to try and raise the awarenes within the expat population here.
Keep up your inspirational work
Submitted by: PeterCPeter Carney
December 28th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Dr. Vollerstan,
Your hunger strikes and campaign of hope for NK refugees have made a great impact on me. I am just soley and individual like yourself but what you have shown the world is how desperate NK's refugees need our help. Thank you for your loyalty, bravery and most of all your will to spread the message of social injustice. Through yuor tireless efforts, Kim Jong Il will meet his ruin and the people of NK will be free.
Submitted by: GinaNovember 11th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Dr. Vollertsen,
I cannot put into my words of love and graditude to what you are doing for the North Korean people. My heart goes out to you and others like you that sacrifice so this cause. You and many others like you are truly amazing and wonderful people. It is people like you that make this world worth living. You are an inspiration to everyone. Thank you for all you have done and sacrificed.
You will be in my prayers. Good will conquer Evil. Bless you.
Submitted by: Emily