[imText1]Last year, on the anniversary of Korea’s Independence, August 15th, North Korean human rights NGO’s hosted the 2nd 8.15 Rally for North Korean Human Rights at the Kim Koo Museum and Library, to highlight violations of human rights made by the North Korean regime.
This year, the second rally will be jointly sponsored by representatives of the New Right movement such as the Liberty Union (representative Shin Jin Ho), Citizens United for a Better Society (co-representative Yoo Se Hee), Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (president Han Ki Hong), and the Youth and College Students’ Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea (representative Kim Ik Hwan).
At the rally, Mr. Shon Jong Hun, brother of Shon Jong Nam, a North Korean who was publicly executed, and abducted family members will give testimony about their experiences, report on the current situation of North Korean broadcasting, and give speeches on issues related to North Korean human rights.
In addition, video footage of public executions, and movements by youth for North Korean human rights will be shown. A performance by university students, and a photo exhibition are also being organized.
Representative Yoo Se Hee revealed that “The rally for North Korean Human Rights is to expose the truth about North Korea’s human rights situation. The rally was sponsored so that advancements will be made in North Korean human rights. In particular, the rally will criticize the South Korean government for neglecting North Korean human rights issues and will send a message to the government to consider more aggressive North Korea policies”.
In a preview report, the organizations asserted that “This is the first step in reconciliation of the South and North, which will bring about improvements to the North Korean human rights situation”.
Furthermore, representative sponsors stipulated that “The international community continues to gain greater interest in North Korean human rights issues, but the South Korean government and pretentious organizations remain silent. This event will urge South Koreans to take an active role in improving North Korean human rights”.
Following the rally, 200 members of the Youth and College Students Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea will go to Seoul station and begin a “Youth and College Student’s Rally for North Korean human rights”.
