Stories of a shocking
new development are just beginning to leak out of China.
The government there has just raised the stakes in the human
rights issue now coming to a boil. While the world's attention
is focused on the uproar in Tibet, other important developments
are quietly taking place in the shadows.
China's claim that Tibetan protestors are being agitated by
foreign religious elements, has led it to suspicion that foreign
connections behind any activities of which it disapproves.
Government officials have reportedly ordered the Department
of Religion in each province to start thorough investigations
into any involvement with foreign influences.
LFNKR
has received a report from our local staff in Jilin Province
that any Christian church in Yanbian found to be involved with
foreigners, including South Koreans, are being forced to shut
down.
In addition, the punishment has been made more severe for extending
help to North Korean defectors. Until recently, violators were
fined, but now they face imprisonment. This has further discouraged
our local staff and others who had been helping protect North
Korean defectors.
And
there is more - The Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture zone
in Jilin Province recently issued oral instructions
to the Dept.
of Security, Dept. of Public Safety, and Dept. of Religion on
attracting more informants to report NK defectors.
According
to sources familiar with the Dept. of Religion in the Yanbian
Korean Autonomous Prefecture, "The bounty has been raised
from 500 RMB to at least 8000 RMB for one NK defector."
This
amount is equivalent to the average annual income in China.
China is encouraging its citizens to hunt down North Korean
refugees by increasing the bounty 1,600 percent. This inhumane
behavior
should not be tolerated. The North Korean refugees in China should
be protected as refugees under the international refugees convention.
LFNKR suggests that you send a letter urging the Chinese government
to listen to the voice of the world and demonstrate to international
society that they respect human rights by halting this inhumane
behavior.
You can find the PRC embassy in your country at this URL:
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/default.htm
This
is a crucial situation that affects lives. Please send your
letter now.
