Democracy exists because of reporters like Euna Lee and Laura Ling

Written by Ricky Kim Wednesday, 03 June 2009 10:11

Make no mistake about the enormous courage displayed by these brave women. Before their detainment, Euna Lee and Laura Ling were reporting on North Korean women and children who fled to China for uncertain lives as refugees. Many Americans may feel that they have jeopardized US positioning in the wake of the current escalations. Some may view Euna and Laura as creating unnecessary risks by entering the isolated regime. But then again how would such stories become exposed? It’s kind of like aid workers in places like Darfur. How does help get to the people who need it most?

At first I had been a little distraught about the length of captivity and media coverage however, I am renewed with optimism. After watching Larry King’s interview with the family of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, I was reenergized. Never have I felt more represented. Laura Ling’s parents were handsome, emotionally engaged and well spoken. Laura Ling’s more recognizable sister, former The View host and journalist Lisa Ling expounded on their previous silence, “The situation is so sensitive…that relatives are lying low so far in hope of a resolution.” But finally the families decided to speak out as the trial date nears and tensions in the region escalating by the day.

Working initially through Facebook and the web, the families have built coalitions in major cities. Similar to efforts waged for Roxana Saberi, an American journalist released by Iran last month after originally being sentenced to eight years in prison for alleged spying.

On June 3rd candlelight vigils will be held across the U.S. The families of Lee and Ling, including their parents, siblings, husbands and children will appear on major networks. Please check the bottom of the article for information.

I am glad that Asian-Americans are starting to be recognized as true Americans. That finally some people have climbed into prominence and influence; having direct communication with ambassadors, heads of states, figures such as Larry King, Al Gore, Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, and our president Barak Obama. The national outpour of primetime support has made me feel a definite concrete movement is underway for the detained journalists.

Two weeks ago, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who earlier called the charges "baseless," urged concerned Americans to wage Web-based campaigns for the reporters' release.

"We have two young women journalists right now in prison in North Korea, and you can get busy on the Internet and let the North Koreans know that we find that absolutely unacceptable," she said.

Their trial is slated to begin Thursday June 4th in Pyongyang's Central Court. The two women are charged with crossing the North Korean border from China and with other unspecified "hostile acts."

Sparking international outrage last week, the detainments occur on the heels of recent North Korean missiles and nuclear bomb testing.

Experts warn that the volatile and isolated nation may use the captured Americans as bargaining chips.
"Having two journalists detained in the North leaves the U.S. very little maneuvering room since Washington now has to take the women's safety into account," said Yoon Deok-min, a professor at South Korea's state-run Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.

Perhaps, the regime will use the detainees to leverage maximum pressure on the Obama administration to cave into Pyongyang's desire for direct talks.

Moreover, North Korean’s recent erratic behavior may be attributed to the state’s recent commencement of its new leader. The Associated Press reported this evening that North Korea’s ruling party named Kim Jong Il's youngest son as the next commander and leader. Kim Jong Un is a 26-year-old who reportedly enjoys skiing and studied English, German and French at a Swiss boarding school. He is rumored to have gotten along with the children of foreign diplomats at the boarding school.

Experts on the region have suspected all the recent saber-rattling as a campaign to bolster unity and support for the new leader to replace the ailing 67-year-old Kim Jong Il. Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute, a South Korean security think tank, called it a "politically driven" campaign to parade the North's achievements before its people in a bid to bolster national pride.

Two weeks ago, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who earlier called the charges "baseless," urged graduates at Barnard College in New York to wage Web-based campaigns for the reporters' release.

"We have two young women journalists right now in prison in North Korea, and you can get busy on the Internet and let the North Koreans know that we find that absolutely unacceptable," she said.

On the day the trial is set to begin in Pyongyang, candlelight vigils will be held across the U.S. The families of Lee and Ling, including their parents, siblings, husbands and children will appear on NBC's "Today" show and CNN's "Larry King Live" on Monday

"I think the campaign is aimed at building up achievements that the successor can later claim credit for," he said last week.

We hope this is all true and such further escalations be drawn down. Moreover, a younger and worldly perspective placed in charge of the failing state. Notwithstanding any internal coup employed resulting in the devastation for many people. We pray for a positive result.

Gore himself may head to North Korea to lobby for the reporters' release, the TBS television network in Tokyo said Saturday, citing unnamed sources.

Moreover, I believe Bill Richardson and Lisa Ling said it the best, "We need to try to encourage our countries to talk to resolve this issue separate from the greater nuclear issue."

Perhaps at the very best scenario, the reporters will soon be released and the current situation becomes the first portal into an increased dialogue between the nations.

Contributing reporters and agencies:
Huffington Post writers Hyung-Jin and Jean H. Lee
Associated Press writer Kwang-tae Kim, Robert Burns, Jae Soon Chang
Daily News Writer, Oren Yaniv

Vigil organizer information. Facebook group page.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php

Los Angeles, CA VIGIL Organizers: Welly Yang,
Kristiana Velasco, Joe Omar Gonzales, Joyce Mar

http://www.facebook.com/event.php

National Organizer: Brendan McShane Creamer
Email address: blove73@msn.com
Phone 215.699.4338

Please bring candles for the vigils.
We hope you can make it.
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Current contacts to be made:

Contact Gov. Bill Richardson.
Click on this link: http://www.governor.state.nm.us/
Then Click on: SUBMIT (for the "Need Assistance?" page.)
Fill out the info and ask for his help.
Mention the group so he knows we're together.

State Department :
secretary@state.gov
They are read daily.