Some smart ones

It seems that some lawyers in Seoul have decided that they will pick up the torch on human rights in the North. The torch that had carelessly been dropped by the government a few years back is now in some professional hands. Lets hope they do something with it.

In a closing declaration, participating lawyers said the South Korean
government claimed to be taking a gradual approach to human rights in the North
but had in fact been consistently tepid on the issue. It expressed concern that
the governmentÂ’s logic ran along the same lines as that of South KoreaÂ’s past
military dictators, who suppressed human rights under the pretext of economic
development or the threat of war.

Also, a respective nod to the Marmot for posting on this woman's odyssey of trials and escape.

According to the Chosun Ilbo, a North Korean woman, identified by her family name of Park, recently arrived in Thailand with her 19-year-old son and two North Korean women and is awaiting passage to South Korea. What makes Park’s story truly amazing is that this she made the trip without feet, having lost them thanks to torture she suffered at the hands of North Korean security authorities after she was repatriated to the Workers’ Paradise during a previous defection attempt.

Now, it is THAT type of strength that will save the ROK! Unfortunatly, it seems that it is lacking right now. With Chung at the helm of the Unification ministry, few have the backing of the ROK government when trying to escape their lives in the North.

To make up for this shortcoming, many NGOs have stepped up offering assistance. While I am not sure that their motives are always pure, the outcome is generally the same; more people are able to shake off the shackles of the North. These NGOs so not help without risk though;


15 S. Koreans in Chinese Lockup

A total of 15 South Koreans are being detained in China after
being charged with helping North Korean refugees depart for a third country, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Friday.

In a report to the National Assembly, the ministry said
that a total of 64 South Koreans had been arrested in China since 2001. Among
them, 49 were set free while the others remain in custody.

North korea is set to enter the real world

Well, it seems that the DPRK has finally take it's collective head out of it's ass (at least part way) and has decided to give up all nuclear activities and rejoin the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. In return the US said it had no intention of attacking the North, which was also promised aid and electricity. I wonder if this has anything to do with last weeks rumors about China putting the lean on the North?

MacArthur

Well, I've been hessitant to write on this simply because I am not as familiar with the subject of the General as I would like to be. I have heard the whole gambit in regards to U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur and I honestly am not sure if he is a criminal or a hero.

Now, before I get jumped on for not being firm on it either way, let me put it to you this way; I firmly beleive that the majority of HEROES that have been made into icons over the past thousand or so years, have had that distinction occasionally because of greatness, but more often than not, because of victory.

MacArthur was successfull with his landing in Incheon and as such he is a hero to many. He helped to push back (or at least cut off supplies to) a North Korean Army bent on dominating the peninsula. And there in lies the rub;

Some in South Korea now would want you to beleive that he actually stopped a sovereign country's right to determine it's own destiny.

Others take it at face value that he helped to stop the unwanted flow of Communism into the south.

For me, I think I'll form my own camp likening him to a guard dog. I have always said that if a dog bites, it's rarely the dogs fault. It is the owners responsibility to keep him on a short leash. If MacArthur stepped out of line, then it was up to Truman to give him a tug back into place. I guess, in the end... he did just that.

He did the job he was positioned to do, repulse the North korean attack. He did it by a risky strategic move, flanking the enemy in an amphibious assault. The citizens of Incheon made a statue to commemorate his acheivement and I stand along with these old chaps in saying it should not be taken down.




EDIT: Well, apparently the "left" side of the argument has been asked to apear before a judge. While South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon (one of my few I like in this administration) has sent a letter off to the US pledged (that) his government to do its best in thwarting any attempt to demolish or damage the statue, saying such a bid runs counter to the "mature perception of history by South Koreans".. Good on ya ban old buddy!

Offers of help

Well, it has been about a week since Hurricane Katrina hit the Southern US and offers of aid are popping up from all sources. Europe and Canada were no surprise but some less fortunate countries also weighed in. I think Sri Lanka offered $20,000 and even Kuwait offered up a sizable sum.


Korea has done itself proud by offering 30 million dollars. Some may note that this was a move to put Japans offer to shame (about $500,000) but I am hoping that it is simply a gesture of good will.

I have been watching CNN a bit more than usual because of this (ok, I never usually WATCH CNN, I prefer to read nowadays) and noticed some interesting things;

1) The reporters are doing their utmost to show bias and mood. I really felt that I was watching a talent contest when I saw some of the phoney reactions from the news casters.

2) Opinions are flowing all over the place. Not just from "sources" but from the reporters themselves. When did journalism totally abondom any attempt at neutrality?

3) The questions have been fairly decent though. When asking the State Dept. why they are not immediately accepting foreign aid the response was "We don't have the infrastructure to support such a move at this time". The reporter cut through the BS and asked again, why not just accept it and deal with it after?

"Because that is not how we do things"

So I guess the 25 doctors waiting in Cuba to come help should not be holding their breath.