Activists Cross DMZ and Claim They are Promoting Human Rights
Just the fact that they paid money to the Kim regime to travel to North Korea shows they care little about human rights and more about promoting themselves:
A group of foreign women activists crossed the heavily fortified inter-Korean border from North Korea on Sunday, voicing hope that their move could help bring lasting peace to a divided peninsula.
About 30 female activists from around the world, including U.S. activist Gloria Steinem and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire, marched down from the North to the South across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to mark the International Women’s Day for Disarmament.
The DMZ, which bisects the Korean Peninsula, is a 259-kilometer-long and 4-kilometer-wide strip of rugged no-man’s land stretching from coast to coast, serving as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
“We are feeling very positive (about) what we’ve accomplished … which is a trip for peace, for reconciliation and for human rights and a trip to which both governments agreed,” Steinem told a press conference in South Korea. “We were able to be citizens’ diplomats.”. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link such as how the North Korean media reported how this group paid homage to Kim Il-sung which they deny. Their denials are irrelevant because by agreeing to travel to North Korea in the first place they made themselves willing propaganda pieces for the Kim regime.
This almost makes me angry. These folks and the tourists who provide support to the evil norK regime should be left there, to the tender mercies of the Kim’s.
“We are feeling very positive (about) what we’ve accomplished … which is a trip for peace, for reconciliation and for human rights and a trip to which both governments agreed,” Steinem told a press conference in South Korea. “We were able to be citizens’ diplomats.”
——- end quote ——-
Are the human rights abuses going to stop? Has the NK regime decided to free its political prisoners and enslaved families? Did NK decide to give up its nuclear weapons program to divert money and resources to helping the poverty-stricken people in the rural areas? Has NK decided to allow its citizens to move freely around their country without need for permits or bribes? Has NK agreed to stop requiring exit visas and permits to leave the country? Has NK agreed to stop arresting visitors for distributing bibles? Is the North Korean government going to allow its citizens full unfettered access to the Internet? Are they going to allow divided families to reunite? Are the NKs prepared to sign a formal peace treaty officially ending the Korean War after more than 60 years? Is the DMZ slated to be dismantled?
Other than having an opportunity to talk to the press and take a tour, what exactly did Ms. Steinem & Co. accomplish?
Bruce, they did a great job promoting themselves which is what this event was really about.